Padres Press Clips Tuesday, August 22, 2017

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TinCaps' Hudson Potts strong to start a new week UT San Diego Sanders 2

Renfroe makes most of unplanned detour MLB.com Center 3

Tatis Jr. set for Double-A debut MLB.com Rosenbaum 6

Venezuela Little Leaguers get a big lift amid turmoil AP AP 7

Padres On Deck: Tatis Jr. Promoted; TinCaps’ Potts, FriarWire Center 9

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TinCaps' Hudson Potts strong to start a new week

Jeff Sanders One reigning player of the week is off to another strong week.

Hudson Potts, 18, hit his 16th homer, doubled and scored two runs in low Single-A Fort Wayne’s 5-3 loss to visiting Great Lakes on Monday night.

Potts’ two-hit day lifted his average to .251.

Last week, he went 14-for-28 with a double, two homers, six RBIs, seven runs and two walks.

Right-hander Lake Bachar was also named the Midwest League pitcher of the week after throwing seven perfect innings Thursday.

In Monday’s start, left-hander Osvaldo Hernandez (0-1, 6.75) allowed four runs on five hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings in his first Midwest League start. He struck out five.

Fort Wayne is 35-22 in the second half and 61-66 overall.

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (64-65)

• Tacoma 9, Chihuahuas 6: RHP Kyle Lloyd (1-4, 7.42) allowed seven runs on six hits and two walks in one-plus inning in the start. RHP Christian Bethancourt (8.12) walked three but didn’t give up a hit in two scoreless innings. RF (.600) went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, an RBI and two runs scored in his return to the PCL and 3B Christian Villanueva doubled in three runs. Chase d’Arnaud singled to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. The loss dropped El Paso one game behind first-place Salt Lake in the Southern Division.

SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (15-11, 35-29)

• Spokane 1, Dust Devils 0: LHP Aaron Leasher (2.00) struck out four and allowed two hits and a walk over five shutout innings in the no-decision. 2B Justin Lopez (.248) and RF Luis Asuncion (.277) both singled for Tri-City’s lone hits. Asuncion also swapped his sixth base. 2

ROOKIE AZL PADRES1 (8-10, 23-23)

• Royals 5, Padres 1: RHP Adrian Martinez (4.85) struck out six and allowed a run on four hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision. C Luis Campusano (.308) went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk but committed two throwing errors.

ROOKIE AZL PADRES2 (11-7, 26-19)

• Rangers 6, Padres 3: LHP Ramon Perez (2-1, 2.50) allowed three runs – two earned – on three hits and five walks in three innings in the loss. C Janigson Villalobos (.288) doubled in two runs and DH Blake Hunt (.229) and 1B Justin Paulsen (.287) each had two hits.

ROOKIE DSL PADRES (23-43)

• Reds 2, Padres 0: RHP Martin Carrasco (2.64) struck out five and hit a batter over five no-hit innings in a no-decision. 3B Luis Guzman (.246) collected of the Padres’ four hits.

Transactions

• SS Fernando Tatis Jr., officially, was transferred from Fort Wayne to San Antonio.

• OF Tyler Benson was transferred from Tri-City to Fort Wayne.

• OF Alberth Martinez was released from San Antonio. Renfroe makes most of unplanned detour Look no farther than Asuaje and Spangenberg to see what can be accomplished

By Bill Center / Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.

I've viewed most player's first trip to the Major Leagues as a reconnaissance trip.

Most players arrive in the Major Leagues with little idea of what a giant step they've just taken.

Some prosper as soon as they arrive. But many good players don't.

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And many wind up returning to the minor leagues at some point in time. Some get demoted because the Major Leagues have exposed flaws in their games. Others go down to get their confidence rebuilt. Usually, players return much stronger and better prepared when they arrive in the Major Leagues for a second time.

Cases in point for these Padres - Cory Spangenberg and Carlos Asuaje.

Both were returned to El Paso last spring to work on their games. Both did. And look at them now. I'm hoping Hunter Renfroe accepts and reacts to his demotion the same way.

I'm hoping he's ticked about going back down, as Spangenberg certainly was. I don't want players who aren't ticked about getting sent out. Then I'm hoping he channels that into improving himself as a player. I think this could be a huge positive for Renfroe, who is still only 25. He has skills and athleticism. He drives the ball with power. He can run. And he has a great arm. But that does not make him a complete ballplayer.

Renfroe was hitting .230 on the season with a .285 on-base percentage. Although he had 20 home runs, Renfroe also had 125 in 404 at-bats. Since he last hit a homer on July 25, Renfroe was 8-for-64 (.125) with four doubles, three RBIs and four walks. And since Aug. 7, Renfroe was 5-for-33 with 15 strikeouts.

