Martin remained in seclusion on Wednesday, the day after he was charged with assault on Shawn Haggerty-Martin. General manager Kevin Towers hopes Martin is back in camp Thursday following the bizarre turn of events that led to Martin and Haggerty-Martin spending Monday night in jail in Scottsdale.

"He needs to get back here and in uniform," Towers said. "I think he needs to get back with his players. He's got support here from this ballclub."

Still, Towers knows that's it's going to be hard for Martin, the Padres' new leadoff hitter and left fielder, to get on with his life and career.

Towers and Padres owner John Moores met with Martin and his wife, Cathy, for about 1½ hours on Tuesday afternoon, following his initial court appearance. Towers described Martin as "very quiet, very set back."

"I'm sure a lot of things are going through his mind. I think he's scared," Towers said.

For instance, Tuesday afternoon was the first time Martin met Moores, who ended up helping to counsel the player and his wife.

"We kind of brought him over as a leader, and for this to happen, I'm sure he's questioning what the organization's thoughts are about, what his teammates think about him, what's going to happen with the rest of his career, how his wife and kid feel about him," Towers said.

Also, things like how hard it's going to be to play in front of 50,000 people and to hear the inevitable comments from fans. The Padres, by the way, open the season at Shea Stadium against the New York Mets.

Towers said Martin also needs to face the media. Martin, obtained in a trade with Pittsburgh on Feb. 23, issued a statement Tuesday night through his agent, Jeff Moorad, categorically denying the charges against him.

"He's made the statement, but he's going to have to face this head on," Towers said. "It's not going to be easy. I think he realizes that. Until he gets an opportunity to face you all and tell his side of the story, it's not going to go away."

Even so, Martin is due back in court on April 12 for a pretrial conference.

Martin was charged with assault-physical injury for allegedly hitting Haggerty-Martin in the face, and with threatening or intimidating. Haggerty-Martin was charged with assault-domestic violence for allegedly starting the fight after confronting Martin over their marital status. All are misdemeanors.

Scottsdale police are investigating Haggerty-Martin's contention that Martin is married to two women, Sgt. Doug Dirren said Wednesday. Bigamy is a felony.

Towers briefed the Padres on Wednesday morning. He told them that Martin was embarrassed and had asked Towers to apologize on his behalf for his actions. Martin plans to speak to his teammates when he returns, Towers and Moorad said.

The GM said the key factor for Martin is to get emotional support from his teammates.

Infielder Ed Sprague, who played with Martin last year in Pittsburgh, said players shouldn't jump to conclusions.

"I know he'd run through a brick wall for this team," Sprague said. "I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I know his wife and kid are standing by him, so I don't see why we shouldn't."

In his statement, Martin said he has known Haggerty-Martin for several years, and that he and wife Cathy "have been working through some very personal issues that are best kept private between a husband and wife."

Although Martin denied the charges, the police report said Martin admitted to hitting Haggerty-Martin.

Authorities told Shawn Michelle Haggerty-Martin and Padres outfielder Al Martin to stay away from each other.(AP)

Towers said the situation is "strange."

"This isn't just a domestic violence or simple battery incident, it takes all kinds of twists and turns."

Like the Las Vegas wedding that Haggerty-Martin describes in the police report. She said it occurred on Dec. 11, 1998, and that at the time, she didn't know Martin was already married. Martin said the couple had a ceremony in Vegas, but that he didn't think it was real.

The police report quoted Haggerty-Martin as saying the fight started because she was "sick and tired" of Martin not divorcing his other wife.

The Padres could terminate Martin's contract if any of the charges prove true. Towers said it wasn't fair for him to address that issue now.

Manager Bruce Bochy said the Martin case hasn't been a distraction.

"We're not even talking about it," he said after a 6-3 loss to Anaheim at Tempe. "We hope it all gets resolved, but we've got to go on. We're getting close to the season."