Ty France will take the field in San Diego on Tuesday with the Padres facing elimination, but the first baseman has already shown the kind of short memory October demands.
A day after an unusual Game 1 moment in Milwaukee, when a would-be France home run wound up in the glove of left fielder Jackson Chourio, France answered with the bat and glove in Game 2 at American Family Field. He drove in San Diego’s first run with a first-inning line-drive single against Logan Henderson, added another RBI single to right in the seventh, and helped preserve a one-run lead with a sharp defensive play in the ninth.
France scooped Xander Bogaerts’ throw at first base to retire Garrett Mitchell for the inning’s first out. It was the sort of dependable play that has become routine during a remarkable return season for the 32-year-old.
“It was everywhere,” France said of the Game 1 replay. “It is what it is. It’s baseball.”
A season built on proving himself again
France’s road back to the Padres was not a straight line. San Diego selected him in the 34th round of the 2015 Draft out of San Diego State, and he reached the majors in 2019 before being traded to Seattle the following year. He later moved to Cincinnati in 2024, signed with Minnesota in 2025 and was dealt to Toronto that July.
He returned to the Padres in February on a Minor League contract. Even after winning the previous season’s Gold Glove Award at first base, France arrived in camp needing to win a roster spot. He did that, made the Opening Day club and gradually moved from a defensive option who faced left-handed pitching into San Diego’s cleanup hitter.
“My approach was to come into Spring Training, earn a job and play with that chip on my shoulder,” France said. “I wanted to show that I belonged in this league. I never really lost that feeling this year. I used it as fuel all year.”
That edge has been familiar to France since his youth.
“It goes back to when I was 12 or 13,” he said. “I’ve always felt like an underdog in my career and had to prove at every step that I belonged.”
Production at the plate, steadiness at first
France put together the finest offensive season of his eight-year major league career, setting a personal best with 21 home runs while batting .295 with a .363 on-base percentage, a .502 slugging percentage and an .865 OPS in 133 games.
| Ty France, 2026 regular season | Mark |
|---|---|
| Games | 133 |
| Batting average | .295 |
| On-base percentage | .363 |
| Slugging percentage | .502 |
| OPS | .865 |
| Home runs | 21 |
| Fielding percentage at first base | .997 |
| Innings at first base | 1,030 1/3 |
Among Padres hitters with at least 450 plate appearances, France led the club in average, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS. His .865 OPS ranked eighth among qualified National League hitters, behind Pete Crow-Armstrong (.943), Juan Soto (.908), James Wood (.891), Shohei Ohtani (.889), Elly De La Cruz (.880), Gabriel Moreno (.874) and Jake Bauers (.874).
His work at first base mattered just as much. France posted eight Outs Above Average, placing him in the 93rd percentile overall, across more than 1,030 innings at the position.
“He stabilized first base for us and helped make our defense an elite one,” Manny Machado said. “The way he carries himself, his character and the kind of teammate he is, it’s special. For him to come back here and have this career year, it’s great to see and great to be part of.”
Machado remembered France’s earlier time with San Diego, when Eric Hosmer was entrenched at first base in 2019. France did not have a clear everyday position then, but his offensive potential was evident.
“We always knew the bat was there,” Machado said. “Now, a few years later, he’s back and showing everyone what we knew he could be.”
No lingering effect from Game 1
Manager Craig Stammen had no concern about sending France back into the lineup for Game 2 after the Chourio robbery. France’s calm disposition, Stammen said, helps him turn the page.
“Ty is a very even-keeled person,” Stammen said. “He might be the guy joking around in the dugout more than anybody. That’s his personality, and that is how he keeps himself locked in.”
France was asked whether the open roof in Game 2 brought any relief after the strange Game 1 play. He shrugged off the idea.
“The odds of that happening two times are very low,” he said.
Now the series shifts to San Diego for Game 3 on Tuesday, with the Padres needing a win to extend their season. France’s outlook has not changed with the stakes rising.
“You can’t ever think you’ve arrived or get comfortable, because this game can humble you quickly,” France said. “I’ve had my share of challenges over the last couple years. Even when you play with that chip on your shoulder, the game is hard and it can beat you up. You have to find a way to enjoy it and make it fun. To be in this environment and sitting here on this stage is very gratifying.”