He has work to do offensively and defensively. He needs to reach base more on offense and run better routes and tune the accuracy of his arm on defense.

"Nothing's changed in our long-term belief of what Hunter can be on a field and what our expectations are with him," Padres manager Andy Green said of Renfroe after sending him down Saturday. "We still think he has every opportunity to lock down the right field job for the future. "We also think there's things to work on. And we want to see the needle move. Being honest with the way this last 1 ½ months or two months have gone, we haven't seen the needle move in the areas we've asked for it to move. At some point in time, you ask yourself 'What's the best way to help someone improve?' This is a viable option to do that . . . to let people know how serious you are about little things being done and improvements being made.

"With Hunter, getting on base consistently, that's been something that has been brought to his attention for a considerable period of time. If you want to be an impact player at the Major League level, you have to

4 do, in my mind, at least two of the following three things. You have to get on base, you have to drive the ball out of the ballpark, you have to defend the field." Here's hoping Renfroe checked in with Asuaje and Spangenberg before he departed for the .

"Give credit to Asuaje," said Green. "He stepped back. I sat down with him at the end of last year. I looked him in the face and said, 'you're not a Major League second baseman . . . that is the truth of where you are right now.' Now I can look him in the face and say 'you've turned yourself into a Major League second baseman.' I didn't do it for him. He took the initiative. He did the work. It became very important to him. And he did it."

Turning to Spangenberg's improvement, Green said: "Cory Spangenberg was as upset as anyone I've seen when we sent him down. He handled it the right way after that. It matters how they respond after that moment when they get sent down . . . what they do when they get on the field down in Triple-A. That's usually what happens when you couple talent and hard work. We saw that with Asuaje, We saw if with (Jose) Pirela. We saw it with Spangenberg. Three of the guys in the middle of the order today started the season in the minor leagues after being in the big leagues before. Sometimes that is absolutely the best thing you can do."

Here's hoping Renfroe does it. As Green said: "The ball is in Hunter's court."

NOTE WORTHY: • After getting at least one hit in 10 straight starts, Solarte is 2-for-19 in his last five starts, including Saturday night's . Solarte had gone 16-for-40 (.400) during the 10-game streak with two doubles and two homers. Solarte's homer Saturday was his first since Aug. 8. • LF Jose Pirela was 1-for-4 Sunday (and 5-for-15 in the four games against the Nationals). He is hitting .354 (17-for-48) while hitting safely in 10 of his last 13 games with four doubles, three homers and eight RBIs. He had a six-game hitting streak during the run. • RHP struck out three in a perfect 1 1/3 innings Sunday. Stammen has allowed just three runs in 19 1/3 innings over his last 18 appearances - a ERA of 0.47. He has allowed 12 hits and nine walks with 14 strikeouts during the run.

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Tatis Jr. set for Double-A debut

By Mike Rosenbaum / MLB.com

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:

Hitter to watch: Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres' No. 4), San Antonio vs. Frisco (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV) Tatis, MLB Pipeline's No. 58 overall prospect, is set to make the jump straight to Double-A San Antonio from Fort Wayne. During his time in the Midwest League, the 18-year-old shortstop batted .281/.390/.520 over 117 games and set a TinCaps franchise record with 21 home runs. Overall he accrued 54 extra-base hits, as well as 78 runs scored, 69 RBIs and 29 stolen bases.

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Venezuela Little Leaguers get a big lift amid turmoil AP SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — The players from Venezuela look as happy as any other team, dancing to “Shake Your Groove Thing” with the tournament mascot before a win over Mexico and raising the roof to “Taking Care of Business” before a loss to Canada.

They go through all the baseball routines — greeting a slugger after a home run, blessing themselves before at-bats and cheering their pitcher.

But they might not be at the Little League World Series were it not for the support of a couple of major league players from their home country.

“In a way, this helps them appreciate this in a different way,” Carolinne Valbuena, the mother of third baseman Jhann Bozo, said through an interpreter.

Venezuela has been caught in internal strife, pitting socialist President Nicolas Maduro against an opposition-led congress increasingly stripped of power. Underlying the civil unrest is a country living in poverty and beset by runaway inflation.

In addition, Maduro’s government has been at odds with the Trump administration. The U.S. president said this month he would not rule out a “military option” in Venezuela.

Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor first learned to play baseball in Maracaibo, the town that’s home to the Venezuelan squad.

“I know everybody on that team, in that league,” Odor told The Associated Press in Texas this weekend. “And that’s why I tried to help those kids.”

The first step for the players was obtaining a visa to the U.S., and they had to go to Caracas, the nation’s capital, to get them. Odor paid for their flights.

