SAN DIEGO -- Tick, tick, tick. …

Here comes trouble in San Diego. Or, assistance.

Hard to say which right now.

One week from Tuesday, convicted drug cheat Yasmani Grandal becomes eligible again for major-league duty, having served his 50-game penalty for a positive performance-enhancing drug test.

Which means these very well may be the final days on San Diego's major-league roster for Nick Hundley … or, more likely, for backup John Baker.

And here's the thing: As things stand right now, the Padres have turned their season around. Following a horrible 2-10 start, they regained their balance and now have won 16 of their past 24 games after dispatching the Cardinals 4-2 Monday.

In fact, the Padres' 16-8 record since April 24 is tied for the best in the National League. The Cardinals also are 16-8.

They've won 12 of their past 15 home games. And they've moved 2 ½ games ahead of the last-place Dodgers.

All of which brings up the dreaded “C” word -- chemistry.

Might the addition of Grandal alter things in a way that leads the Padres into a regression?

Or will the addition of a bat that hit .297 with a .394 on-base percentage, eight homers and 36 RBI in 60 games last season propel San Diego to even greater heights?

And another question: Was what the Padres saw last year the real Grandal? Or was some of that the Vitamin S talking?

Sorry. That was two more questions.

“Yas, in 10 days, played very well in extended spring training,” manager Bud Black says. “Granted, the competition was younger and less developed.”

The Padres right now are mostly mum on the matter, preferring not to get too far out ahead of themselves. Black sidestepped specific questions regarding the club's plan for Grandal next week, and you can't blame him. Who knows what might happen by then? One of their current catchers is injured, the Padres can avoid answering specific questions even longer than six or seven days from now.

Nothing says the Padres must activate Grandal on May 28, when he becomes eligible.

But even if they are still winning by then, chemistry only takes you so far, and right now it is impossible to overlook this:

Hundley is 2 for 40 so far in May, Baker 3 for 18.

Hundley is 1 for his last 36, has one RBI during the month and is hitting .050/.152/.075. For the season, he's at .235/.285/.387.

Baker is hitting .200/.294/.200, and before a two-run single at Baltimore last Wednesday, was in a 0 for 19 funk. For the season, he's at .162/.279/.162.

Tick, tick, tick. …

“I don't think it's an awkward situation.” veteran Padres outfielder Mark Kotsay says. “Maybe for the two individuals involved, but they'll talk and move forward.”
“There's that looming question of what's going to happen,” third baseman Chase Headley says. “But that's for the people who make those decisions.

“Whatever happens, I expect guys to, I'm not going to say be indifferent to it, but guys are going to respond to the situation in the best way they possibly can.”

Awkward or not, it has the potential to be uncomfortable for a bit. If Hundley sticks around, his playing time likely will be reduced given his prolonged slump at the plate. Hundley, who signed, a three-year, $9 million deal in March, 2012, knew the score going into the season. As he said this spring, this isn't the San Diego Boys' Club where everybody gets a turn. This is the big leagues, with big money, big expectations and big-time pressure.

“It happens all the time in baseball,” Headley says. “You see guys come and go whom you have great relationships with. It happens all the time.

“That's part of being a professional. Do your job, and put personal feelings aside.”

In Omaha, Neb., on Monday night, Grandal went 1 for 4 with a walk and a strikeout for Triple-A Tucson. In three games with Tucson, he's hitting .333 (3 for 9) with three RBIs and a .400 on-base percentage.

What's clear is that, unless things change, especially at the plate, Hundley and Baker are making this decision easier by the day for the Padres.

“Whenever a move takes place and he becomes a member of our team, we'll treat him like anybody else,” Kotsay says of Grandal. “We don't let things linger around here.”


(cbssports.com)

San Diego Padres C Yasmani Grandal returned to game action Saturday, May 18, for Triple-A Tucson, catching nine innings. He went 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI. He is allowed to play 10 minor league games before he is eligible to return from his 50-game suspension and play for the Padres May 28.

Fantasy Tip: Grandal is expected to split time behind the dish with Nick Hundley when he returns, and manager Bud Black has said he will go with the hot hand. Grandal is worth adding in all NL-only fantasy leagues, and is decent depth in mixed formats in leagues which require two starting backstops.


(kffl.com)

BALTIMORE -- It's nearly time for Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal to leave extended spring camp in Arizona and begin his road back to the big leagues.

Grandal was suspended for the Padres' first 50 games in November after he tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone.

Grandal is eligible to come off the restricted list on May 28 when the team is in Seattle, though he can begin a Minor League stint on Saturday, a period that can't exceed more than 10 days.

The Padres have mapped out a plan for him that will see him report to Des Moines on Saturday, where Triple-A Tucson is playing. He will remain with the team during a four-game series in Omaha beginning Monday. The team returns to Tucson on May 24.

"He feels good, everything is solid, offensively and defensively," Padres general manager Josh Byrnes said recently. "We will get him ready to play in those games and evaluate where he is and where our roster is."

Grandal was able to participate in drills and games in Spring Training, and he remained in Arizona when after the team broke camp in late May.

The Padres have two catchers on their roster; Nick Hundley and John Baker. Baker, who got the start against the Orioles on Wednesday, entered the game hitting .115. Baker has Minor League options, meaning that he'll likely be the one optioned to Triple-A Tucson when the Padres deem Grandal fit to return.

Grandal made his Major League debut with the team on June 2 of last season. In his first start against the Rockies on June 30, Grandal hit two home runs.

He later missed 17 games with a strained right oblique muscle. Grandal hit .297 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs in 60 games.


(mlb.com)

Sure, Nick Hundley’s refusal to mince words says a lot about the battle Yasmani Grandal faces when he returns to the Padres a little less than three weeks hence.

“You want to talk about a guy who is unproven and had a good couple months on steroids, go ahead,” Hundley said on Wednesday.

But it’s what Hundley said next that makes this more about him than Grandal.

“I’ve got a job to do,” Hundley continued.

His job. He’s the Padres catcher.

Grandal will be eligible to return from his 50-game suspension on May 28. The Padres have publicly supported him without condoning what he did to earn that punishment.

“They’ll both have jobs,” manager Bud Black said. “They’ll both play. … This will be performance based.”

Hundley couldn’t care less.

“I haven’t given it any thought,” he said.

I believe him when he says so. Here’s why.

It was almost a month ago that I had last spoken at length with Hundley, and he talked then about his new approach.

“I don’t look too far ahead or too far behind,” he said. “I’ve wasted plenty of time in my career and in my life playing the what-if game.”

He had just finished a series against the Dodgers in which he went 7-for-11 with two doubles and a homer. It was already a fantastic start to 2013 for the man whose horrid 2012 has been hashed again and again.

He spoke of there being times the weeds threatened to choke his thoughts and how he works to quickly eradicate the negative. It was like talking to a less-annoying Tony Robbins or attending a 12-step meeting. Hundley said with utmost confidence that he was absolutely “not going to let” himself slip into the stinking thinking.

“You go back and look at the work you’ve put in,” he said.

And it is just a fact that if you weren’t rooting for Hundley to sustain his rebound, you have a cold, black, dead heart.

But over 20 years of covering sports at the highest level — of being repeatedly thrilled as well as let down, misled and used — you grow accustomed to things not quite going as you’d expect, nor as you’d prefer.

Rather than immediately writing about Hundley then, I wanted to wait to see if he was back for real.

After we spoke, he got his batting average to a season-high .367 with two doubles that night.

In 19 games since then, his average has dropped 97 points. A hitless Wednesday means he’s 0-for-17 over the past five games.

Yes, he will need to hit over a sustained period in order to keep his job.

But there is far less doubt now that he will do so.

Hundley’s progression is reflected in much more than numbers.

“You don’t see the head dropping, the shoulders slouching anymore,” said John Baker, the Padres’ backup catcher.

“There were a lot of times,” Hundley said, “I would get a solid swing and wouldn’t get the results and I’d wonder what was wrong.”

Now, he can look at his current five-game hitless streak and not be satisfied but live with the knowledge he swung well enough that he “could have easily had five or six hits.”

He knows now the hits will come.

“Last year was a big learning experience for Nick in a number of areas,” Black said.

“First of all, he learned he doesn’t have to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.”

He knows now he only has to worry about today and just be a part of the team.

