San Diego, CA

Padres roster review: Miguel Andujar

Published

3 months ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Padres roster review: Miguel Andujar – San Diego Union-Tribune

MIGUEL ANDUJAR

Position(s): Third base, left field, first base
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
2026 opening day age: 31
Height / Weight: 6-foot / 211 pounds
How acquired: Signed as a free agent in February 2026
Contract status: Will make $1.5 million in 2026, with the opportunity to earn another $2 million-plus in performance bonuses; his $4 million guarantee includes a $2.5 million buyout against an $8 million mutual option for 2027.
fWAR in 2025: 1.1
Key 2025 stats: .318 AVG, .352 OBP, .470 SLG, 10 HRs, 44 RBIs, 36 runs, 17 walks, 49 strikeouts, 1 steal (94 games, 341 plate appearances)

STAT TO NOTE

.986 — Andujar’s OPS against left-handed pitching in 2025, the second-highest mark of his career and well above his career .807 OPS against southpaws. Andujar had been below .600 in 2021 and 2022 before jumping to .871 in 2023 and a career-high .995 in 2024.

Up — Signed for $700,000 out of the Dominican Republic as a 16-year-old in the international amateur market, Andujar needed two years to get out of the Yankees’ rookie-ball affiliate in the Gulf Coast League and finally cracked top-100 lists ahead of the 2018 season — No. 59 at Baseball America and No. 65 at MLB.com — after reaching Triple-A following a 16-homer season (.850 OPS). Andujar even made his MLB debut as a 22-year-old in 2017 and looked like he’d be a big part of the Yankees’ future after pairing 27 homers and 92 RBIs with an .855 OPS in finishing second to Shohei Ohtani in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2018. But a right shoulder labrum tear derailed Andujar in 2019 and Andujar was never able to grab a starting job again in New York. The Pirates claimed him late in 2022 and then the Athletics claimed him after the 2023 season. By then, he’d developed into a platoon player with defensive limitations. Andujar had a .697 OPS in 75 games in his first year with the Athletics and a .765 OPS in 60 games last year when, after missing time with a right oblique strain, he was shipped to the Reds for a minor league pitcher. Andujar went on to hit .359/.400/.544 with four homers and 17 RBIs in 34 games to help the Reds lock up a wild-card spot. He was 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout in the NL Wild Card Series sweep at the hands of the Dodgers.

Miguel Andujar #41 of the San Diego Padres participates in drills during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.(Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

2026 OUTLOOK

The need for right-handed balance in the lineup was painfully obvious in the Padres’ NL Wild Card Series loss to the Cubs, so Andujar became a target after 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn walked as a free agent. Expect Andujar to get at-bats against lefties as either a DH, first base, third base or left field — the spots he’s been playing in spring training.

ROSTER RANKINGS

1. OF Fernando Tatis Jr.
2. 3B Manny Machado
3. OF Jackson Merrill
4. RHP Nick Pivetta
5. RHP Michael King
6. RHP Mason Miller
7. OF Ramón Laureano
8. SS Xander Bogaerts
9. LHP Adrián Morejón
10. RHP Jeremiah Estrada
11. RHP Jason Adam
12. 2B Jake Cronenworth
13. RHP Joe Musgrove
14. RHP Randy Vásquez
15. INF Miguel Andujar
16. OF Gavin Sheets
17. LHP JP Sears
18. RHP Yu Darvish
19. RHP Bradgley Rodriguez
20. RHP David Morgan
21. C Freddy Fermin
22. LHP Wandy Peralta
23. C Luis Campusano
24. LHP Yuki Matsui
25. INF Sung-Mun Song
26. RHP German Marquez
27. RHP Matt Waldron
28. OF Bryce Johnson
29. OF/1B Nick Castellanos
30. RHP Ron Marinaccio
31. RHP Bryan Hoeing
32. LHP Kyle Hart
33. INF Will Wagner
34. RHP Garrett Hawkins
35. RHP Miguel Mendez
36. RHP Daison Acosta
37. RHP Ty Adcock
38. RHP Alek Jacob
39. INF Mason McCoy

Removed from 40-man roster

OF Tirso Ornelas (designated for assignment)
RHP Jhony Brito (60-day injured list)

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San Diego, CA

San Diego businesses gear up for World Cup friendly matches at Snapdragon Stadium

Published

6 hours ago

June 7, 2026

Press Room

San Diego businesses gear up for World Cup friendly matches at Snapdragon Stadium

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego is hosting two international soccer friendly matches at Snapdragon Stadium this weekend, giving local businesses a major economic boost as fans from around the world descend on the city ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

McGregors Bar and Grill is among the businesses capitalizing on the excitement, offering watch parties and preparing for larger-than-usual crowds drawn by some of international soccer’s biggest names.

