Bud Black appears to be coming around to the possibility of Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal returning in time for the regular season. Grandal has accelerated his recovery from a knee injury that all but wiped out 2013 for him.
"Watching him (Wednesday) doing some agility drills on the field, we're really encouraged about how he's moving and what he's doing on the field," Black told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "You talk to the doctors, you talk to the therapists, you talk to the strength guys, they are really - I don't want to say amazed - but they are extremely happy with his progression."
Nick Hundley is considered the starter on the team depth chart, but Grandal would likely usurp that role if he proves himself healthy.