One notable exception from a year ago is third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, who was shipped in the off-season to Oakland for Scott Hairston, the first major move by Hoyer, a Theo Epstein disciple. The deal enabled Headley to move from left field back to his natural position at the hot corner, and as the cleanup hitter behind two-time All-Star Adrian Gonzalez.

But it was also quite the gamble by Hoyer, who replaced long-time GM Kevin Towers, who was fired by new CEO Jeff Moorad last October. Although not as athletic as Headley, Kouzmanoff, a Padres fan favorite, had won the Gold Glove in 2009 and averaged nearly 20 home runs and more than 80 RBI over three seasons at PETCO Park. In contrast, Headley, San Diego’s second round pick in the 2005 draft out of Tennessee, hit just .262 in 2009 with 12 HR and 64 RBI in his first full big league season.

“To be honest, I just never felt right last year,” said Headley, who turns 26 on May 9. “I never felt like I was the hitter I knew I could be.”

Headley went back home to Knoxville after the season and in early December started studying film from his 2007 season in Double-A San Antonio when he batted .330. The video showed he needed to move his hands down the barrel of the bat four to five inches from where they were in 2009, so could have more time to adjust quicker to a pitch.

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After bringing a .236 average into June a year ago, the change has paid immediate dividends with Headley among the National League’s leaders in 2010 in batting average, runs, hits and stolen bases. His defense at third base has also been sterling. On Friday, Headley made a difficult slow roller down the line look easy, firing barehanded off balance to first base for the out.

“(Headley’s) maturing as a player,” Eckstein commented. “He’s not letting little things affect him like one at-bat affecting the next one.”

With few immediate reinforcements in its minor leagues, Headley’s young teammates will need to both stay healthy and start producing to remain a contender — and continue to play scrappy like Eckstein. Already, former All-Star pitcher Chris Young and switch-hitting Nicaraguan shortstop Everth Cabrera have hit the disabled list. Regulars Venable, Kyle Blanks and Tony Gwynn are each batting under .250, and 22-year-old starter Mat Latos needs to mature in the rotation, adding support to the impressive April of starters Garland (.072 ERA in his last four starts), Kevin Correia (4-1, 3.86 ERA) and lefty Clayton Richard (1-2, 3.00 ERA) who was acquired for Peavy last July.

So can the Padres really keep this up? In arguably a weak division, Headley thinks so, and fans may just have a better read in another month, with San Diego playing 13 games against division opponents in May starting this week with Colorado and next week with San Francisco and Los Angeles.

“We’re a young team, yes,” Headley emphasized. “But we’re a young, talented team and we’re proving it.”

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Joe Connor is a contributor to NBCSports.com and author of the online MLB ballpark tour guide, “A Fan’s Guide To The Ultimate Ballpark Tour: Fully Loaded!” which is available for purchase exclusively at his Web sites: www.modernerabaseball.com and www.mrsportstravel.com.