Jacob Cronenworth: Everything you need to know

Cronenworth is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies. Though the left-handed-hitting Cronenworth typically plays against most lefties, he'll take a seat for the first time this season Sunday while Colorado sends southpaw Kyle Freeland to the bump. Fernando Tatis will make a second straight start at second base in place of Cronenworth, who occupied shortstop in Saturday's 9-5 win while Xander Bogaerts received a breather.

Cronenworth went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Pirates. The veteran infielder helped the Padres break open a 0-0 tie when he turned on a Justin Lawrence fastball in the seventh inning and parked it in the seats in right-center field. It was Cronenworth's first homer of the year, and after a sluggish 4-for-32 (.125) start to the season, he's gone 3-for-9 over the last three contests with two walks, three RBI and his first two extra-base hits of the season.

Cronenworth will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Monday's Cactus League game against the Athletics. With the Padres set to move their primary leadoff hitter from 2025, Fernando Tatis, into the middle of the order during the upcoming season, first-year manager Craig Stammen is looking to settle on a new table setter before Opening Day. Xander Bogaerts has thus far been the Padres' most frequent leadoff man through the first 10 Cactus League games, but with Bogaerts away until at least March 12 while he plays in the World Baseball Classic, other players will get looks atop the San Diego lineup. Cronenworth will get his first look in the leadoff role Monday, though he's still expected to represent more of a fallback option to Bogaerts at that spot once the season gets underway. When the Padres have all their key position players available, Cronenworth is likely to slot somewhere in the bottom half of the lineup.