Simply flying to Caracas, though, wasn’t enough to get the players to the Little League World Series. Visas to the U.S. run about $170. 7

San Diego Padres pitcher Jhoulys Chacin is also from Maracaibo. He found out from a friend about the players’ financial plight and paid for all their visas.

Chacin’s Little League team lost to the Maracaibo team that eventually went on to win the Little League World Series in 2000.

“I know how big a deal it is for the young guys ... so they deserve to go,” Chacin said Sunday in San Diego. “I’m glad I could help them come here to play in the Little League World Series. That was one of my dreams when I was young.”

Still, there is a part of the Little League World Series experience that’s missing for most of the Venezuelan players. Only three parents of players on the team were able to make the trip.

And those three might not have made it if not for a donor from Venezuela who now lives in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, about a 30-minute drive to Williamsport. The man let them stay at his house, Valbuena said.

Javier Zerpa, who now lives in Maryland, was born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, and he and his 12-year-old son have gone to each of the last nine Little League World Series. Zerpa and his son have become friends with the Venezuelan team. Although most of the parents are not there, Zerpa said, the kids are still happy to be on the field.

After the loss to Canada on Sunday, Venezuelan team officials did not attend a postgame news conference. Individual interview requests were not granted.

Canada coach Ryan Hefflick said the excitement of the Venezuelan team was evident as soon as it stepped on the field.

“They’re a great bunch of kids,” Hefflick said. “One of the boys on that team, I think his nickname is ‘Spark Plug.’ They’ve got a lot of energy.”

Associated Press sports writers Stephen Hawkins in Dallas and Bernie Wilson in San Diego contributed to this report.

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Padres On Deck: Tatis Jr. Promoted; TinCaps’ Potts, Bachar Honored By Bill Center

There was considerable news Sunday night and Monday morning in the Padres’ minor league system.

The biggest news was the promotion of shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. from Single-A Fort Wayne to Double-A San Antonio, where the 18-year-old will become the youngest player in the .

Tatis Jr. had already set the Fort Wayne single-season record with 21 homers. He was hitting .281 with the TinCaps with a .390 on-base percentage and a .520 slugging percentage for a .910 OPS. And he was getting stronger as the season wore on.

At San Antonio, Tatis Jr. will form the double play with another top Padres prospect in second baseman Luis Urías. MLB.com ranks Tatis Jr. as the №3 prospect in the Padres system and the 20-year-old Urías №4.

In other news Monday morning, Fort Wayne right-hander Lake Bachar and third baseman Hudson Potts swept the Player of the Week honors in the Midwest League. Bachar, 22, pitched seven perfect innings last Thursday with seven strikeouts to earn Pitcher of the Week honors. Potts, 18, the Padres’ 23rd-ranked prospect, was 14-for-28 last week (Aug. 14–20) with a double, two home runs, six RBIs and seven runs scored.

Meanwhile, with two weeks remaining in the minor league regular season as many as five Padres affiliates could reach post-season play.

San Antonio has clinched a playoff berth in the Texas League. The Missions (71–54 overall) won the first half South Division title and are leading the second-half standings.

Triple-A El Paso (64–64) moved into first in Pacific Coast League’s Pacific South Division race Sunday with a 5–1 win at Tacoma. Only the division champion advances to the PCL playoffs. The Chihuahuas are the defending PCL champions and are seeking a third straight playoff berth

Short-season Single-A Tri-City (35–28) leads its second-half division race in the Northwest League as do the Padres-2 (26–18) in the Arizona Rookie League. Single-A Fort Wayne (35–21 in the second half) is a game behind Bowling Green in the race for a Midwest League playoff berth.

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— Right-hander Chris Huffman (4.64 ) allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts in six innings to lead El Paso to a 5–1 win at Tacoma Sunday. The Chihuahuas have won six of their last seven games and are 10–4 over their last 14.

— Rehabbing Padres’ right-hander Miguel Diaz (5.40 ERA) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings for Advanced Single-A Lake Elsinore. Left- hander Logan Allen (2.94) allowed a hit with seven strikeouts in four scoreless innings in relief on his scheduled start day.

— Right-hander Pedro Avila (3.01 ERA), who struck out 17 in his previous start, allowed one run on four hits and two walks with 13 strikeouts for Fort Wayne Sunday. Streaking third baseman Hudson Potts (.248) was 3-for-4 with a run scored.

— Center fielder Jeisson Rosario (.309) was 3-for-5 Sunday with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in the ARL.

There were several moves over the weekend in the Padres system.

Left-handed starting pitcher Osvaldo Hernandez was transferred from Tri-City to Fort Wayne to join fellow Cuban pitchers Adrian Morejon, Ronald Bolanos and Michel Baez plus outfielder Jorge Oña with the TinCaps.

