Right-hander Mat Latos made his spring debut March 5, showing a new delivery and a sharper curve and changeup.

The 22-year-old has lengthened his stride to the plate.

“It incorporates the lower half of his body more,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “He releases the ball closer to home plate, and he’s straighter to the plate.”

Latos began working on his delivery—and his curve—last September in bullpen sessions with pitching coach Darren Balsley after the Padres shut him down early due to the number of innings he had pitched.

“Mat is throwing less across his body with better extension toward the plate,” Balsley said. “He doesn’t have to work as hard to get the ball going, and it increases some deception.

Grady Sizemore looks ready to pick up the slack while Russell Branyan is sidelined with a back injury. Sizemore hit a grand slam in a nine-run fourth inning and the Cleveland Indians beat a San Diego Padres split-squad 10-5 on Wednesday to remain unbeaten this spring. Sizemore is coming back from left elbow and abdominal surgery in September.

Although Yorvit Torrealba's son is safe, the San Diego Padres catcher still fears for the rest of his family. Nine months after his son was kidnapped by five men in Caracas, Venezuela, and later returned unharmed, Torrealba said his son and wife are now living in Miami and adjusting to their new lives.

Although Yorvit Torrealba’s son is safe, the San Diego Padres catcher still fears for the rest of his family.

Muhammad Ali provided the San Diego Padres will the thrill of a lifetime when he made a clubhouse visit on Monday. Dozens of players and coaches waited in a long line to shake hands and take pictures with the boxing great, who made a 45-minute appearance for the Athletes for Hope foundation. "This is the top unless I ever meet Michael Jordan," outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr.

Muhammad Ali provided the San Diego Padres will the thrill of a lifetime when he made a clubhouse visit on Monday.

Jorge De La Rosa picked up right where he left off last season. The Rockies starter tossed three scoreless innings, and Miguel Olivo had three hits and three RBIs in the Colorado's 5-4 win over the San Diego Padres on Monday. De La Rosa, who was 16-8 with a 4.38 ERA in 33 games last season, limited the Padres to a hit and a walk while striking out two in his first start of the spring.

Former Major League Baseball executive vice president Sandy Alderson has been hired by the commissioner's office as a consultant to help reform Dominican Republic operations. A former president and general manager of the Oakland Athletics and chief executive officer of the San Diego Padres, Alderson chaired a committee on Dominican operations last year.

Shortstop Jack Wilson and center fielder Franklin Gutierrez are expected to be back in the lineup when the Seattle Mariners play a pair of spring games Monday. Wilson left Seattle's 9-3 loss to San Diego on Friday when he felt tightness in his right hamstring. Gutierrez has been hampered by a sore right shoulder and will make his first spring start when the Mariners play Milwaukee and the…

Shortstop Jack Wilson and center fielder Franklin Gutierrez are expected to be back in the lineup when the Seattle Mariners play a pair of spring games Monday.