Blake Tekotte sits against Cards after call-up to San Diego

Blake Tekotte did not play in the San Diego Padres’ 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals last night, which saved his friends back in Columbia the trouble of rooting against their favorite team.

“All my friends were telling me to take it easy on the Cardinals, and I told them, ‘I don’t think I can do that,’ ” Tekotte told MLB.com.

Tekotte, a 2005 Hickman graduate and a third-round pick of the Padres in 2008, learned he was making the leap from the Double-A San Antonio Missions to the big leagues late Sunday night. Tekotte replaced Will Venable, who was demoted to Triple-A.

Manager Bud Black told reporters the Padres liked Tekotte’s ability to defend, among other things.

“We lost an outfielder, so we’re going to bring in another outfielder,” Black said. “He can play all outfield positions, he can steal the bag. He’s a flexible player.”

Black said Tekotte, a left-handed hitter, would be an extra outfielder and get some spot starts in center field.

“Our minor league people said he was the guy,” Black said, adding that General Manager Jed Hoyer agreed. “We saw enough of Blake in spring training to know what we needed at this point. Right now he fits that bill.”



(columbiatribune.com)