Padres Rally Past Braves on Opening Day, Showcasing Their Grit and Resilience

On March 28, 2025, the San Diego Padres kicked off their season in dramatic fashion, rallying for a 7-4 comeback victory over the Atlanta Braves in front of a record-breaking Opening Day crowd of 45,568 at Petco Park.

A year ago, the Padres won 93 games—the second-highest total in franchise history—by playing aggressive, disciplined, and fundamentally sound baseball. Even with a star-studded roster, their success was built on selfless at-bats and resilience in high-pressure moments. But after a disappointing postseason exit and an offseason filled with uncertainty, one question remained: Would that identity carry over into 2025?

On Thursday afternoon, the Padres provided a resounding answer. They worked counts, rallied from behind, locked down on defense, and got contributions from all over the lineup. The biggest moment came in the seventh inning, when newcomer Gavin Sheets crushed a pinch-hit, game-tying home run, igniting a four-run rally that sealed the win.

"We played our brand of baseball," said center fielder Jackson Merrill. "It's huge that it's carried over—it's not just a one-year thing and done."

While some faces have changed, the Padres’ gritty mentality remains intact. Merrill, for instance, made a point to wear a Jurickson Profar T-shirt, honoring his former teammate, who was now in the Braves’ dugout. Though the Padres miss Profar’s presence, they proved they can push forward without him.

Rookie Brandon Lockridge, making his first Opening Day start, delivered a huge defensive play, robbing Ozzie Albies of extra bases with a leaping catch at the wall. Merrill followed with another highlight-reel grab an inning later. Then, in the seventh, with the Padres trailing by a run, manager Mike Shildt made the call for Sheets to pinch-hit against Braves right-hander Héctor Neris—a decision that changed the course of the game and set the tone for the 2025 season.