Padres Remove Gurriel’s Locker Amid Roster Changes

San Diego, CA – The San Diego Padres have reportedly removed veteran player Yuli Gurriel‘s locker from the clubhouse, signaling potential roster changes as they prepare to face the San Francisco Giants.

Although no official moves have been made, the removal of Gurriel’s locker suggests that he may be designated for assignment. This comes as the Padres are welcoming back key players Luis Arraez and Jason Heyward from the injured list.

Gurriel has struggled this season, batting just .111 across 16 games. Primarily serving as a designated hitter, he has also filled in at first base, particularly valuable after Arraez sustained an injury last Sunday.

The Padres, currently enduring injuries to multiple All-Stars, see Arraez’s return as a bright spot. Before his injury, Arraez was batting .287. Heyward, despite a slow start, has shown improvement with three hits, three RBIs, and two runs in his last five games.

The Padres’ upcoming game will feature pitcher Nick Pivetta, who has performed exceptionally with a 1.20 ERA and 30 strikeouts across five starts. The game against the Giants on Tuesday is set to start at 6:40 p.m. PT and will pit Pivetta against San Francisco’s Logan Webb, who holds a 1.98 ERA.

While Gurriel is expected to head to waivers, the 40-year-old will look to make a return to Major League Baseball soon.