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Locastro inked a minor league contract and will likely start his season with the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Padres' Triple-A affiliate. 

"I think that's a good thing," he said in a phone interview. "Obviously I'm coming off shoulder surgery. I still want to have a good spring training, but I don't have to go all out and risk injuring myself early in the process. I'm looking at it as a blessing in disguise." 

Locastro joined the Padres during spring training last season. He received a non-roster invitation, which gave him an opportunity to make the major league roster. However, the Padres opted to send him to the minors.

With El Paso, Locastro got off to a hot start. He batted .333 with two home runs and 11 runs batted in. He also had eight stolen bases and led the minors with 10 hits by pitches. 

But a fluke injury ended his promising season. He attempted to steal a base during a May 14 game when he landed awkwardly and dislocated his right shoulder. 

Locastro tried to rehab the injury, but was unable to throw. He had surgery in July to repair damage to the shoulder, including his labrum. 

His shoulder is in great shape, he says, and he was cleared to throw. During the offseason, he worked with Zachary Kaplan, a physical therapist with Victory Sports Medicine & Orthopedics in Skaneateles. 

"He got me right and ready to go," Locastro said. 

After the 2024 season, Locastro elected free agency to consider his options. One was to return to the Padres organization. 

There was communication with the Padres during the offseason, he said, but the talks became more serious last week. 

Locastro did not want his final baseball act to be a season-ending injury. He was playing well last season and was surrounded by great coaches and teammates — "a perfect scenario," he said — before the unfortunate injury. 

Although he is eager to return to action, his goal is to make it back to the majors. He last appeared in a major league game in 2023 with the New York Mets. Last season was the first since his 2017 debut that he didn't play in the majors. 

"If I'm able to do it, that would be just as good an accomplishment as when I first got called up," Locastro said. 

To complete the comeback, Locastro knows he must play well with El Paso. If he does that, he might get an opportunity to be called up by the Padres. 

For now, his focus is on the first step: minor league spring training. 

"Get off to a good start and go from there," he said.