No Payne, No Gain

Published on April 18, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release

Fort Wayne, IN - Outfielder Danny Payne will join the Fort Wayne Wizards today and outfielder Angel Mercado has landed on the disabled list, San Diego Padres team officials announced prior to the Wizards opener of a six-game homestand.

Payne was selected by the Padres in the supplemental first round, 64th overall, of the 2007 draft out of Georgia Tech. He spent a majority of his season with the Eugene Emeralds of the Northwest League, hitting .279 with eight doubles, three triples, 21 runs batted in, 17 stolen bases and a league-best 53 walks. Payne appeared in two games with the Wizards at the end of last year.

Payne was a two-year starter at Georgia Tech, batting leadoff and starting in centerfield. He was a pre-season candidate for the Brooks Wallace Award, the college baseball player of the year and a pre-season second team All-America. In 2006, Payne was a member of the first-team All-ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference), leading the Yellow Jackets with a .356 batting average, along with 11 home runs, 14 doubles, 44 RBI and 20 stolen bases.

Mercado has appeared in 10 games, mainly as the designated hitter, hitting .250 with one double, one home run and nine runs batted in.

Fort Wayne opens a six-game homestand starting at 6:00 PM on Friday, hosting the Quad Cities River Bandits (St. Louis Cardinals affiliate) in the first of a three-game series. The homestand continues with a 4:00 PM contest on Saturday and wraps up on Sunday at 2:00 PM.

The Wizards host the Clinton Lumber Kings (Texas Rangers affiliate) starting at 6:00 PM on Monday for the first Dollar Night ($1.00 hot dogs, soft drinks and beer) of the season, and continue their series with Clinton at 6:00 PM on Tuesday and concludes the three-game series at 11:00 AM on Wednesday.

Midwest League Stories from April 18, 2008

• Kernels break out with 9-1 win over Silver Hawks - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Snappers Claim Rain Shortened Contest - Beloit Sky Carp
• Wizards win 7-2 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Wizards win 7-2 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Chiefs Start Michigan Six-Pack with 7-4 Loss - Peoria Chiefs
• Snappers, Weather Stop Rattlers - Beloit Sky Carp
• Johnson Leads Loons to Victory - Great Lakes Loons
• Dragons Lose 7-2 to Clinton on Friday - Dayton Dragons
• Bees Win First Road Game of Season - Burlington Bees
• Granderson Goes 2-4 with a Triple; 'Caps shutout, 3-0 - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Lugnuts squander early lead in 7-4 loss - Lansing Lugnuts
• Cougars Bolt Past Lugnuts - Kane County Cougars
• No Payne, No Gain - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Loons Transaction: Garabedian To DL; Lopez Activated - Great Lakes Loons
• Chiefs Add Top Prospect Vitters - Peoria Chiefs

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Fort Wayne TinCaps Stories

• Christmas Day Added to Parkview Field Holiday Lights Schedule
• Johnny TinCap Headed to Arizona Fall League's "Fall Stars Weekend"
• Garrett Hawkins Named Padres Minor League Pitcher of the Year
• Micah Gerhart Named Midwest League Athletic Trainer of the Year
• Miguel Mendez and Garrett Hawkins Named Midwest League All-Stars