For the first time in his baseball career, former Troy standout Brandon Lockridge has broken camp with a Major League team. After five minor-league seasons, the outfielder is on the San Diego Padres’ roster for Opening Day.

“When I got told that I had made the team, it was an overwhelming feeling at the time,” Lockridge told The Sporting Tribune on Wednesday. “I was just relieved, excited, everything. It’s kind of set in the last few days — the nerves a little bit. I’m like, ‘Wow, I did not know this was the way I’d feel.’ But it’s good nerves. I think I’d have something wrong with me if I didn’t feel this way. I’m just excited to get out there. I think once the first couple of pitches are thrown, I’ll settle in and enjoy the game.”

Lockridge got his first taste of the big leagues last season, when he played in 12 September games and two playoff contests for San Diego. He batted .167 in those games after hitting .325 for the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate, in 2024.

In 21 Cactus League games during San Diego’s spring training, Lockridge hit .356 and stole seven bases.

“Good for Lock,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said on Monday. “He’s making his first Opening Day, and he’s more than earned it. And what can he do? The one way I’ve been taught to think about rosters is how does this player beat the other team, in simple terms. So the thing about Lock is he can do it a lot of different ways.

“He clearly can run. He’s a plus-plus, top-of-the-scale runner. It’s good that he can run, but that’s only as good as the application. And so he’s a really good outfielder. He takes good routes. He can play all three outfield positions. You’ve noticed him a little more in left recently for obvious reasons. I’d expect him to get some opportunities there, especially against left-handers. He can clearly play center. He’s got speed in the bunt game. And also when he’s on base, he’s a fearless base runner, not only capable of stealing a base, he’s just a good base-runner in general.

“The guy helps you in a lot of different ways, and then this guy’s really had a good, productive offensive spring. He continues to get better. He’s consistently good with his approach, uses the whole field, so he helps us a lot.”

Lockridge’s opportunity to play likely will come as a right-handed alternative in left field to Jason Heyward. Heyward started his MLB career with the Atlanta Braves when Lockridge was a 13-year-old in Pensacola, Florida.

“I watched Heyward as a kid,” Lockridge said. “It’s pretty crazy to be locker mates with him right now. He’s been great to me. There’s so much wisdom in here, and I’m just trying to soak everything in and take it a day at a time.”

Heyward is new to the Padres, as San Diego seeks to replace left-fielder Jurickson Profar, who left for the Atlanta Braves in free agency after hitting .280 with 24 home runs in 2024.

“He was a great guy,” Lockridge said of Profar. “He was awesome to me when I came up last year. It was fun to watch him play. He’s a really good player, and it’s unfortunate to see him leave. That’s a tough person to fill in for, so I just hope to go out there and do whatever is in my game to help the team win and put together as good of a season as I can.”

Lockridge hit .306 in 175 games across three seasons at Troy. He left the Trojans as a fifth-round selection of the New York Yankees in 2018.

Lockridge had a .295 batting average and 34 stolen bases in 72 games for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankee’s Triple-A affiliate, in 2024, when New York traded him to San Diego for relief pitcher Enyel De Los Santos and minor-league pitcher Thomas Balboni.

In five games with the Yankees, De Los Santos posted a 14.21 ERA before being waived, although New York still won the American League pennant.

Lockridge got to the postseason, too, when San Diego kept him for its playoff roster after his September callup. He came in twice as a pinch-runner and finished one of the games in left field.

“It’s hard to describe the feelings of being here in the playoffs last year,” Lockridge said. “I’ve heard people talk about it before. It really gave me chills ever single night being in the dugout watching our guys compete. We had such a great group last year, and a lot of the same guys are back, so to tee it up on Opening Day with a similar group, we have high aspirations for the season and we’re looking forward to it.”

The Padres start their season against the Atlanta Braves at 3:10 p.m. CDT Thursday at Petco Park in San Diego.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.