The San Diego Padres opened spring training against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday in what was the first official baseball game of the season, and everyone in the organization wanted a front-row seat.
The beginning of spring training always features the most players on the team, as minor leaguers and non-roster invitees try to prove they are worth making the big league roster.
In the first inning of the game, Spectrum SportsNet LA panned to the Padres dugout, showing what seemed to be every Padre in camp this year in the dugout to watch the game.
How'd the Padres get every MLB player in their dugout? pic.twitter.com/u3oK59wS87
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) February 22, 2024
Once the television broadcast showed the Padres’ overstuffed dugout, fans had their jokes about how many people were trying to fit into the bench area.
Everyone who’s ever picked up a baseball bat is in the Padres dugout pic.twitter.com/TN1Xi7FgDQ
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) February 22, 2024
It takes an army to win a World Series.
— Devine Sports Gospel (@DevineGospel) February 22, 2024
Fight on gentlemen!!!!! https://t.co/TsAYt1qrGr
imagine being a pitcher and accidentally starting a brawl after hitting a batter https://t.co/bqeVOUREuO
— tony beasley superfan (@tonysuperfan27) February 22, 2024
I’ve never seen this before 😭 https://t.co/efeAFyfAvD
— Steve Brudzynski (@_BigSteve89) February 22, 2024
At this rate about 1/3 of those guys are gonna pitch today https://t.co/XMGUblbh7r
— juan medina (@medinajuan1996) February 22, 2024
Mookie was right. Everyone's in that dugout because the Padres are treating this spring training game like the World Series. https://t.co/OZuxUyL1HI
— Chris Guzman 🏆 (@christopherguz) February 22, 2024
Unfortunately the Dodgers put up eight runs on the Padres in that inning, adding a new level of jokes for some fans.
at this pace they might need all these guys to pitch https://t.co/P9a4rIdMEE
— ethan (@erhod55) February 22, 2024
At this rate about 1/3 of those guys are gonna pitch today https://t.co/XMGUblbh7r
— juan medina (@medinajuan1996) February 22, 2024
They gunna need all these guys to pitch in this game at this rate. They knew what they were doing! https://t.co/t56myVYQpK
— Mike Ozga (@m_ozga13) February 22, 2024
Just making it to spring training is a big deal for a lot of baseball players, and the Padres wanted to make sure they all got to see at least one game from the dugout.