Other than at catcher, not a single infielder atop the Padres’ current depth chart was in the same position on opening day last season. That’s good news, because no team in baseball last year was as bad, defensively, on the infield.



Take a look at how bad they were by combined infield Ultimate Zone Rating:



Carlos Asuaje played some second base, and that counts as good news here because second base was San Diego’s best situation. First base is now patrolled by some dude named Eric Hosmer. Third base welcomes back Chase Headley. At shortstop, Freddy Galvis.



It’s projected to be an extreme turnaround. Only nine teams in the past five years have seen a thirty-point swing in defense, and if there are any surprises—maybe from Eric Hosmer, whose D has been up and down, or from a young player who could come up and replace Chase Headley at third—they could challenge for one of the biggest turnarounds in recent...