MWL1 Fort Wayne TinCaps

James Darnell Added to Padres MLB Roster

Published on August 8, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


NEW YORK - The San Diego Padres announced a number of roster moves today. The club has placed infielder Chase Headley on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 6, with a fractured finger on his left hand, placed right-handed pitcher Ernesto Frieri on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 5, with a lower back strain and selected infielder James Darnell from Triple-A Tucson. In addition, the Padres have recalled left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc from Tucson and transferred outfielder Brad Hawpe to the 60-day disabled list. Executive Vice President/General Manager Jed Hoyer made the announcements.

Darnell, 24, has hit .317 (124-for-391) with 29 doubles, one triple, 23 home runs, 75 RBI, 80 runs scored and 64 walks against 70 strikeouts over 102 games between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tucson this season. The infielder was selected to the United States roster of Major League Baseball's 2011 Futures Game as well as a mid-season Texas League All-Star this year. A native of Fresno, CA, Darnell was signed by the Padres as a second-round selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. Over parts of four minor league seasons in the Padres (2008-11) organization, he has hit .304 (399-for-1313) with 95 doubles, seven triples, 56 home runs, 229 RBI, 220 runs scored and 211 walks against 239 strikeouts in 352 games played.

Headley, 27, has hit .292 (107-for-366) with 28 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 43 RBI, 42 runs scored, 51 walks against 86 strikeouts and 13 stolen bases in 107 games played for the Padres this season. The switch-hitter has posted a .333 (66-for-198) batting average on the road this season, the fourth best mark in the Majors. Originally signed as a second-round selection by the Padres in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Headley has hit .269 (503-for-1868) with 108 doubles, eight triples, 36 home runs, 203 RBI, 216 runs scored, 201 walks and 44 stolen bases over 523 games played across parts of five Major Leagues seasons, all with the Padres (2007-11).

Frieri, 26, has gone 1-2 with a 3.47 ERA (19 ER/49.1 IP) and 60 strikeouts against 29 walks over 46 relief appearances for San Diego this season. The right-hander ranks tied for eighth among National League relievers this season with 60 strikeouts. Originally signed by the Padres as a non-drafted free agent in January of 2003, Frieri is the longest tenured player in the entire Padres organization. Making his Major League debut for the Padres in 2009, he has gone 2-3 with a 2.71 ERA (25 ER/83.0 IP), a .209 (63-for-302) opponents batting average and 103 strikeouts against 47 walks in 81 career relief appearances over parts of three Major League seasons for San Diego (2009-11).

LeBlanc, who recently turned 27 years old yesterday, will be making his fifth stint with the Padres in 2011. He will make the Padres' start on Tuesday against the New York Mets at Citi Field. The southpaw was previously recalled from Triple-A Tucson on July 31, making the start that day against the Colorado Rockies at PETCO Park before being optioned back to Tucson the next day. In four starts total for San Diego this season, he has gone 0-2 with a 4.98 ERA (12 ER/21.2 IP). In 17 starts for Tucson this season, he has gone 9-1 with a 4.30 ERA (51 ER/106.2 IP) and 92 strikeouts against 28 walks. Originally signed as a second-round selection by the Padres in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, LeBlanc has gone 12-18 with a 4.55 ERA (119 ER/235.1 IP) in 44 career games, 42 starts, over parts of four Major League seasons, all with the Padres (2008-11).

Hawpe, 32, was originally placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 21. The outfielder hit .231 (45-for-195) with 10 doubles, four home runs, 19 RBI, 19 runs scored and 19 walks against 68 strikeouts in 62 games played for San Diego this season. He was signed as a free agent by the Padres on January 3 this year. Originally signed by the Colorado Rockies as an 11th-round selection in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, he has hit .276 (801-for-2907) with 176 doubles, 23 triples, 124 home runs, 490 RBI, 398 runs scored and 425 walks against 796 strikeouts over parts of eight Major League seasons with the Rockies (2004-10), Tampa Bay Rays (2010) and Padres (2011).

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