Padres pregame: Switch-hitting Bryce Johnson starting in center, revisiting last year’s role

With Jackson Merrill on the concussion list, the Padres will have a different face in center field for the third time in four days.

Bryce Johnson will get the start for Wednesday’s 7:10 p.m. first pitch on Padres.TV and bat ninth a day after singling off the bench is his official return to the team.

The switch-hitting Johnson hit .206/.286/.238 across 47 games with the Padres last year as an injury fill-in. He was nontendered after the season, elected free agency and signed a minor league deal with the Pirates in January.

But three weeks into the season, he was scratched from the lineup at Triple-A Indianapolis and told he was being traded.

One problem: Hours passed before he learned where.

“I kind of just sat there for a good three or four hours and didn’t hear from anybody,” Johnson said. “I guess it was a last-minute trade that just happened. But not a lot of people knew about it, including me. Called my agent. He didn’t know. He got on the phone and finally figured out that it was coming back here.

“So it was kind of a crazy day.”

The familiarity that Johnson had with the Padres helped. He’d been in touch with the team over the offseason, but saw more opportunity in Pittsburgh. But as the season began, the Padres were hit by injuries in the outfield — Merrill’s hamstring and Jason Heyward’s knee — and catcher Brett Sullivan was traded to the Pirates to bring Johnson back to the organization.

The 29-year-old Johnson was hitting .303/.407/.458 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 42 games at Triple-A El Paso. As was the case last year while helping bridge the gap until Fernando Tatis Jr. returned from his quad injury, Johnson will get occasional starts and serve as speed and defense off the bench, which is how he made his way into Tuesday’s loss: Trenton Brooks hit for Brandon Lockridge and hit a home run, Johnson replaced Brooks as the center fielder a half-inning later and singled and stole a base in the eighth inning.

“Pretty much the same thing (as last year),” Johnson said. “Whatever is needed. Talked to (Padres manager Mike Shildt) about the role. We’ll see what happens, what plays out, but anything they need, I’m here for.”

Wednesday night lineup. pic.twitter.com/WiPtYwxjTG

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 18, 2025

With Johnson in the nine-hole, Elias Díaz will serve as the eight-hole hitter. Brooks will get a second start in this series as the DH following hitting his first career homer on Tuesday. He’ll bat seventh and Gavin Sheets will man left field and bat fourth.

Dropping the first two games of this series has dropped the Padres (39-33) five games behind the Dodgers in the NL West.

Here is how the Dodgers (45-29) will line up for Game 3:

Emmet is back!

Tonight’s #Dodgers lineup vs. Padres: pic.twitter.com/OtkZXMwFT6

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 18, 2025

Wednesday’s pitching matchup

Padres RHP Stephen Kolek (3-2, 3.50 ERA)

Kolek’s scoreless streak had reached 16⅔ innings, the longest by a Padre this season, before giving up five runs — four earned — in 4⅓ innings in Friday’s loss in Arizona. Kolek is making his first start against the Dodgers. He allowed two runs in 3⅔ innings across four relief appearances last year.

Here is how Kolek has fared against current Dodgers:

UT Kike Hernandez (0-for-2, K)
OF Teoscar Hernandez (0-for-1, BB)
SS Mookie Betts (0-for-1)
OF Michael Conforto (BB)
OF Andy Pages (BB)

Dodgers RHP Emmet Sheehan (2025 debut)

The 25-year-old is returning from Tommy John surgery, as he hasn’t pitched since his rookie campaign in 2023 (4-1, 4.92 ERA). He posted a 3.97 ERA in four minor league rehab assignments, topping out at 3⅓ innings in his last start (4 ER) for Triple-A Oklahoma City. This will be Sheehan’s first appearance against the Padres.

Only the Padres’ catchers have history with Sheehan: