The San Francisco Giants announced that infielder Kevin Padlo has been designated for assignment. The move clears a spot on the team’s 40-man roster for catcher Austin Wynns, who was acquired earlier from the Philadelphia Phillies.
The 25-year-old Padlo was scooped from the Seattle Mariners in April for cash and has spent the majority of the season between Seattle and San Francisco’s Triple-A affiliates. To his credit, the former fifth-rounder has continued to excel at the highest levels of the minor leagues. Through 22 games in Triple-A Sacramento, Padlo is hitting .275/.333/.600 with seven home runs.
In sporadic action with the Giants last month, Padlo received just 12 at-bats, collecting two base hits before being shuttled back to the minors.
Padlo is now eligible to be claimed by any team in the league seeking right-handed infield depth in the upper minors, or on their bench. That outcome isn’t inevitable, but seems likely given his recent hot streak at Triple-A. The versatile infielder is in his last option year, so any team that is awarded a claim will have to keep Padlo on their 40-man roster.
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