By the time Jake Cronenworth moved from second base to the mound to strike out Mookie Betts to finish out a laugher in April 2021, the ship had already sailed on the Padres developing the former Michigan closer into a two-way player. The Padres also came up short in their attempt to woo Shohei Ohtani as he jumped from Japan to the States before the 2018 season.
The Padres, however, remain intrigued with the idea of rostering a hitter who can log innings on the mound.
So much so that they’ve called a draftee as a two-way player each of the last two years.
While Tommy John surgery scrapped hitting plans for 2023 seventh-rounder Tucker Musgrove, two-way plans remain in motion for 2024 11th-rounder Sean Barnett.
The 21-year-old needed just 11 games to hit his way out of low Single-A Lake Elsinore, where he paired a .289/.396/.511 batting line with two homers and 10 RBIs as a designated hitter. The Padres’ plan called for the right-handed Barnett to throw two bullpens a week in hopes of progressing into game action perhaps by the end of May.
That remains the plan now that he’s at high Single-A Fort Wayne, where he’ll only serve as a DH on the days he’s not throwing on the side to save the wear and tear on his arm.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Barnett hit 26 homers and drove in 87 runs in 59 games (1.138 OPS) last year at Division II’s Wingate. He threw just 17 ⅔ innings in college (9.68 ERA).
Barnett signed for $175,000. He sits 95 mph with a developing change-up and breaking ball, in addition to a bat that’s produced early as a pro.
“We’re going to see how high he can push himself as a pitcher and a hitter,” Padres assistant farm director Mike Daly said.
Merrill to San Antonio
The last time Jackson Merrill was at Double-A San Antonio, he was the organization’s shortstop of the future.
Now he’s back as the Padres’ rehabbing center fielder.
The 22-year-old Merrill will begin a rehab assignment on Saturday with the Missions as he eyes a return from his hamstring injury on Monday at Yankee Stadium.
The NL Rookie of the Year runner-up last year, Merrill was hitting .378/.415/.676 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 10 games when he sustained the injury.
He moved his rehab program to Arizona on Monday and had been playing extended spring training games before traveling to San Antonio.
Around the farm
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (13-18)
Oklahoma City 10, Chihuahuas 0: LHP Omar Cruz (0-2, 2.53 ERA) allowed three runs — two earned — in one inning in his second start. RHP Jared Kollar (7.22 ERA) allowed four runs in five innings in relief. El Paso’s only hits were singles from LF Bryce Johnson (.974 OPS), DH Trenton Brooks (.968 OPS), 2B Clay Dungan (.686 OPS) and C Rodolfo Duran (.526 OPS).
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (12-13)
Corpus Christi 5, Missions 3: RHP Victor Lizarraga (0-4, 8.69 ERA) struck out seven and allowed two runs in five innings in the loss. LHP Miguel Ciengfuegos (1.13 ERA) allowed two unearned runs in two innings. 2B Anthony Vilar (.720 OPS) hit his third homer and 1B Marcos Castañon (.835 OPS) hit his second homer. Vilar also doubled, while 3B Devin Ortiz (.794 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored.
HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (14-11)
TinCaps 2, Dayton 1: RHP Enmanuel Pinales (3-0, 1.40 ERA) struck out four and allowed one run in seven innings in the win. RHP Tyson Neighbors (0.77 ERA) saved his second game with four strikeouts over two scoreless innings. 2B Rosman Verdugo (.898 OPS) went 2-for-4 with his sixth homer. SS Leo De Vries (.999 OPS) went 1-for-4 with his third steal.
LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (10-15)
Storm 4, Inland Empire 0: RHP Miguel Mendez (1-0, 3.97 ERA) struck out eight over five shutout innings in the win. RHP Tucker Musgrove (0.00 ERA) and RHP Bernard Jose (1.98 ERA) both turned in two scoreless innings. 3B Zach Evans (.865 OPS) drove in two runs on two hits and CF Kasen Wells (.837 OPS) went 2-for-5 with a double and his 20th steal. SS Cobb Hightower (.200 OPS) went 0-for-4 with a walk and an error in his pro debut.
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