Managing Partner Ian Linekin said the energy around the matches has been building steadily.

“We started early. We had a great crowd for the pregame for the Australia-Switzerland game. It’s been good,” Linekin said.

To meet the surge in demand, Linekin and his staff have been stocking up on supplies.

“We just order more food, we order more beer, we order more, more vodka and bourbon,” Linekin said.

The crowds are not limited to local fans. Linekin said international supporters have been making McGregors a destination as well.

“It was somebody in Australia… put together a flyer, found our logo, and planned a pregame party for this morning here,” Linekin said.

With the two friendly matches at Snapdragon Stadium serving as a preview of World Cup excitement, Linekin said he expects the atmosphere inside the bar to match the energy on the pitch.

“There’s gonna be, there’s gonna be chanting, there’s gonna be towels waved overhead, and yeah, it’s, it’s gonna be, be something to see,” Linekin said.

Beyond the food and drinks, McGregors has built its reputation on the overall experience it provides guests — something Linekin said has kept customers coming back for decades.

“That’s why we’ve been here for 30 years. We take care of people and we provide a fun, clean, safe place to come and enjoy yourself,” Linekin said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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San Diego, CA

OMWD celebrates fourth grade poster contest winners

Published

16 hours ago

June 6, 2026

Press Room

OMWD celebrates fourth grade poster contest winners

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Winning poster by Yohan R.
(Courtesy of Olivenhain Municipal Water District)

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At its May 20 meeting, Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors recognized the winners of the 2026 North County Water Agencies Fourth Grade Water Awareness Poster Contest. In its 33rd year, the contest was themed “Love Water, Save Water.” Winning entries were submitted by Austin M. from Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School, Yohan R. from Monterey Ridge Elementary School, and Kira S. from Stone Ranch Elementary School, according to a news release.

“The annual poster contest offers future water stewards the chance to showcase their creativity and share their understanding of why saving water is so important,” shared board president Matthew Hahn in the news release. “On behalf of the entire board, a heartfelt thank you to every student who participated this year, and a big congratulations to all the winners!”

Austin’s poster features an image of the Earth as a crying eye, with oceans forming tears that flow into the word “Water.” His poster highlights the urgency of conserving water and protecting the planet.

Yohan’s entry showcases an hourglass filled with water flowing from a faucet. It symbolizes that time is of the essence and every drop counts. The poster also includes the messages “Love Water, Save Water” and “Preserve Every Drop.”

Kira’s poster depicts a vibrant underwater scene filled with marine life. It includes a whale, fish, turtles, and coral. Her poster emphasizes the potential impacts of water pollution with the phrase “Say No to Plastic,” and to “Love Water, Save Water.”

The three posters will be featured in the 2027 Water Awareness Calendar.

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San Diego, CA

San Diegan celebrates 50 year career milestone

Published

1 day ago

June 6, 2026

Press Room

San Diegan celebrates 50 year career milestone

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A man in Chula Vista celebrated a career milestone that’s a statistical anomaly.

Tom McKievick has been the director of security at Fredericka Manor for 50 years.

He responded to a newspaper ad back in 1976 and has been working at the senior living community ever since.

“When I started, I wouldn’t think in a million years I’d still be here, but I enjoy the residents and the work,” McKievick said.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2024 the average job tenure for Americans was 3.9 years — a 15% drop from 4.6 years in 2014.

McKievick has never taken a sick day and said he has no plans to retire anytime soon.

“It’s entertaining and challenging and never boring,” McKievick said. “A lot of people think working at a senior facility is very quiet, but it can be very hectic and very challenging, but that’s part of the job.”

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