He knows he is a part of the team, regardless of what happens with Grandal.


(utsandiego.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Suspended Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal revealed Sunday that he hasn't picked up a bat all winter, the result of two inflamed tendons in his left middle finger.

Grandal, who will miss the first 50 games of the season for testing positive for testosterone, will hit for the first time Monday on a practice field.

"I've been looking forward to tomorrow for a long time," he said.

Grandal, a switch-hitter, said he suffered the injury toward the end of the 2012 season against Arizona on a swing. But he also feels there could have been some damage done dating back to the Arizona Fall League in 2011 when he injured the finger.

"It wasn't that bad at first, but then it got worse and worse," Grandal said. "I finished the season hitting with one hand, basically. I think I could have done a lot better had it not been hurt."

Grandal said the finger only really hurt him while hitting left-handed, as the left hand is the dominant hand in the swing. Hitting right-handed, the left hand is more of a guide, used for direction.

Grandal hit .297 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs in 60 games after a promotion from Triple-A Tucson.

This offseason, Grandal was told surgery was a distinct possibility, though four to six months of rest could remedy the issue. That meant no hitting at all, although he was able to work on the defensive side of his game.

After he moved to Phoenix from Miami, Grandal placed a call to Padres special assistant and former Major League catcher Brad Ausmus. Ausmus recommended Triple-A manager Pat Murphy to work with Grandal on his catching skills.

On Saturday, Padres manager Bud Black said Grandal would be used in Spring Training games, though the two catchers projected to make the Opening Day roster -- Nick Hundley and John Baker -- will see most of the playing time in games.

Grandal will play in games once his bat is game-ready. When the team breaks camp in late March, he'll remain in Peoria and play in extended Spring Training games.

His manager can already tell how eager Grandal is to start hitting again.

"He wanted to hit on the field a month ago, but we had to hold him back," Black said. "Players want to play."

Under terms of his suspension, Grandal's eligible to begin a Minor League stint lasting no more than 10 days and that will likely occur in May. He will be eligible to rejoin the Padres on May 28 when the team is in Seattle.

"We've had a plan for a long time. My plan is going to be the same -- just get ready for the season," Grandal said.

On Saturday, Grandal spoke to reporters for the first time since his suspension on Nov. 7 for use of a performance-enhancing drug, reading a prepared statement. He also apologized to teammates in a closed-door meeting in the morning.

"I think more than anything, he apologized for what this did to our group," Black said. "He needs to continue making amends moving forward. This is part of what he wanted to do."


(mlb.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Reading from a prepared statement, San Diego Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal apologized for a second time following his 50-game suspension for a positive test for testosterone.

Grandal was suspended Nov. 7 and issued a statement then through the Major League Baseball Players Association. He read a statement Saturday at the Padres' spring training camp but did not take questions.

Grandal also did not comment substantively on last month's report by Miami New Times that he appeared in records of Biogenesis of America LLC, a closed anti-aging clinic in Coral Gables, Fla., under investigation by Major League Baseball for distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs.

"I have taken full responsibility for my actions and apologized to my teammates, the fans and the San Diego Padres organization," Grandal said, taking less than 2 minutes to read his statement. "I plan to put that mistake behind me, serve my suspension and continue working hard to be the best player and teammate I can be."

As for Biogenesis, Grandal said "I am aware of the various press reports about so-called patient files from a Miami clinic, and that Major League Baseball and others are investigating those allegations."

"I intend to cooperate fully in their investigations. I have been instructed by legal counsel not to answer questions relating to the pending investigations," he said. "Based on that legal advice, I will have no further comment."

Grandal is allowed to participate in spring training and to play in exhibition games. He will remain at the Padres' training complex after the team breaks camp, while serving his suspension.

"It was part of what he needs to do," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He talked to the guys and he'll continue to make amends moving forward. He apologized for what this did to our group."

Those in attendance wouldn't discuss specifics, but several teammates volunteered that Grandal said he "hoped" they would accept his apology.

Grandal's speech was short, but apparently effective.

"He felt like he had something to take care of, and he manned up and did it," center fielder Cameron Maybin said. "He gained a lot of respect by doing it, and saying what he said. He took responsibility. He was accountable. We as a team can put this in the past. We accept his apology and now we're going to move on."

Grandal's actions may be forgiven, but Padres general manager Josh Byrnes hopes they're not forgotten.

"I don't want to be dismissive of it," Byrnes said. "There's a lesson to be learned here, because this is a serious issue with serious consequences. But I do believe that it won't happen again and that Yasmani's apology was sincere."

Grandal hit .297 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs as a rookie last year after being called up on June 2. While he is serving his suspension, Nick Hundley is expected to start behind the plate with John Baker as the backup.

Grandal is eligible to return May 28 at Seattle. He can join a Padres minor league team 10 days before that to prepare.


(espn.com)

San Diego Padres C Yasmani Grandal, who is suspended for the first 50 games of the season, will be allowed to play in spring training games.





(kffl.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Suspended San Diego Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal plans to apologize to his teammates this weekend.

Grandal was banned in November for the first 50 games of the season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He hasn't publicly discussed the penalty beyond an initial statement.

The 24-year-old Grandal worked out Wednesday at spring training.

Grandal hasn't addressed his connection to a Miami anti-aging clinic associated with performance-enhancing drugs. He plans to talk to his teammates when the entire Padres squad gathers Saturday, and will meet with the media later that day.

Grandal is not allowed to play in major league spring training games. The Padres will rely on former starting catcher Nick Hundley and career reserve John Baker to fill the void.


(espn.com)

PEORIA, AZ — Catcher Yasmani Grandal will keep a low profile at the Padres spring training camp until after he meets with teammates after the full squad reports Saturday.

Grandal, who reported with the pitchers and catchers Tuesday, will open the 2013 season on a 50-game suspension after testing positive in September for the performance-enhancing drug testosterone.

Two weeks ago, Grandal’s name surfaced in an investigation of the Miami-based Biogenesis anti-aging clinic that has been linked to 12 baseball players, including three – Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon and Grandal – who drew suspensions for using PEDs.

Grandal will likely meet with the media after he addresses his teammates.

Grandal is allowed to participate in spring training drills and can play in minor league spring training games. He cannot play in the major league games.


(utsandiego.com)

San Diego Padres Yasmani Grandal has some more explaining to do after receiving a 50-game suspension all the way back in November as new information continues to come our regarding the Florida anti-aging facility that reportedly supplied his substance.

With spring training right around the corner, the Padres are still looking for answers. Friars’ executive chairman Ron Fowler told the Mighty 1090′s “Darren Smith Show” on Friday that the team will be keeping an eye on the developing situation.

“I don’t think we really had the candor when he was first  suspended that we I think have a right to expect,” he told the show. “I think our people are going to try to get clarity on it.”

Here’s what we do know: Grandal was suspended by Major League Baseball on Nov. 7, 2012 for testing positive for having a high testosterone level. He has made no announcement that he will appeal the suspension and will serve it at the start of the 2013 season. He only half-admitted to any wrongdoing when the news initially broke via USA Today:

“I apologize to the fans, my teammates, and to the San Diego Padres,” Grandal said in his statement. “I was disappointed to learn of my positive test and under the Joint Drug Program I am responsible for what I put into my body.”

With new details emerging that further implicate the 24-year-old former University of Miami star in a lengthy report from the Miami New Times, the news could get potentially much worse for San Diego. 

“It’s very disappointing,” said Fowler “This whole issue of sports and drugs is of great concern. We’re very disappointed in Yasmani, we’re hoping that he steps up and handles this appropriately with his teammates. We want him to be candid, come clean. This is a strike one situation, and this is one area where as a team we will support him by any means possible.” 

That support is warranted, both on the field and off. Grandal quickly became a fan favorite in San Diego after coming over in the Mat Latos trade. He also produced on the field, hitting .297 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs. Now, there’s a question as to how much of that was due to an artificial performance enhancement. Despite his production and likability, however, the team is ready to take action as necessary. 

Though Fowler didn’t say it bluntly, he was clear that there would be serious ramifications if it turns out Grandal was deceitful to the organization. 

“There aren’t going to be three strikes here, Fowler went on to say. “We will move aggressively if there’s another problem, and we want him to understand that. If we have been lied to and things have been misrepresented, it’s going to give us cause to ponder.”

