Padres Call up Former TinCap Austin Hedges
May 7, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release
Fort Wayne, Ind. - Former TinCaps catcher Austin Hedges made his Major League Baseball debut on Monday against the San Francisco Giants after being promoted by the Padres from Triple-A El Paso. The California native played for the TinCaps in 2012 and was a Midwest League All-Star as he hit .279 with a team-leading 28 doubles, 10 home runs, and 56 RBIs in 96 games. His home run and RBI totals were both good for second on the club that season.
Hedges joins Jace Peterson, Frank Garces, and Matt Stites as members of Fort Wayne's 2012 team who already have made it to the show. In total, that's now 133 former Fort Wayne TinCaps or Wizards who have made it to the big leagues.
Hedges received the news on El Paso's team bus on Sunday. A day later, he got his first pinch-hit opportunity at San Francisco's AT&T Park against the reigning World Series MVP, Madison Bumgarner.
"That was pretty cool to get my name called in that situation," Hedges said to U-T San Diego's Dennis Lin. "I felt good at the plate. (Bumgarner) obviously does some good things on the mound, but other than the result, I had an absolute blast out there."
On Wednesday, Hedges got the start behind the dish and went 1-4 with two RBIs in San Diego's 9-1 win over San Francisco.
It was only a matter of time before the former second-round draft pick was called up to the majors. Hedges is considered the fourth best catching prospect in all of Minor League Baseball according to MLB Pipeline's Prospect Watch. He was hitting .324 with two home runs and 15 RBI's this season with Triple-A El Paso and was tied for eighth in the Pacific League with eight doubles.
Recent TinCaps Making Their Major League Debuts
2012 Team
INF Jace Peterson - San Diego Padres - April 25, 2014
RHP Matt Stites - Arizona Diamondbacks - June 19, 2014
LHP Frank Garces - San Diego Padres - August 19, 2014
C Austin Hedges - San Diego Padres - May 4, 2015
2013 Team
RHP Leonel Campos - San Diego Padres - September 3, 2014
Midwest League Stories from May 7, 2015
- South Bend Squeaks Past Hot Rods, 3-2 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Loons Commit Five Gaffes in Loss - Great Lakes Loons
- Whitecaps Take Opener in Dayton - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Offense Backs Anderson in Rout of Peoria - Burlington Bees
- Gettys and Cordero Go Deep to Open Homestand - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Whitecaps Top Dragons 5-3 in Series Opener - Dayton Dragons
- Chiefs Blown Out in Burlington - Peoria Chiefs
- Captains Capitalize on Loon's Mistakes - Lake County Captains
- Dragons Introduce New Orange Jerseys - Dayton Dragons
- Padres Call up Former TinCap Austin Hedges - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- South Bend Cubs Announce Upcoming Game/Promotion Schedule - South Bend Cubs
- Timber Rattlers to Hold Bark in the Park on May 17 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Swing with the Loons Set for July 27 - Great Lakes Loons
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.
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