I didn't expect to have my interest piqued in the seventh inning of an early-March Cactus League game on the other side of the Valley. The Padres' regulars, mostly, didn't make the trip to Scottsdale to face the D-backs. The few that did had been removed from Tuesday's game.

Yet, when José Azocar faced lefty reliever Joe Mantiply with two outs and nobody on, Graham Pauley strode to the on-deck circle for another at-bat. Pauley is one of the most intriguing prospects in big league camp, vying for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Mantiply, an All-Star, would offer a stiff test for the lefty-hitting Pauley.

I don’t root for much. But, man, I wanted to see Azocar reach base just to get a look at Pauley in that spot. I’m guessing Padres decision-makers felt the same. Sure enough, Azocar shot a single through the left side, bringing Pauley to the plate.

“I haven’t faced a ton of lefties so far this spring,” Pauley said. “I’ve been wanting to face some, and yesterday I got a chance.”

He made the most of it. Pauley laid off two very close pitches just off the outside corner. At 2-0, he got a sinker on the outer half of the plate and laced a single up the middle. It was the highlight of an impressive day for Pauley, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks (including one in the ninth against another of the D-backs’ big league lefties in Andrew Saalfrank).

“It definitely counts for something,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. "If you're going to be an everyday player, you need to be able to, as a lefty, stay in and hit lefties. It's a good sign he's been able to do it. He's had a nice spring."

On Wednesday, MLB Pipeline unveiled its preseason Top 30 Padres prospects list. Pauley was the biggest riser in the group. A 13th-round selection out of Duke in 2022, Pauley was unranked on that list a year ago. He’s made the jump all the way to No. 11.

I have a hunch he might not get much higher. By the time the next re-rank comes out, I don’t think Pauley’s going to be a prospect anymore. I think he’ll be a big leaguer.

There’s even a path for Pauley to win an Opening Day roster spot. The Padres don’t have an obvious DH. They could use a backup at first base. If Manny Machado begins the season limited to DH duties, well, the Padres will need a third baseman.

Pauley is capable of filling all of those roles. This spring, he’s hitting .333/.440/.619, with three extra-base hits including an easy-power opposite-field home run against the Giants on Saturday. He led the Padres’ farm system with 23 home runs last season, posting a .931 OPS across three different levels.

Much has been made about the Padres’ search for another bat. (And, make no mistake, they could definitely use one. Probably two.) But Pauley is emerging as an internal option for playing time.

"There’s only so much that’s in my control," Pauley said. "I’m going out there, and I’m going to compete every day. I’m going to keep learning from these guys that are some of the best players in the world.

"Just continue to play well. Whatever happens, happens. Wherever I go this year, however I can help, whatever team I’m on."

In 2020, who became the first player to serve as the Padres’ Opening Day DH?

A. Jake Cronenworth
B. Ty France
C. Tommy Pham
D. Jurickson Profar

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

• Robert Suarez appears destined to take over the ninth inning, albeit not necessarily as a traditional closer. After a tumultuous 2023 season, “Whatever happened last year is over with,” he says. Story >

• Less than a week until the Padres board their flight for Korea. Here are six questions they’ll need to answer before then. Story >

• Xander Bogaerts was back at shortstop on Wednesday. The move was temporary, though Shildt noted that Bogaerts would serve as the backup there. "A pretty good one, by the way," he added. Story >

• The Padres’ outfield race is wide open. A quick look at where things currently stand. Story >

QUICK HITS

• You can check out MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 prospects list here. My biggest takeaway? The depth and high-end talent in this system is impressive, considering how often it’s been turned over.

Particularly on the pitching side. Drew Thorpe, the team’s No. 5 prospect, remains in big league camp. But Robby Snelling (No. 3), Jairo Iriarte (No. 8), Adam Mazur (No. 10) and Austin Krob (No. 18) were all reassigned to the Minors this week.

Those five prospects have impressed this spring, combining to post a 1.50 ERA in nine outings.

"Those guys threw the ball exceptionally well," Shildt said. "I’ve just loved every part of how they took advantage of their experiences in camp."

• Jackson Merrill had been waiting all spring. In the fourth inning of Wednesday's game against the Reds, when Sal Stewart shot a single up the middle, and Jose Barrero rounded third base, his eyes lit up.

"About time, right?!" Merrill would later say, recalling his first outfield assist.

The Padres' No. 2 prospect is making the transition from shortstop to the outfield this spring, and he delivered a perfect one-hop strike to the plate on his first true opportunity to throw a runner out.

"It was cool to finally get one, and show that I can actually do it," he said.

B. France served as DH and went 1-for-4 in the 2020 opener against Arizona.