Where do the Padres go from here? They’ll have a significant hole to fill, and San Diego could still be searching for answers. 

“I’m concerned as to whether or not we have the true story,” added Fowler. 


(sportssouthwest.com)

According to a report by the Miami New Times, the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, Washington Nationals' Gio Gonzalez and Texas Rangers' Nelson Cruz have all been linked to an anti-aging clinic in Miami that allegedly distributed performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), including HGH. Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, and Yasmani Grandal, who have all already been suspended by MLB for PED use, were also linked to the clinic.

Records obtained by the Miami New Times suggest that Rodriguez received HGH as recently as a year ago, though he denies the allegations. This news comes about three years after Rodriguez’s emotional confession to steroid use during his tenure with the Texas Rangers.

From a fantasy perspective, Rodriguez was already a declining and damaged asset, projected to be sidelined for the next six months following hip surgery. Now, the threat of a suspension is very real as MLB begins its investigation into this report. The possibility of losing an additional 50 games is an important development for the New York Yankees and fantasy baseball owners.

If A-Rod does get hit with a suspension, then his 2013 fantasy value falls close to zero. He would be virtually undraftable, and it wouldn't be worth carrying his dead weight throughout a suspension. If a 50-game ban is looming, fantasy owners could probably look at a mid-August return as the best-case scenario. Even then, nobody knows how effective he would be. Expect to see much more of Kevin Youkilis at the hot corner for the Yankees.

Of more immediate consequence to fantasy owners are the fates of Gonzalez and Cruz.

Gonzalez, the biggest name from a fantasy standpoint, posted career bests in wins, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP and opponents' batting average during his first season with the Washington Nationals. That led to a third-place finish in the NL Cy Young award voting. Normally, he would head into the 2013 season as a fantasy ace, but a possible suspension hurts that status. He would still be worthy of a draft-and-stash in most leagues, but a suspension would mean missing roughly two months or 10-12 starts. For what it's worth, Gonzalez has also denied any relationship with the Miami clinic or ever using PEDs.

Cruz has seen his production decline the past couple seasons, but fantasy owners are always hoping for that power/speed talent to break out. Now with the threat of a suspension on top of spotty production and annual injury concerns, Cruz is close to becoming no more than a late-round flier.

Meanwhile, fantasy owners will be looking to see how Jurickson Profar profits from a potential Cruz suspension, but the player who may stand to gain the most could be fellow prospect Leonys Martin. The raw-but-talented Martin is unlikely to make a big power impact, but he has 20-steal potential given everyday playing time.

Fantasy owners will need to keep a close eye on this developing story and make the necessary adjustments to their preseason rankings. We're not adjusting projections for Rodriguez, Gonzalez and Cruz just yet until we hear more about potential punishments. However, it's not a good sign that this trio is being associated with already suspended players such as Cabrera, Colon and Grandal. Stay tuned.


(sportingnews.com)

Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal has been suspended 50 games without pay after testing positive for use of a banned substance, per MLB's drug policy. MLB has announced that the substance in question is performance-enhanching testosterone.

"We were disappointed to learn of the suspension of Yasmani Grandal for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention & Treatment Program," the Padres said in a statement. "We fully support Major League Baseball's policy and its efforts to eliminate performance enhancing drugs from our game. Per the protocol outlined by Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement, we will not comment further on this matter.”

Grandal released his own statement: "I apologize to the fans, my teammates, and to the San Diego Padres. I was disappointed to learn of my positive test and under the Joint Drug Program I am responsible for what I put into my body. I must accept responsibility for my actions and serve my suspension."
Grandal's suspension will take effect at the start of the 2013 season.

This past season, the 23-year-old rookie batted .297/.394/.469 with eight home runs in 60 games. He was acquired in December 2011 as part of the trade that sent Mat Latos to the Reds.


(cbssports.com)

Yasmani Grandal drove in the winning run in the sixth inning as the San Diego Padres capped a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals with a 3-2 win on Wednesday.

Logan Forsythe hit a solo home run for the Padres, who have won four straight and seven of eight.

Clayton Richard (13-12) gave up two runs on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts over seven innings of work to win for the fourth time in his past five starts.


(foxnews.com)

Logan Forsythe hit a two-run single with the bases loaded in the 11th inning after Yasmani Grandal tied the score with a two-run homer in the eighth, and the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3 Tuesday night.

The Dodgers wasted an excellent outing from ace Clayton Kershaw and dropped 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the race for the second NL wild card.


(seattletimes.com)

Yasmani Grandal had a two-run homer and an RBI single to drive in all three Padres runs in Monday's win.

The homer was Grandal's second in 27 games since he started off his major league career with four in five games. He's now hit in four straight after going 0-for-12 in his first four games back from the DL.


(rotoworld.com)

Joe Bell represents Heat free-agent forward James Jones and said there have been no overseas explorations with the 3-point specialist.

Jones is secretary-treasurer of the National Basketball Players Association and has been named as a defendant in a motion brought by the NBA against the union.

"He's neck-deep in the union stuff, how can he go overseas?" Bell said. "James isn't going anywhere."


(sun-sentinel.com)

Yasmani Grandal (oblique) went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Wednesday in his first rehab game with High-A Lake Elsinore.

Grandal served as the designated hitter on Wednesday and is expected to catch on Thursday. It's possible he could be activated as soon as this weekend. The rookie backstop was hitting .312/.349/.597 with five homers in 24 games prior to his oblique strain, so he's worth stashing away in most formats.


(rotoworld.com)

ATLANTA -- Rookie catcher Yasmani Grandal, who was a hit in his first full month in the Major Leagues, will fly from Atlanta to San Diego on Tuesday to begin a Minor League rehabilitation stint with Class A Lake Elsinore.

San Diego manager Bud Black said that Grandal will serve as the designated hitter Wednesday and then catch for the Storm on Thursday. Lake Elsinore is situated about one hour north of San Diego.

Grandal has been on the disabled list since July 31 with a strained right oblique muscle, an injury that occurred taking a swing on July 30 against the Reds.
Grandal, a switch-hitter, has reported no pain while throwing to the bases and taking batting practice in both the indoor cage at Turner Field and on the field the last two days.

At the time of the injury, Grandal was hitting .312 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in his first month in the big leagues.

There's a chance that Grandal could be reinstated from the disabled list before or during a weekend series against the Giants at Petco Park that begins Friday.


(mlb.com)

PITTSBURGH -- The Padres injury front is improving, with a couple of players making progress. Rookie catcher rookie Yasmani Grandal and pitcher Tim Stauffer are both making strides with their rehab assignments.

Grandal has been working his way back from an oblique strain.

"Grandal hit on the field on Saturday and he came out of it OK," Padres manager Bud Black reported. "He hit both left- and right-handed. The right-handed swing was much more fluid, the left-handed a little guarded. We are going to continue to watch him, but he's getting better."


(mlb.com)

Yasmani Grandal (oblique) could begin swinging a bat as early as Monday.

It's a good sign for his progress, as he's only been out of action for a week, but obviously he hasn't really tested himself yet. Grandal was batting .312/.349/.597 with five homers over 24 games before tweaking his oblique while taking a swing.


(rotoworld.com)

CINCINNATI -- A day after he suffered a strained right oblique muscle, Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal landed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.

He's hopeful that he won't need any more time than the allotted 15 days on the DL before he can start playing again.

"It feels much better," Grandal said on Tuesday. "They were expecting me to feel sore today and I don't feel sore at all."

Grandal suffered the injury in the second inning taking a swing in his second plate appearance of a five-run inning of what became an 11-5 victory over the Reds.

The Padres recalled catcher Eddy Rodriguez from Class A Lake Elsinore. With Grandal out, John Baker becomes San Diego's primary catcher.

"These things are tricky," Padres manager Bud Black said of oblique injuries. "A lot of times ... players might not feel discomfort, but the injury is still there. We wanted to nip this in the bud, give it rest and give it treatment."

Grandal is hitting .312 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in his first month in the big leagues. And while he understands the team wants to take it slow with his injury, he's already itching to return.

"We've got something going on here, our lineup seems like it's going real well," Grandal said. "But they are [the team] trying to take care of my career. They want me to get strong now."


(mlb.com)

CINCINNATI -- The San Diego Padres have placed catcher Yasmani Grandal on the 15-day disabled list, a day after he strained muscles in his right side on a big swing.

