Jason Adam threw two innings on Wednesday at Triple-A El Paso, so the only thing he was sure of when he walked into the home clubhouse at Petco Park the next day was that it would be at least a day before he was activated.

He can barely wait.

“This feels like, for me, like the end of spring training, where you’re kind of over it,” Adam said. “You’re just ready to start some real ballgames. I mean, I just want to contribute to this team. It’s a special group. We’re in a great place to have a lot of success this year. So I want to pull a little bit of weight.”

The 34-year-old’s rehab assignment was indeed the end of a “spring training,” as he appeared in just two Cactus League games before camp broke. Adam threw five scoreless innings over four appearances for El Paso, including back-to-back days over the weekend in Tacoma and two shutout innings on Wednesday.

He scattered two hits and two walks while striking out one in the Pacific Coast League and even tested his surgically repaired left quad in the field.

“I feel like I’m moving well, no restrictions,” Adam said. “Arm feels good. Leg feels good. Got to cover first (Wednesday), so we got to check another box.”

Adam is rejoining a bullpen that was a strength during last year’s playoff push and entered Thursday ranked 12th in ERA (3.44) despite some rough early outings from right-hander Jeremiah Estrada (6.35 ERA) and left-handers Adrián Morejón (10.80 ERA) and Kyle Hart (4.70 ERA).

Adam has a 1.66 ERA in 92 appearances since he was acquired at the 2024 trade deadline.

“It’s a special group,” Adam said. “I think this is the hardest time of year to throw. It’s freezing cold. You’re just coming off of spring training. Those guys are dominant. I mean, obviously everyone knows what Mason (Miller) does. It’s incredibly fun to watch, probably once in a generation type stuff, but everybody out there is uniquely elite, so it’s a special group. It’s nice to know when I’m out there rehabbing that they really don’t need me, so they can dominate with or without me.

“I just want to help pull my weight when I get back.”

Out with the old …

The Padres on Friday will wear their new City Connect uniforms. They were officially unveiled Thursday to the public, although players had been seeing mockups throughout their design.

They are especially eager to see them on the field on Friday, under the lights.

“I know everyone’s excited to wear them tomorrow,” second baseman Jake Cronenworth said. “It’s going to be cool to see all the new jerseys in the stands and obviously going to miss the old ones, too.”

He added: “I liked the last ones a lot. Those were cool. But it’s a similar thing. You never know how they’re going to look until you start wearing them.”

 

Notable

The Padres will have to make a roster move when they activate Adam, likely Friday. RHP Ron Marinaccio is out of options and has a 2.35 ERA through 7⅔ innings to start the year. RHP David Morgan (0.00 ERA), RHP Bradgley Rodriguez (1.42 ERA) and Hart (4.70 ERA) have options left.
3B Manny Machado was presented with his third Silver Slugger Award —all with the Padres — before Thursday’s game. He hit .275/.335/.460 with 27 homers and 95 RBIs last year as the top offensive third baseman in the NL. “It’s kind of crazy that it’s only three, but, yeah, you get lucky to get these awards. Definitely blessed to be able to go out there and put out a good season like I did last year, and hopefully continue to do it this year.”