pad up

verb3

1. •
   To put on batting pads preparatory to taking the field to bat.

   • Normally only one batsman is padded up and Dean Jones was listed to bat next. — 1990
2. •
   To put on pads to ready oneself to play American football; to play for a team.

   • He padded up for the Bears in 1997.
3. •
   (slang) To put on a diaper.