San Diego called up catcher Eddy Rodriguez from Class A Lake Elsinore. The 26-year-old Rodriguez hit .223 with 13 homers and 36 RBIs this season. Rodriguez originally was drafted by the Reds in the 20th round in June 2006.

Grandal left an 11-5 win over the Reds on Monday night after a swing-and-miss and was treated for a strained oblique muscle. The rookie batted .312 with five doubles, five homers and 15 RBIs in 24 games over two stints with San Diego.

San Diego also moved right-hander Anthony Bass to the 60-day DL. He's been sidelined since June 24 with a sore shoulder.


(espn.com)

CINCINNATI -- Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal left in the second inning after taking a big swing against Reds reliever Alfredo Simon, then grabbing his right side.

Grandal led off San Diego's five-run inning with a walk on Monday night. Batting for the second time in the inning, he had a big swing and miss, then winced and reached for his side. He was replaced by John Baker, who flied out to end the 10-batter inning.

The Padres said Grandal strained a muscle.

The Padres had all four players that they got from the Reds in a trade for starter Mat Latos last December. Right-hander Volquez started the game, first baseman Yonder Alonso and Grandal were in the starting lineup, and reliever Brad Boxberger was called up from the minors before the game.


(espn.com)

Yasmani Grandal isn't stressing about his results controlling the running game. Padres manager Bud Black isn't, either, even with all 17 runners successfully swiping bases against his rookie catcher.

It's simply not all Grandal's fault.

"Don't read too much into those stats," Black said, a day after two stolen bases led to the only runs the Astros managed off Ross Ohlendorf. "There's more to it than that. He's had some tough pitches to throw on, and he hasn't had a whole lot of cooperation from the pitchers as far as their release. There's a lot of factors that go into a caught stealing."

Those factors include how effectively a pitcher holds a runner on base, the type of pitch and its location, and cooperation with middle infielders. What Grandal can control — the mechanics affecting the strength of his throws, glove-to-glove times and accuracy — he's making progress with while learning on the job in the majors.

"His times are fine, his exchange is fine, and his hands are fine," Black said. "Long-term, he's going to be fine. You have to understand that this guy was in the 2010 draft. That's two years in pro ball. The pro game, especially at this level, is a lot different than where he was two years ago at the University of Miami.

"For him to climb this fast, you just don't see that."

And Black expects to see more progression as Grandal acclimates to the big leagues. To that end, Grandal was working on his mechanics before Monday's game, specifically keeping his left knee and foot and head in line on throws to second base as opposed to drifting toward third.

"It's working out so far," Grandal said. "I was pretty comfortable in the minor leagues because I knew I could do it. Then I get here and you kind of press a little bit, especially catching. You know, I'm not too worried about the running game. There's so many things that go into it.

"... As long as I'm making good throws, I'm happy with what I'm doing."


(nctimes.com)

C Yasmani Grandal is 6-for-16 in his last four games with three doubles a homer and three RBI. But he has also committed his first three passed balls in the last three games.




(chicagotribune.com)

Yasmani Grandal homered, doubled and knocked in three runs in the Padres' 9-5 defeat of the Rockies on Friday.
Grandal hit four homers in his first six games as a major leaguer, but he had gone 10 games without one before taking Drew Pomeranz deep tonight. With the Padres still starting him regularly, he should be kept active in all formats.


(rotoworld.com)

SAN DIEGO ---- Yasmani Grandal isn't stressing his results controlling the running game. Padres manager Bud Black isn't either, even with all 17 runners successfully swiping bases against his rookie catcher.

It's simply not all on Grandal.

"Don't read too much into those stats," Black said a day after two stolen bases led to the only runs the Astros managed off Ross Ohlendorf. "There's more to it than that. He's had some tough pitches to throw on and he hasn't had a whole lot of cooperation from the pitchers as far as their release. There's a lot of factors that go into a caught stealing."

Those factors range from pitchers holding runners, the type of pitch, its location and cooperation with middle infielders. What Grandal can control ---- mechanics affecting strength of throws, glove-to-glove times and accuracy ---- he's making progress with while learning on the job in the majors.

"His times are fine, his exchange is fine and his hands are fine," Black said. "Long-term, he's going to be fine. You have to understand that this guy was in the 2010 draft. That's two years in pro ball. The pro game, especially at this level, is a lot different than where he was two years ago at the University of Miami.
"For him to climb this fast, you just don't see that."

And Black expects to see more progression as Grandal gets acclimated to the big leagues. To that end, Grandal was cleaning up mechanics before Monday's game during early work, specifically, keeping his left knee and foot and head in line on throws to second base ---- not toward third.

"It's working out so far," Grandal said. "I was pretty comfortable in the minor leagues because I knew I could do it. Then I get here and you kind of press a little bit, especially catching. You know, I'm not too worried about the running game. There's so many things that go into it.

"... As long as I'm making good throws, I'm happy with what I'm doing."


(nctimes.com)

Yasmani Grandal, Padres -- Grandal earned the call to the majors over the weekend and celebrated by homering twice in his first career start. He thrived at Triple-A Tucson this season, hitting .335/.443/.521 with six homers, 18 doubles and 35 RBI in 194 at-bats. He has started all four games since getting the call, and figures to be San Diego's primary catcher going forward. We all know the familiar refrain with hitters in Petco Park at this point, but Grandal has a ton of raw power and a position that is forever shallow. Those of you in keeper or dynasty leagues should pounce, and Grandal should be rostered in nearly all formats.


(cnnsi.com)

Some things are simply not easy to explain. Right about now, I'd like to add "What kind of magic does Yasmani Grandal possess?" to the list of our universe's mysteries.

On Saturday, the Padres were coming off an ugly loss to the Rockies and fighting for the worst record in baseball. They decided to make a change at catcher, sending Nick Hundley to AAA Tucson and bringing up Yasmani Grandal, one of the hottest prospects in baseball.

I want to know if he brought Wonderboy with him, because what's happened since has defied logic.

Just as Roy Hobbs suddenly changed the fortunes of the New York Knights, Yasmani Grandal has turned the Padres in to a juggernaut.

The Padres beat the Diamondbacks 8-6 on Wednesday night, completing their first sweep ever in Arizona. Not even in 1998, when the Padres went to the World Series and the Diamondbacks were a 97-loss expansion team, had San Diego swept a 3-game series in Phoenix.

Can it be any coincidence that Grandal is around for it to happen?

Since they called him up, the Padres are 5-0 (their first 5-game win streak of the season). On Wednesday Grandal didn't start. Sure enough, in the 8th inning, with the game tied 4-4, Yasmani came on to pinch-hit and promptly smacked a 2-run home run. It's almost as if his mere presence inspires offense.

San Diego scored two more runs in the 9th inning, giving them 4 runs in 7 innings without Grandal, 4 runs in 2 innings with him.

Chris Denorfia went 4-5 with 3 runs scored hitting in the leadoff spot.

The Padres finish their 10-game road trip 7-3, easily their best stretch of the season on the road OR at home. Grandal has hit 4 home runs. The Padres have scored 33 runs, their most prolific 5-game stretch of the season.

Is it all because of Grandal? Probably not. But I'm not going to rule it out completely.


(nbcsandiego.com)

PHOENIX — Right after Yasmani Grandal swung for strike two, a paper airplane came floating from the upper reaches of Chase Field and almost hit him, coming to rest between the batter and catcher Miguel Montero.

The next pitch, on an 0-2 count, Grandal air mailed one of his own, a pinch-hit two-run homer that propelled the San Diego Padres to an 8-6 victory Wednesday night and their first three-game sweep in Phoenix.

Grandal has now homered in four of his six hits. He already had become the seventh player since 1900 to homer in his first three hits. He hit David Hernandez’s pitch just over the right field fence. Justin Upton made a leaping try but the ball bounced off his glove.

“I can’t explain it, I really can’t,” manager Bud Black said of Grandal’s big hits.

Neither can Grandal.

“If I would have known that I would hit four home runs in five games, I would have said ‘No,’” he said. “Yeah, I’m definitely surprising myself. It’s unexplainable.”

He doesn’t mind setting the bar high for himself though.

“You need to make a statement when you come into the league,” Grandal said, “and I guess it’s working.”

