Blake Tekotte on top of the world after first callup

SAN DIEGO -- It wasn't difficult to spot Blake Tekotte in the Padres clubhouse before their 7:05 p.m. game on Monday.

He was the one with the Major League smile.

The Padres selected Tekotte, who turns 24 on Tuesday, from Double-A San Antonio with a corresponding move that optioned Will Venable to Triple-A Tucson.

"It was a surprising call last night at about 11 o'clock," the outfielder said. "We had an early game so I already got back to my apartment after eating with some of the guys and Dougie [Dascenzo, manager] told me that he had something important to tell me, and that I had to pack my bags.

"I asked him what for and he said I was getting on the first flight out to San Diego the next morning. I kinda said, 'What?' And he repeated himself and then it finally kind of set in. It was just an indescribable feeling."

In order to make room on the 40-man roster for Tekotte, the Padres announced they designated right-hander Samuel Deduno for assignment.
Tekotte was batting .291 (43-for-148) in 39 games with San Antonio with 24 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .410. Sixteen of his 43 hits went for extra bases, including six home runs.

Manager Bud Black said 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."

Like Venable, Tekotte is a left-handed batter, which was of huge consideration for the Padres. San Diego had other options in the Minor Leagues in Triple-A. Outfielders Cedric Hunter and Luis Durango seem to also fit what the team was looking for. Hunter is a lefty and Durango is a switch-hitter.

Black said the team looked at them, but in the end, Tekotte was who they wanted.

"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."

Tekotte follows infielder Logan Forsythe as the second member of the Padres 2008 Draft class to reach the Major Leagues.

Black said outfielder Chris Denorfia would get more starts now, but that Tekotte may get a spot start here and there.

Of interest, Tekotte grew up about an hour and a half from St. Louis, where he grew up watching the Cardinals -- the visiting team at PETCO Park on Monday night.  

"That was another bizarre thing about the whole thing, so that's pretty cool," Tekotte said. "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.' "



(mlb.com)