San Diego Padres Manager Mike Shildt was defiant with reporters when he was asked about playing time for Ryan O’Hearn, following his team’s 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park, Monday.
O’Hearn came in to pinch-hit for an injured Jake Cronenworth in the bottom of the seventh inning and delivered a two-run home run that pulled San Diego within a run of tying the game.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, O’Hearn was at the plate with a runner
on and two outs. There was a chance that he could play the hero and win the game with a walk-off home run or perhaps tie it with an extra-base hit, but that storybook ending was not meant to be. O’Hearn hit a fly-ball into left field that was caught by Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos to end the game.
Shildt was asked in his postgame press conference if he thought O’Hearn’s performance could or had earned him more playing time against left-handed pitching. Shildt scoffed at the question and claimed O’Hearn is getting plenty of at-bats against lefties and said, “he’s basically an every day guy.”
It was an odd statement and perhaps was more pointed than intended due to a frustrating call that overturned a home run by Xander Bogaerts. The call proved to be the difference in the game. It also resulted in Shildt watching the rest of the contest from the San Diego locker room and not from his usual perch on the steps of the dugout.
The sentiment from much of the Friar Faithful is that O’Hearn, who was the starting designated hitter for the 2025 American League All-Stars, SHOULD be an every day guy. The “basically” term used by Shildt is what has fans flummoxed.
O’Hearn was acquired at the trade deadline for his ability to slug as a designated hitter, play first base and fill an outfield hole if needed. O’Hearn has 35 at-bats in 14 games for the Padres. He has seven hits with two doubles and two home runs. Both of O’Hearn’s home runs with San Diego have come off left-handed pitchers, Kyle Backhus for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Robbie Ray for the Giants.
O’Hearn has also scored four runs and has seven RBI with six walks and 10 strikeouts, while wearing the brown and gold.
Shildt may think O’Hearn is getting plenty of at-bats, but more often than not, it seams the Friar Faithful are waiting for lineups to see if O’Hearn is making a start, only to be disappointed and left to wonder how much he could help if given consistent opportunities. It’s unclear what more O’Hearn has to do. It seems it will be a matter of time and whether or not Shildt can be convinced that O’Hearn in the lineup every day gives the Padres the best chance to win.