Jason Kubel, who had a grand slam for Arizona in Tuesday night’s 9-5 loss, hit a three-run homer.

The Padres won their season-best fifth straight and earned their second three-game sweep of the year. Arizona has lost five in a row.

In front of 48,819 — Arizona’s first home sellout since the season opener — the Padres won their first series in Phoenix since May of 2009. Before this week, San Diego had gone 1-7 at Chase since then. A sweep was even more unlikely, given the history.

“Not that I’ve looked at records a great, I just know that our time here in my tenure and even prior to me, this has been a tough place for us to play,” Black said. “We just haven’t fared well here. I know that the Diamondbacks feel confident here. The years they’ve done very well they’ve always done very well at home.”

Luke Gregerson (2-0) struck out the only two batters he faced in the seventh to get the victory. Hernandez (1-2) took the loss.


(washingtonpost.com)

DENVER -- Yasmani Grandal, called up Saturday afternoon from Triple-A Tucscon, made his first career start one for the ages.

Grandal, a 23-year-old rookie acquired by the Padres from the Reds this past offseason, is the first player in MLB history to have his first two career hits as homers from opposite sides of the plate in the same game, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Grandal is the sixth player since 1974 with a multi-homer game in his first big league start, also according to Elias. He is the fourth player in Padres history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game, and the ninth to homer for his first Major League hit.

It all adds up to a night Grandal will never forget, and it was all the better with the Padres beating the Rockies, 8-4.

"I can't describe how remarkable it is," Grandal said.

The Padres are still looking for the second homer Grandal launched into the left-field seats in the sixth inning, but when they find it they expect the Hall of Fame to make a request.

"I'll give them whatever they ask for," Grandal said.

And if they choose another memento, like his bat, Grandal has a good idea as to where the balls will go.

"Yeah, that's gonna be up there in my trophy case," he said.

It was a slightly ominous sign that gave Grandal reason to believe he was locked in, and one that would put most players in pain.

"The first pitch of the game, the ball popped off my foot," he said. "I had never done that from the left side, but I knew then that my swing would be good. And sure enough ..."


(mlb.com)

SAN DIEGO -- Liriano, who turned 21 on Wednesday, and Triple-A Tucson catcher Yasmani Grandal, will be a part of the World Team at the upcoming Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City next month.

The 14th annual Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game can be seen live on MLB.TV, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD and followed live on MLB.com's Gameday on Sunday, July 8, at 2 p.m. PT.

Liriano is hitting .304 with five home runs, 38 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and a .363 on-base percentage for the Storm.

"But I like how he's using all parts of the field. He's lying off breaking balls. He's doing everything we've asked," Smith said.

As for Grandal, one of four players the Padres landed from the Reds in the December Mat Latos trade, he has been a pillar of consistency for Tucson.

The 23-year-old Grandal, a switch-hitter, is hitting .308 with six home runs and 30 RBIs to go with a .411 on-base percentage in 49 games for Tucson, where he's managed by former Major League catcher Terry Kennedy. Most of his success has come hitting left-handed where he has a .339/.430/.575 slash line.

Smith said the organization has been most pleased with his improvements behind the plate.

"He's just refining his catching skills and his game-calling has improved a lot," Smith said. "TK [Terry Kenned] is very pleased with how far he's come. And offensively, he's using the whole field and has been very consistent."

In addition to television coverage and MLB.com's Gameday, XM Radio will broadcast play-by-play coverage of the event live on MLB Network Radio XM 89. MLB.com will also provide complete coverage before, during and after the game. Fans can stay updated by following @MLBFutures on Twitter and can send/receive tweets to/from the U.S. and World team dugouts during the game by following @USDugout and @WorldDugout.

Major League Baseball, along with the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, MLB.com, Baseball America and the 30 Major League baseball clubs, selected the 25-man rosters.


(mlb.com)

The San Diego Padres might promote C Yasmani Grandal from Triple-A Tucson. He is hitting .317 with five homers and 27 RBIs in 139 at-bats and there is speculation he might return after spending just two days with the big club earlier this season. Under baseball rules, Grandal must spend a minimum of 10 days in the minors after an option, so the earliest he could be promoted would be Wednesday, June 13.


(kffl.com)

The San Diego Padres promoted catching prospect Yasmani Grandal to the majors this past weekend. A former college star at the University of Miami, it took Grandal less than two years to reach the Show.

Grandal was born in Havana, Cuba, but immigrated to the United States at age 11 and became a citizen when he was in high school. A top prospect for the 2007 draft, he fell to the 27th round due to his bonus demands and strong college commitment. He took over as the semi-regular catcher for the University of Miami Hurricanes as a freshman in 2008, hitting .234/.358/.452 and showing good defensive skills. He improved as a full time starter as a sophomore in '09, hitting .299/.414/.599, then made huge strides as a junior in '10, batting .401/.528/.721 with 15 homers, 57 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 222 at-bats. This solidified his status as the best catching prospect in the draft.

The Reds drafted him 12th-overall, signing him to a $3,200,000 bonus. He opened 2011 with Bakersfield in the California League, hitting .296/.410/.510 with 10 homers and 41 walks in 206 at-bats, 56 games. Promoted to Double-A Carolina, he remained hot with a .301/.360/.474 mark in 45 games. A late four-game trial in Triple-A resulted in a 6-for-12 (.500) line with five walks and two doubles.

The Reds committed themselves to Devin Mesoraco as their Catcher of the Future, making Grandal (somewhat) expendable. He was traded to the Padres this past winter as part of the package for Mat Latos. He was off to a good start for Triple-A Tucson, hitting .317/.418/.500 with 21 walks and 27 strikeouts in 120 at-bats before his promotion.

Overall, in 147 career minor league games, Grandal has hit .307/.405/.490 with 42 doubles, 18 homers, 84 walks, and 128 strikeouts in 619 plate appearances.

Grandal is a 6-2, 210 pound switch-hitter, born November 8, 1988. He's a very solid hitter, with good power and excellent strike zone judgment. He isn't likely to hit .300 at the major league level, but he should produce above-average numbers in the power and OBP departments. He's had few problems with professional pitching, maintaining his production at each level. His bat speed isn't superb, but his refined approach to hitting helps him adjust.

Owner of a solid defensive reputation in college, he had a few problems last year, giving up 19 passed balls and committing 13 errors in 90 games behind the plate. He has more than enough mobility and has strong leadership skills, and his reliability should improve with more experience. His arm is average but his release can be a little slow; he caught 34% of runners last year and 24% so far in 2012. Although not a spectacular defender at this point, he will certainly stick at catcher and basically just needs more experience ironing out his receiving.

Overall, Grandal is a very impressive prospect, projecting as a regular major league catcher with power, strong OBP skills, and solid defense.


(minorleagueball.com)

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)

Q: How did you find out you were coming to the big leagues?
A: There were a couple of weird things going on. I went in for my workout and my strength and conditioning guy didn’t want to do too much with me, which I found a little weird. And then we were playing the game, we were losing 5-4 in the ninth and I usually come in when there’s a righty and they didn’t give me a call. So that was kind of weird, too. And then I heard the news right after that.

Q: What’s that feeling like? I’m sure you’ve been dreaming of it since you were a kid.
A: This is one of those things where as a kid, you say you want to play in the major leagues but you kind of don’t know how hard it is to make it up here and once you’re that close, and you’re playing in Triple-A and you’re kind of thinking about it every day, like: “Hey, I’m doing good, maybe today is the day” and for me, I didn’t think about it too much. I really worried about what I had to do and that was putting up numbers in the minor leagues in order to make it here.

Q: Who did you call first?
A: My mom was the first call, and then after that my agent. They were both sleeping. They didn’t know what happened. After that I just started calling everyone else in the family. My mom was surprised, she was shocked. When I told her she kind of had to ask me the same question two or three times because she didn’t think it was real.

Q: For you, walking into the clubhouse and seeing your jersey there — did it kind of sink in?
A: Not really. Not when I got here. It kind of sunk in when I was out in the outfield stretching right before the game. My heart started racing a little bit. But it hasn’t really sunk in yet. I know I’m in the Major Leagues but until I’m out on the field, it’s not going to hit me.

