Padres third baseman Christian Villanueva took ground balls at shortstop Friday morning because of what he did later in the day as a designated hitter.

In three times to the plate against the Royals, Villanueva homered, walked and doubled. For the spring, the 26-year-old has nine hits in 16 at-bats. He has homered three times.

“Swing the bat like he has so far in camp,” manager Andy Green said when asked what Villanueva has to do to make the team. “That’s a good start.”

The Padres are, in turn, doing their part by broadening Villanueva’s responsibilities from the only position he has played as a professional. With Chase Headley slated at the starter at third base, the Padres are working Villanueva at shortstop in drills with the plan to eventually give him some innings there in spring games.


Green has talked about going without a true backup shortstop, a possibility because Freddy Galvis played 162 games last season and figures to give the full slate a go again.

“As camp unfolds ... we’ll expose (Villanueva) to some other spots on the field, see what he looks like in those situations,” Green said. “Nobody is looking for him to be a gold glove backup shortstop. But we’ll see if he can man the position and offer some versatility.

“At some point in time — when you’re winning by a touchdown or two or losing by a touchdown or two — somebody has to be able to take those innings off Freddy’s plate.”

Villanueva also figures to get his turns at third base to spell the 34-year-old Headley.


“He’s going to play,” Green said. “We’re thrilled with the way he’s swinging the bat. He’s not going to get forgotten on the bench. There are going to be opportunities we find him an opportunity to play.”

Friday morning, Villanueva took grounders at short, also moving to the right of the bag to practice the shift. He looked relatively natural making the throws. Even turning double plays from the second base side, he was mostly fluid.

“He’s athletic,” Green said. “He’s a better athlete than people think.”

Most importantly, he can hit.


Villanueva earned this expanded role by doing exactly what he needed to — hitting the way he showed he could in a September call-up, wherein he blasted four home runs and batted. 344 in his only 32 major league at-bats.

He came into camp more svelte, having stayed in San Diego to work out.

“I think I came in in the best shape I could have come in,” Villanueva said. “I spent a lot of time in the offseason working on my agility. I feel prepared. … Without question, last year was the best year of my career. I felt more experienced, more mature in my approach at the plate.”

This surge has followed a period in which Villanueva overcame multiple injuries, including a fractured fibula that cost him the 2016 season, and the death of his brother last spring at the age of 29.


“It is kind of crazy to think about,” said Villanueva, who hit 20 homers and went .296/.369/.528 at Triple-A El Paso last year. “The past few years have been challenging, and there have been some ups and downs. I promised my brother I was going to do this for him – I was going to make the big leagues and be the best player I can.”

kevin.acee@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

9:10 a.m.: This article was updated with Andy Green’s comments about trying Villanueva out at other positions.


10:30 a.m.: Upated with details of Villanueva’s drill work at shortstop.

7:20 p.m.: Updated after Friday’s game with fresh quotes from Green.