PEORIA, Ariz. — Ty France is officially a Padre again.
The corner infielder has been informed he will be on the opening-day roster.
“Still processing a little bit,” he said. “It was a whirlwind, for sure, but I’m excited to be a part of this group and kind of see where things go. … The journey I’ve had and the run I’ve had, it was special. And to be back here where it all started and back with this group of guys, I’m definitely excited about it. This is what we set out to do this offseason. And fortunately, that happened.”
France will be introduced along with the rest of the team before Thursday’s season-opening game against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park. He was also on the Padres at the start of the 2020 season, but there were no fans in the stands due to the pandemic.
The Padres drafted France in the 34th round out of San Diego State in 2015, and he made his major league debut with them in 2019. He was part of a seven-player trade at the deadline in 2020 that also sent relief pitcher Andres Muñoz to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for catcher Austin Nola and two relief pitchers.
France was an All-Star in 2022 and played for the Seattle Mariners until 2024, when they traded him to the Cincinnati Reds at the deadline. He signed with the Minnesota Twins last season and ended up playing in the World Series after he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the deadline.
He has hit .262/.334/.400 in 3,309 plate career appearances. No active player has been hit by more pitches than France has (126). He hit .257/.320/.360 and won the Gold Glove for American League first basemen in 2025.
He signed a minor-league deal with the Padres in February. As a free agent with six years of service time, France had the option to request his release on Saturday if he was not assured he would be on the major league roster.
France, whose salary for 2026 is $1.35 million, hit .318 (14-for-44) with two home runs, four doubles and two walks this spring.
The roster spot for an extra infielder was available because Sung-Mun Song will begin the season on the injured list with an oblique strain. Song has been hitting in the cage and could get live at-bats in the coming days, so the Padres will have another decision to make when he is ready to be activated.