Q: You grew up in Cuba and came to the United States when you were 10. Was it tough to learn the language and to acclimate?
A: I didn’t have any trouble. Baseball helped me out a lot. I was always playing on travel ball teams and all the guys spoke English. My mom helped me out a lot, too. She knew how to speak English. I got the language probably a year after I was here. Not to the best of my ability, but I was understanding and trying to connect with the other guys. TV definitely helped me a lot.

Q: What was baseball like in Cuba, and was it big for you there?
A: Defnitely. Baseball in Cuba is just like baseball in any Hispanic country. You use baseball in order to get out of there, in order to make a living.


(utsandiego.com)

Welcome to San Diego, Yasmani Grandal. The top prospect acquired in the Mat Latos trade this past offseason has been told he's been promoted to the major leagues following today's Triple-A Tucson game, reports Daniel Berk of the Arizona Daily Star.

Yasmani Grandal was told after the game tonight that he's being called up to San Diego. Not sure what the corresponding move is. - Daniel Berk

Grandal, 23, has absolutely torn apart the Pacific Coast League this year hitting .317/.421/.500 with 4 home runs and 10 doubles. The backstop also has walked 21 times to 27 strikeouts in 34 games (145 plate appearances). I'm assuming Grandal will takeover the starting catching role, but the Padres might take it slow with him for a few weeks since he isn't a particularly good defensive catcher. Nonetheless, he should be up here to stay.


(yardbarker.com)

Padres catcher prospect Yasmani Grandal has been on the 7-day DL at Triple-A Tucson since April 9 because of a hamstring pull, reports The San Diego Union-Tribune. He is expected to return shortly, however. Grandal is batting .500 (6 for 12) with one RBI and two doubles in four games before getting hurt.


(fantasysp.com)

Padres catching prospect Yasmani Grandal has been placed on Triple-A Tucson's 7-day disabled list with a right hamstring injury. It's not clear at this point how long the young catcher might be out.



(fantasysp.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. – The San Diego Padres today announced they have optioned catcher Yasmani Grandal to Triple-A Tucson. In addition, the club has reassigned left-handed pitcher Alex Hinshaw to minor league camp. Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcements.

With today’s announcements, the Padres currently have 38 players in Major League camp, including eight non-roster invitees.


(mlb.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. — Catcher Yasmani Grandal is still in camp and he’s enjoying every minute of it.

Grandal was an early cut during his first big league camp last season with the Cincinnati Reds. While the San Diego Padres have experienced catchers like Nick Hundley and John Baker to work with, the 53rd-ranked prospect in Baseball America’s Top 100 discussed how those guys have helped him improve during his first camp with the Padres.

MT: How’d you feel this spring went compared to last year?
YG: I loved it. It was much better than last year. To that point it was good. I got a lot of playing time, a lot of at-bats. Last year I only had 11 so that wasn’t too fun. Being able to stay until the end, that’s one of the things that I liked the most. I’m looking forward to starting the season now.

Last year I got sent down in the first cut. I wasn’t surprised by that because it was my first spring training. It was fine but I just wanted to get rolling and get my at-bats in. This year it was more of a learning process to where I saw these older guys playing and the different things they did just to get ready for the game.

MT: How much have Hundley and Baker helped along the way?
YG: They’ve been there for me every step. Whatever questions I got, they answer. They’re outspoken. They’re always looking at you when you’re doing something and if you’re doing something wrong they’ll let you know. I can’t have any complains about them two. That’s why they made it in the big leagues, because they’re guys that look at the little things. It’s one of the things you’ve got to learn as a young guy, to look at the little things.

MT: What were you ultimately trying to accomplish here?
YG: I came in trying to learn about what the organization was doing, how they go about things and I think I got a pretty good feeling about that. I worked on every aspect of my game, like my catching and my hitting. Mostly on my catching more than my hitting because I knew my hitting would come along at some point. I think I made a lot of progress in my catching. I want to be known as a defensive guy not a hitter. I want hitting to be another plus.

I want to be like (Red Sox catcher) Jason Varitek, where he caught a couple of no-hitters and guys wanted to throw to him a lot. That’s why he stayed in there for so long. If you’re able to call a good game, guys are going to want to pitch to you. That’s what I want and that’s my main goal.
Everything I learned here is just going to be the little things that get me through the year. Especially not only me, but little things that I can get my pitchers through when we’re having a bad outing. If I can get them out of an inning by doing something, I made a point. That’s one of the things that I’ve wanted to learn here, is to see what I could do to help my pitcher out. That’s my main focus behind the plate.

MT: Players typically say the minor leagues helped them mature, do you feel the same way?
YG: I wasn’t able to play outside of Miami since I went there, and it was the only school I wanted to go to. Minor leagues is a new experience for me. Last year I had a lot of fun being by myself and living by myself. You definitely grow as a man and experience how to take care of yourself. You learn how to be a little more time consuming.

My main goal is to make it to the big leagues and not only that, my main goal is to have a career as a big leaguer. I don’t want to have a career as a minor leaguer. My main goal is to get to wherever I’m going, having a good season and let everything else take care of itself. You can’t really think about whether they’re going to move you up or not.


(utsandiego.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. -- There's certainly a lot to like about Yasmani Grandal's bat, as the switch-hitting catcher came to the Padres from the Reds in December with what was considered a plus-bat tool.

The defense, many figured, would follow and possibly slowly.

But so far, Grandal has impressed with his bat -- he's hitting .346 with one home run and nine RBIs -- and his glove, particularly his ability to block pitches in the dirt.

"Grandal has been better than expected in camp, thanks to his hard work and the tutelage of Terry Kennedy, Brad Ausmus, John Gibbons and Justin Hatcher," manager Bud Black said Friday.

"It's going to be a process," Black said. "There's some things he needs to continue to work on. But in a short time, he's done some good work. He's done a good job."

Grandal moved fast through the Reds system, advancing to Triple-A last season. Still, he has only 402 Minor League at-bats and figures to benefit -- offensively and defensively -- from a season in the Minor Leagues, likely with Triple-A Tucson.


(mlb.com)

In writing about Nick Hundley‘s contract extension earlier this week I noted that the move blocks top catching prospect Yasmani Grandal’s path to the majors, as he looks likely to be MLB-ready by 2013 at the latest and now Hundley is signed through 2015.

Dan Hayes of the North County Times took it one step further, asking Grandal for his reaction to the Hundley signing:

I’m happy for Hundo. He has worked his butt off to get that deal. I’m looking for the same thing. It doesn’t matter if somebody got a deal or not. You never know what could happen. They could get traded or you could get traded. I’m not only playing for one organization. I’m playing for the 29 others that are out there. That’s one way I see it, and if it’s not meant to be it’s not meant to be. If I don’t make it to the big leagues with this club I can make it with any other team.

Certainly a reasonable response, although it does indicate that Grandal indeed feels somewhat blocked by Hundley now. Of course, he knows all about being traded because Grandal was sent from Cincinnati to San Diego as part of the Mat Latos deal.

My guess is that Grandal spends most of this season at Triple-A and then splits time with Hundley in 2013, at which point the Padres will look to make a trade and will probably be shopping Hundley.


(hardballtalk.com)

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Yasmani Grandal hit a three-run homer and a pair of RBI singles as the Padres defeated the Rockies, 11-6, in a Cactus League split-squad game at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursday.

The Padres' catcher, one of four players obtained from the Reds this past offseason in the Mat Latos trade, singled in the first and fifth innings. His three-run shot and first of the spring came during a four-run Padres fourth and was struck on the 10th pitch of a full-count at bat against Rockies reliever Carlos Torres.

"It was a fastball right down the pike," said Grandal, who went 3-for-3 with five RBIs in the game. "I've still got a long way to go, but I'm almost there. You can throw me as many fastballs as you want on a 3-2 count, and I'm going to keep fouling them off until I hit one."

Eric Young Jr. led off the game for the Rockies with a homer, his first of the spring, off Padres starter Casey Kelly. Kelly pitched four innings, allowing two runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

Guillermo Moscoso, still vying for a spot in the Colorado rotation, worked the first three innings for the Rockies, allowing five runs on seven hits with three walks and three whiffs. Torres allowed six runs and six hits in his two innings of work.

Kelly and Grandal could very well be a battery combination for the Triple-A Tucson Padres when camp breaks in two weeks.

"I didn't know I could hit the ball that far," said Grandal, whose homer was launched over the 32-foot green batting eye in dead center, a mammoth blast even by Kino Stadium standards. "I'm beginning to like this park already."


