A whirlwind weekend in majors for Yasmani Grandal

For the record, it is now on the record. For the rest of his life, Yasmani Grandal can tell people he was a big-leaguer.

“Not everyone gets to have a major league at bat or get two innings as a player,” said Grandal before Sunday’s game between the Padres. “Even if I never make it up here again, I can say that.”

Zero doubt exists in anyone’s mind that Grandal will be back behind the plate with the Padres again in the months to come -- if not the days to come, considering the shuttle going on between San Diego and Tucson. But his first 48 hours in The Show were over, and just as suddenly as the catcher had been summoned from Tucson on Friday, Grandal was packed and ready for his return to Triple-A.

The Padres made yet another flurry of roster maneuvers Sunday, reinstating veteran outfielder/first baseman Mark Kotsay from the 15-day disabled list and infielder Logan Forsythe from the 60-day DL. Along with the placement of infielder Andy Parrino (wrist sprain) on the 15-day DL, Grandal was off to Colorado Springs to join the Tucson Padres.

For all the injuries and young players called up as replacements, Grandal is the first Padres position player this season to make his major league debut in 2012. Withheld from Friday’s game, he entered play via double-switch in the eighth inning Saturday, Grandal made a fairly impressive defensive play, running down a pitch that skittered off him and throwing out batter Willie Bloomquist with a bullet throw to first. In his one at-bat, Grandal lined out to left.

“I actually was pretty locked down, more than I thought I’d be,” said Grandal. “I thought I was going to be super-nervous and shaking, but once I stepped into the box, I was nice and calm. That’s a good sign.”

Grandal, 23, is one of the prospects the Padres are most interested in getting to the major leagues on a permanent basis. Obtained with first baseman Yonder Alonso, starting pitcher Edinson Volquez and minor-league reliever Brad Boxberger, Grandal’s batting .317 with an OPS of .921 with Tucson.

“I’m a little disappointed to be going down, but excited to get back up,” he said. “I had a great time while it lasted.”

Forsythe, who made his major league debut with the Padres last year and had three different big-league stints, was sidelined in spring training with his second career fracture of a sesamoid bone in his foot. Kotsay also began the season on the DL with a calf issue, returned for 34 games and batted .294 before returning to the DL with a lower-back problem.


(utsandiego.com)