PADRE UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Bruce Hurst Gets Assignment as Padres’ Opening-Day Starter

Bruce Hurst will be the Padres’ opening-day pitcher April 6 against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium, Padre Manager Greg Riddoch announced Friday. It will be Hurst’s second opening-day assignment since joining the Padres in 1988.

“It’s not etched in stone, but as long as he’s healthy, he’ll be going opening day,” Riddoch said. “He’s a winner.”

Hurst, who was the losing pitcher in the Padres’ opening-day loss in 1990 to the Dodgers, said: “It’s awfully early in the spring to make those announcements. It’s a nice honor, but no big deal. I’ve pitched a few before, and you have all the hoopla and everything. But after the pregame ceremonies, everything else is the same.”

Hurst, 15-8 with a 3.29 ERA last season, probably will be matched up against Jose Rijo of the Reds.

Mark Knudson, 31, the Milwaukee Brewers’ opening-day starter last season, signed a triple-A contract Friday with the Padres and will join them in camp today to compete for the fifth spot in the starting rotation.

Knudson, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound right-hander, has been with the Brewers for all or part of the past six seasons. He was 1-3 with a 7.97 ERA with the Brewers in 12 games in 1991, spending one month on the disabled list and six weeks in the minors.

Ironically, his one victory occurred on opening day when he beat Nolan Ryan and the Texas Rangers. He then got the flu, missed his next start, and never again was the same. He made three more starts, went on the disabled list May 2 with a weak right shoulder, and returned June 7 to the bullpen. He was sent to triple-A Denver on July 18 and never returned to the big leagues. Knudson was 10-9 with a 4.12 ERA in 1990.

In the off-season, Knudson persuaded Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, that he was worth a look.

“He’s kind of a flyer,” McIlvaine said. “We really don’t have any scouting reports on him. We’ll bring him in and take a look. We don’t have anything to lose.”

Catcher Dann Bilardello, who’s in his 15th professional season, learned Friday that once again he will be without a baseball card. Topps officials left packets of baseball cards on each major league player’s locker, and Bilardello was skipped again.

“I’m going to have to pay those guys myself just so they can make a baseball card of me,” he said.

Deciding to get even, Bilardello sneaked around the Padre clubhouse and stole several baseball cards from the lockers of the big-name players.

“If I don’t get to have any cards,” Bilardello said, “I’m going to steal everybody else’s and make some money out of it.”

Starter Adam Peterson finally arrived in camp Friday after taking a strange route to Yuma. Peterson traveled to San Diego on Feb. 20, worked out at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium the following day, was on a plane back to Tacoma, Wash., on Feb. 21, traveled back to San Diego on Feb. 27, and was at the team hotel early Friday morning.

“Man, what a week,” Peterson said.

The scenario was created Feb. 21 when the Padres signed free-agent second baseman Kurt Stillwell, and they needed a roster spot. They outrighted Peterson, gave him the news, sent him home and told him to wait for a week to see if he’d be claimed on waivers.

Peterson sat around at home before being informed Thursday that he went unclaimed. Peterson then had the option of either joining the Padres or becoming a free agent. He chose to return to the Padres.

“Really, there’s no difference in my situation before,” Peterson said. “I still have to make the team, it’s just that I’m not on the roster. I think I can make this team again, and plan to prove it.

“I just have to make sure I stay away from Pittsburgh.”

It was in Pittsburgh last season, recall, when Peterson got mugged outside the team hotel.

First baseman Phil Stephenson, who played in only 30 games last year because of avascular necrosis in his right knee, says he feels healthy once again. “It feels great,” Stephenson said. “I don’t have full strength yet, but the mobility finally is there. I’m ready.” . . . Stillwell officially signed his contract Friday after working out details. . . . The Padres signed infielder Jeff Gardner, leaving 12 remaining unsigned players. . . . Batting coach Merv Rettenmund drove back to San Diego after practice to be with his wife, Susan, who celebrated her birthday. “It was only her 12th birthday because of leap year,” Rettenmund said, “so I figured I better be there.” . . . The Padres canceled three “B” games in Yuma because of minor pitching injuries, but will play four “B” games in their eight-day stint in Phoenix beginning March 10.