Mat Latos has a sore shoulder, so he's missing his last scheduled Spring Training start. The good news is, Latos seems to be healing rapidly.
"From what it was yesterday, it's literally night and day," Latos said. "Yesterday it felt like everything locked and as if there was a huge piece of glass or something sharp inside my shoulder. There was no strength to lift it."
The Padres are still not taking any chances.
On Friday manager, Bud Black named Tim Stauffer the Opening Day starter. It's been an interesting journey for the 4th overall pick of the 2003 amateur draft.
Stauffer missed the entire 2008 season recovering from labrum surgery, came back to make a handful of starts in 2009, began last year in the bullpen before jumping back into the rotation, and threw extremely well in the season's final month.
Stauffer has been fantastic during Cactus League play, going 2-0 with a 3.66 ERA. "It's as good as I've felt physically since I've been in pro ball," Stauffer said. "I was pretty surprised, grateful and honored to get the opportunity."
The Padres made a few other roster moves Friday. Infielder Kevin Frandsen was released after hitting just .216 in 20 games. Frandsen was fighting for the utility infielder job.
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Right-handed pitchers Greg Burke, Scott Munter and Luis Perdomo, catcher Kyle Phillips and infielder Jesus Guzman were reassigned to minor league camp.
The Padres now have 35 players in Major League camp.
They have to get down to 25 by Opening Day, next Thursday in St. Louis.