Right-handed pitcher Evan Miller was transferred from Fort Wayne to Tri-City. Right-handed pitcher Elliot Ashbeck was activated from the disabled list and transferred from Advanced Single-A Lake Elsinore to Tri-City.

AROUND THE FARM:

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (64–64) — Chihuahuas 5, TACOMA 1: RHP Adam Cimber (3–1, 2.97 ERA) followed Huffman and allowed a hit in two scoreless innings to get credit for the win. RHP Cory Mazzoni (1.32) allowed a hit with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning. LF Franchy Cordero (.318) was 2-for-3 with a walk. 1B Chase d’Arnaud (.311) homered in four at-bats with a walk. SS Jose Rondon (.290) had a two-run double in four at-bats. 2B Diego Goris(.275) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. CF (.239) was 1-for-5 with two RBIs.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (30–25, 71–54) — TULSA 3, Missions 2: SS Luis Urias (.304) homered in three at-bats with a walk. LF Nick Schulz (.272) homered in his only at-bat. LF Nick Torres (.264) was 2-for-3. RF Franmil Reyes (.259) and 2B Noah Perio (.272) were each 1-for-4. Starting RHP Brett Kennedy (12–7, 3.65 ERA) allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings to suffer the loss. RHP Yimmi Brasoban (3.09) issued three walks with a in a hitless, scoreless 1 1/3 innings. LHP Jose Castillo (0.00) pitched a perfect inning.

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ADVANCED SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (23–34, 58–69) — Rancho Cucamonga 4, STORM 3: RHP Trevor Frank (4.71) followed Diaz and allowed a hit with a strikeout in two-thirds of a scoreless inning. RHP Gerardo Reyes (3–3, 2.59) allowed two runs on three hits in an inning with a strikeout to take the loss. 2B Peter Van Gansen (.240) was 2-for-4 with a double, a RBI and a run scored. LF River Stevens (.298) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. 3B Carlos Belen (.241) was 0-for-3 with a hit-by-pitcher and a run scored. CF Michael Gettys (.261) was 1-for-4 with a RBI. C Austin Allen (.295) and DH Fernando Perez (.288) were each 1-for-4.

SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (35–21, 61–65) — Great Lakes 2, TIN CAPS 1: RHP Dauris Valdez (0–1, 2.45 ERA) followed Avila and allowed a run on two hits and a walk with a strikeout in an inning to suffer the loss. 1B Kyle Overstreet (.321) backed Potts, going 2-for-3 with a walk. CF Buddy Reed (.227) was 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly. LF Nate Easley (.262), 2B Reinaldo Ilarraza (.226) and SS Gabriel Arias (.111) were all 1-for-4.

SHORT-SEASON SINGLE-A TRI CITY (16–10, 35–28) — DUST DEVILS 5, Spokane 3: C Jalen Washington (.190) was 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, a RBI and a run scored. 3B Luis Almanzar (.241) was 2-for-4 with a RBI. SS Kelvin Melean (.238) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. RF Luis Asuncion (.278) was 2-for-5 with a RBI. DH Tyler Benson (.298) was 1-for-4 with a walk, a RBI and a run scored. LF Aldemar Burjos (.252) was 1-for-4 with a run scored. 1B Chris Mattison (.221) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. 2B Matthew Batten (.256) was 0-for- 3 with a run scored. Starting LHP Ben Sheckler (2.81 ERA) allowed two runs on six hits with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. RHP Blake Rogers (1–0, 5.00) allowed a hit and a strikeout in 1 2/3 scoreless innings. RHP Andres Munoz (4.35) allowed a run on a hit with two strikeouts in an inning to get his first .

ARIZONA ROOKIE LEAGUE PADRES-1 (8–8, 23–22) — Padres-1 4, ROYALS 2: 2B Esteury Ruiz (.380) backed Rosario, going 2-for-4 with a triple, a stolen base and a run scored. DH Luis Campusano-Bracero (.295) was 2-for-4 with a solo homer. 1B Jason Pineda (.253) was 0- for-3 with a RBI. RF Dayon Olmo (.274) was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Starting RHP Caleb Boushley (2–2, 6.40 ERA) allowed two hits and a walk with six strikeouts in five scoreless innings. RHP Danny Sexton (6.75) allowed two runs (one earned) on a hit with a strikeout in two innings. RHP Diomar Lopez (1.80) struck out one in a scoreless inning for his first save.

ARIZONA ROOKIE LEAGUE PADRES-2 (11–6, 26–18) — The Padres-2 were off Sunday.

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (23–42) — The Dominican Summer League doesn’t play on Sundays.

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