PEORIA, Ariz. — Two young relievers not guaranteed spots on the Padres’ roster are departing camp.

Ron Marinaccio and Alek Jacob will head across the Valley to Mesa, Ariz., where they will prepare with Team Italy in advance of the World Baseball Classic.

This might seem an odd way to make the club. But there is a potential advantage to getting away.

“It was definitely not an easy decision with my situation here, being out of options, trying to make the team here,” Marinaccio said. “I want to be around the guys as much as possible. But at the same time, I thought it put me in a unique position to go out and compete at a little bit of a higher level than in spring training.”

Italy is playing in Pool B in Houston along with Brazil, Great Britain, Mexico and the United States. That means there is a chance to pitch against Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Harry Ford (Great Britain), Randy Arozarena and Alejandro Kirk (Mexico) and any number of stars on the U.S. roster in games that matter.

“It’s gonna be kind of weird leaving here,” said Jacob, whose maternal grandfather was born in Italy. “(Padres coaches) are not going to be quite as hands on with me for a couple weeks. But at the same time … I’m going to be facing a lot of the big names. Team USA, Team Mexico, they’ve got some really loaded lineups. So I feel like, in many ways, it’ll prepare me better, because I’m facing those guys early, rather than, you know, sometimes out here you’re thrown into the seventh, eighth inning and you might get some guys that you don’t really know, maybe some Double-A guys.”

The Padres will also be without veteran reliever Wandy Peralta (Dominican Republic) and closer Mason Miller (U.S.) along with right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. and third baseman Manny Machado (Dominican Republic) and Xander Bogaerts (Netherlands) at least through March 12, when pool play ends. The championship game is Feb. 17 in Miami.

Those other five players are guaranteed to be on the team.

“We talked a lot about that internally and then with them also,” manager  Craig Stammen said of Jacob and Marinaccio. “I think we all felt that going to the WBC to pitch for Team Italy was something that they really wanted to do, and it was an opportunity that we couldn’t take away from them. We also know that they’re going to be playing good competition during the WBC, and they’ll be pitching similar types of innings they would be if they were playing the Cincinnati Reds or the Kansas City Royals (in the Cactus League). So it’s a good experience for them.

“They may be pitching against Team USA and some other high quality teams, and we’ll get a really good look at where they’re at in spring training. It’s the middle of March, so they’re not a finished product. But it’s a good point of evaluation. They know that too. They want to show off. They want to show what they got. And I think that’s why we’re excited.”

Jacob and Marinaccio have both made three Cactus League appearances and will pitch in Italy’s exhibition against the Cubs on Wednesday. Their first WBC game is March 7 against Brazil.

Bullpen hit

The Padres believe in the depth of their bullpen.

It appears they will have to put that faith into practice.

Reliever Bryan Hoeing felt discomfort in his right (throwing) elbow while pitching to hitters this week and has been shut down.

“We don’t think it’s as serious (as it could be), but we have to be conscious and take a look at it and be able to make the right assessments,” pitching coach Ruben Niebla said Sunday.

Hoeing joins left-hander Yuki Matsui (adductor strain) on the sidelines.

“Yuki is improving every day,” Niebla said. “We’ve actually talked about getting him on the mound later this week.”

With opening day in 3½ weeks, both pitchers’ availability is in question. Matsui seems the more likely of the two to be ready by then.

With Hoeing seeming likely to begin the season on the injured list, that opens up at least one spot in a bullpen that otherwise might not have had any.

Hard-throwing Bradgley Rodriguez, who made his MLB debut last season, has started spring strong. So has Ty Adcock, who also throws in the high 90s. Kyle Hart has intrigued the Padres as a potential left-handed specialist who can also pitch multiple innings.

The Padres will almost certainly begin the season with eight relievers. Miller, Jeremiah Estrada, David Morgan and left-handers Adrian Morejón and Peralta are assured spots. So is Jason Adam if his comeback from quad surgery is complete by the end of camp.

Hunt hurt

Catcher Blake Hunt had been shut down with an oblique injury.

Hunt, signed as a minor-league free agent, has spent most of the past three seasons playing in Triple-A for the Mariners and Orioles.

The Padres added catcher Brendan Durfee to major league camp to take Hunt’s place. Durfee, 24, spent last season at Single-A Fort Wayne.