(mlb.com)

Nick Hundley and the Padres have agreed to a multi-year contract that covers 2013 and 2014 while including a team option for 2015.

Hundley was already signed for $2 million this season and under team control through 2014 via the arbitration process, so the Padres will pre-pay for two seasons of arbitration eligibility in exchange for some cost certainty and the option of buying out his first year of free agency.

Hundley has had trouble staying healthy, playing fewer than 90 games in each of his four seasons, but the 28-year-old hit .288 with a .347 on-base percentage and .477 slugging percentage in 82 games last season and has thrown out 28 percent of steal attempts for his career.

Prior to last season’s .824 OPS his career mark was just .699, so committing to Hundley rather than going year-to-year via arbitration is certainly a risk. However, he’s a rare player who actually thrives in the majors’ most pitcher-friendly ballpark, as Hundley has hit .271 with an .818 OPS at Petco Park compared to .240 with a .657 OPS on the road. Those splits are tough to explain and probably aren’t sustainable, but either way he’s a solid-hitting catcher with decent defensive chops and the Padres now have him locked up through age 31.

Now that Hundley is signed long term it’ll be interesting to see what the Padres do with catching prospect Yasmani Grandal, who was acquired from the Reds in the Mat Latos trade and ranks as the No. 53 prospect in the majors according Baseball America. Grandal is 23 years old and figures to begin this season at Triple-A, so he’ll be MLB-ready long before Hundley’s deal expires.


(hardballtalk.com)

Grandal is expected to begin the year at Double-A San Antonio despite getting a taste of Triple-A Louisville at the end of 2011 in the Reds' organization, the North County Times reports.




(fantasysp.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. — They all wear midnight blue and white, but some bleed green and orange.

The San Diego Padres have five players in camp -- including two non-roster invitees -- that attended the University of Miami: first baseman Yonder Alonso, center fielder Blake Tekotte and catchers Yasmani Grandal, Jason Hagerty and Eddy Rodriguez.

“Every time we play with a fellow teammate or someone that played at Miami, it’s really like a family,” Grandal said. “Even if you didn’t play with them, we all know each other.”

Grandal and Alonso came from the Cincinnati Reds in a five-player deal for pitcher Mat Latos. Both players speak passionately about “the U,” as Miami is commonly referred to. Although the school is mostly known for football, its baseball program is just as rich in history.

They’re just two of 38 former Hurricanes on professional baseball rosters from a program that in baseball circles is widely known as one of the best in the country.

“The only reason they talk about the football team is because the publicity they get, but we’ve had almost the same history as they have,” Grandal said. “We’re a good program as well. I think both programs are known nationwide. It’s just a good system they got there whether it’s for football or baseball. We’ve both been successful.”

Grandal spent three seasons as a Hurricane. He played with Alonso during his freshman year. He said Alonso taught him a lot, including how to lead the team.

“That’s the thing about Miami, once you learn the system -- once you learn how to play Hurricane baseball – you try to pass that on,” Grandal said.
Grandal always saw former Hurricanes like Aubrey Huff, Pat Burrell and John Jay in the batting cages in the offseason. They always gave him tips to help him improve. The 53rd-ranked prospect by Baseball America said he always wanted to be listed with those players in the school’s media guide.

“More and more you see guys getting up and doing big things,” Grandal said. “Those big things go all the way back to the University of Miami.”
Grandal has a tattoo of the school’s logo inked inside of a baseball with a cross surrounding it. Alonso has a tattoo of the logo as well -- a big orange and green “U” on his shoulder.

“That says enough right there,” Alonso said when asked what the university means to him.

Alonso spent three seasons in Coral Gables, Fla. He still spends his offseason working out at the school’s facilities. Alonso grew up idolizing the program because he appreciated the way Miami played the game.

“A lot of swag,” Alonso said. “They knew they belonged, which is something big. You grow up watching them, imitating them and playing like them.”
At Miami, Alonso became good friends with Alex Rodriguez, who originally had committed to the Hurricanes in high school before he signed his first professional contract with the Seattle Mariners.

Their relationship started when Alonso asked Rodriguez if he could hit with him. Rodriguez thought it was funny Alonso wanted to compare himself to a professional baseball player, but agreed to Alonso’s request.

They went on to hit together for two months straight.

“Even to this day, I just talked to him a couple days ago and we were talking about how it was going with camp and (Padres manager) Bud Black,” Alonso said. “It’s just nice to have someone that knows the game that has been around the game for several years.”

Grandal and Alonso make sure to help current players on the team. It can become a difficult task now that they don’t reside on the East Coast for the majority of the year, but they understand how much the interaction with professional players benefited their play on the field.

“It’s a tradition, it’s an honor,” Alonso said. “With all of that said, you got to make sure you fit that role very well. If you don’t, it doesn’t sit very well with the people around there. You got to make sure that you not only carry it on the field but carry it outside the field, too.”


(utsandiego.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Jason Vargas pitched a perfect four innings in his Cactus League opener on Sunday, as the Mariners topped the Padres, 5-4, in the annual Charity Game at Peoria Stadium.

Third baseman Kyle Seager went 3-for-3 with a home run for the Mariners and also made a nice diving stop in the second inning to help keep Vargas' slate clean, as Seattle improved to 2-1 in Cactus League play.

The Padres managed just three hits in the first eight innings of their spring opener and committed three errors. First baseman Yonder Alonso, making his Padres' debut after being obtained from the Reds in the Mat Latos trade, got San Diego's first hit with a single off of Brandon League in the fifth inning.

In the ninth, San Diego would double that hit total and tie the game. After a run-scoring single by Edinson Rincon, prospect Yasmani Grandal ripped a two-run double to center, and then the Padres tied the game when Seattle shortstop Nick Franklin lost a pop-up in the sun, allowing pinch-runner Cory Spangenberg to score the tying run. Franklin was charged with an error, giving Seattle three errors of its own.

The Mariners left no doubt in the home half of the ninth, as Mike Wilson singled leading off the inning, and Johermyn Chavez doubled him home immediately after to give the Mariners the walk-off win.


(mlb.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. — When it comes to speed, Padres prospect Yasmani Grandal can't compete with his father and his uncle, both of whom played professional soccer in Cuba. But quickness is another matter, and the minor-league catcher has demonstrated plenty this spring.

With a 6-foot-2, 235-pound frame, Grandal — one of four players acquired in the trade that sent pitcher Mat Latos to Cincinnati on on Dec. 17 — has no illusions about his foot speed. Running is clearly not his forte, and soccer has never been an option despite his family background. Fortunately for Grandal and the Padres, soccer and catching have little in common.

Over the last two weeks, the Padres have tried to tap into Grandal's quickness to help him improve behind the plate after he allowed 19 passed balls in 90 games last season. With the spring training opener Sunday, Grandal wants to test out the new techniques at game speed.

"It's more recognizing what you have to do," Grandal said. "One guy can be quick running. But a slower guy might be quicker with his feet.
"I'm ready to go. I'm just real excited."

Based on early reviews this spring, the Padres must be ecstatic with what they have in Grandal, whom Baseball America recently ranked as the 53rd-best prospect in the minor leagues.

A switch-hitter with power on both sides, Grandal is every bit the physical presence that the Reds believed he was when they drafted him 12th overall in 2008. But with prospect Devin Mesoraco also in the system, Cincinnati had a surplus of good catchers and included Grandal in the Latos deal.

The Padres are the beneficiary, in particular Triple-A manager Terry Kennedy, who probably will take Grandal with him to Tucson when the team breaks camp next month. Grandal, 23, started last season at Single-A with the Reds and advanced to Triple-A before the season ended.

"A switch-hitting catcher with some juice?" Kennedy said. "Yeah, I'll take him."

Grandal expects to make significant defensive improvement this season under the direction of former big-league catchers Kennedy and Brad Ausmus, the Padres' special assistant to baseball operations. Kennedy said the early focus has been on changing the angle of Grandal's back when he's behind the plate. Before the adjustment, Grandal's back was straighter, which makes it harder to block and also raises his target — a no-no in the Padres' system.

Though the changes took a few days to kick in, Grandal said he can already see a difference.

"It's something much easier, so I can be a little faster," Grandal said. "It feels much easier to get down and block. It feels much faster when I throw to second. I work on it about four or five times a week just so I don't have to be thinking about it much."

Kennedy thinks Grandal has looked much better, especially after he began to get more comfortable with his pitchers.

"We'll have to watch in the games, but he takes his defense very seriously," Kennedy said. "He's not just a one-way guy. He wants to be a good catcher."

Grandal first played catcher when he was 15, nine years after he picked up baseball and five years after he started in Little League in 1999, when he and his mother moved from Havana to Miami. Originally, at age 4, Grandal tried to follow in the footsteps of his father, Jose Avelino Grandal, and uncle, Gustavo Herrera, who played professionally in Cuba in the late 1970s and early '80s. But soccer was never a natural fit.

Padres general manager Josh Byrnes thinks Grandal is athletic, but can't imagine him on the pitch, only catching pitches.

"He's one of the bigger, stronger guys we have," Byrnes said. "Obviously, there's some athletic ability and flexibility. It's part of the position. He doesn't look like a soccer player."

Grandal knows he can't run like one, either. But that's OK. He doesn't need speed to be a catcher.

"I'm much bigger than my uncle and my dad," Grandal said. "They weren't small, but they were fast. I played soccer when I was little.

"I'm not fast at all."


(nctimes.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. -- In the opinion of Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal, there's no such thing as seeing too much left-handed pitching in spring.

Grandal, in his first big league camp with the team after being acquired from the Reds in December in the Mat Latos deal, is a switch-hitter who is looking to get as many right-handed at-bats as he can this month because once the season starts, left-handed pitching is harder to come by.

"If you're lucky, you might see one or two lefties a week," he said. "But not too many teams have back-to-back lefty starters."

So Grandal is focusing as much on his right-handed swing as he can in camp. And if he sees a few left-handed pitchers this spring, well, that's a bonus.

"During the season, the right-hand side doesn't usually get as many at-bats as the left-hand side. That's why you see a lot of guys being better from the left-hand side than the right," Grandal said.

"In Spring Training, you concentrate on that right-hand swing because it's the one swing that takes the longest to get good with. Lefty, it's more natural."

At this point of his career, the more at-bats Grandal gets, the more comfortable he feels. Grandal was the Reds' first-round pick (12th overall) in 2010, and last season was his first full professional season. He hit a combined .305/.401/.500 with 14 home runs and 68 RBIs in 2011.

Grandal hit .307 against right-handed pitchers and .274 against left-handed pitching.

"Lefty, I'm more a gap-to-gap guy, more contact," Grandal said. "Righty, I have way more power than lefty."


(mlb.com)

Yasmani Grandal is used to change.

After spending the first 10 years of his life in Cuba, Grandal's family won a national lottery that allowed them to immigrate to the United States. Despite coming over with little knowledge of his new home, Grandal eventually learned the country's language and history.

Grandal already knew of the national pastime, as he enjoyed success in the game in Cuba. He made a junior national team as a shortstop and third baseman, but he grew into one of baseball's top prospects at Miami Springs High School. He continued his growth at the University of Miami, playing internationally for Team USA in 2009 and finishing second in the voting for the Golden Spikes Award in '10. Later that year, he was selected 12th overall by the Reds in the Draft.

Grandal posted a .901 OPS in his first full professional season, solidifying his status as one of best young catchers in the game, but change again came for him during the offseason. Grandal was sent to the Padres along with three other players in exchange for right-hander Mat Latos -- a trade that he, like many, didn't see coming.

Though pitchers and catchers only reported last week, Grandal has already been with the Padres for nearly a month getting ready for the season. MiLB.com recently caught up with the young backstop to talk about what it was like coming over from Cuba, his experience at the University of Miami and what he thinks about his new organization.

MiLB.com: It's your first Spring Training with the Padres. What have you done so far in camp?
Yasmani Grandal: Just doing some catching, a little bit of hitting, learning the pitchers. There's a bunch of guys here I've never caught before, which is one of the reasons I got here a couple weeks early. So far, so good. There are a lot of young guys, a lot of good guys, so I'm excited.

MiLB.com: You're with the Padres now after coming over in the Mat Latos trade in December. What was your reaction to that deal?
Grandal: I was in shock. I really didn't know what to say. I thought it was a practical joke by one of my friends, but then I knew it wasn't my friend talking on the phone. I was just in shock. [The Reds] explained to me why they had to do it, and I was fine with it. As long as I'm playing ball anywhere else, it doesn't matter.

MiLB.com: With the Reds, you were behind another young catcher, Devin Mesoraco. Was it a relief to go to a team without another prospect looming right above you?
Grandal: Not really. I like the competition. I set goals. I don't mind having somebody on top of me. My ultimate goal is to beat him out and get that job. Whether it's in Cincinnati or any other organization, I want to do the same thing.

MiLB.com: The Padres play at Petco, a notorious pitchers' park. As a catcher, that must excite you, but as a hitter, maybe not. Are you more excited or anxious about the prospect of playing there?
Grandal: I don't really consider myself as a power hitter, so it's a perfect ballpark for me. It's a pitchers' ballpark, so I'm really excited about that, especially catching all these guys that have a lot of potential. Hopefully in the future, if I ever get to play there, we'll throw a couple no-hitters. I'm definitely excited. It's not like Cincinnati, where you hit the ball in the air and it's a home run.

MiLB.com: When you were 10 years old, you and your family emigrated from Cuba to America after winning a national lottery (which has since been discontinued). What do you remember about that experience?
Grandal: It was great. You always hear these stories about coming here, and that's one thing you want to do. There's opportunity here, all these other things, but being a kid, it wasn't really a big change for me. I think it was a big change for my parents, because they'd already lived [in Cuba for so long]. I think I adjusted really well. It was a good opportunity and my mom took it. Lucky for us, we were able to bring the whole family over here, and we're a big family. We stayed together.

MiLB.com: Obviously, you were young, but what was the biggest change that came with that move?
Grandal: Just the language barrier. Getting to a new country, not knowing the language. Lucky for me, I got to Miami where 75 percent of people speak Spanish, so it wasn't a big difference.

MiLB.com: You got your U.S. citizenship when you were a senior in high school. If you didn't, you likely would have been able to sign a professional contract without being drafted. Did that cross your mind?
Grandal: One thing I wouldn't have been able to do is play for Team USA, and that was one of my goals. That was one of the main reasons why I had to do it -- I wanted to play for the USA. Luckily, I was able to do it my sophomore year at Miami.

MiLB.com: As it played out, you were drafted by the Red Sox in the 27th round out of high school. What made you choose college over the pros?
Grandal: I was really clear with the Red Sox about what I wanted. I told them if they didn't meet what I wanted, then I was going to go to the University of Miami. Same thing I told to [Miami] coach [Jim] Morris -- If they don't give me the money I want, I'm coming [to Miami]. Once the Sox called me, I said 'Don't waste a pick on me.' They said, 'No, we'll work something out.' They offered me I think half of what I wanted, so it was an easy choice.

MiLB.com: Miami has a great baseball program but still might be known to some as more of a football school. What made you decide to go there?
Grandal: Nationwide, I think it's a little bit about both. I think both programs have had success, and they're known around the country. When I got to Miami, I always heard about the University of Miami and the Hurricanes. I always wanted to play there. I had other schools I could've gone to, but my first choice was always Miami.

MiLB.com: You were taken 12th overall by the Reds in 2010. I imagine that was an emotional moment for you and your family.
Grandal: Oh, it was -- it definitely was. One thing I remember is being out on the field, about to start warming up and a little kid told me I had been drafted by the Reds. I have a couple pictures of my parents once they heard the news. Everybody was happy and crying. I had to stay focused. I really didn't think about it until the end of the game -- it was the last game of Regionals and we had to move on.

MiLB.com: You were college teammates with Yonder Alonso, another player in the Reds organization who came to the Padres in the Latos deal. What kind of relationship do you two have?
Grandal: Once you play for the University of Miami, every guy that plays there is like family. No matter whether you play with them or not, you're always Hurricanes. We have a good relationship, but I still have [Padres teammates and Miami alums] Blake [Tekotte] and [Jason] Hagerty and Eddie Rodriguez. I'm looking forward to getting Spring Training rolling around and having a good time with them and all the guys here.

MiLB.com: You're a switch-hitting catcher, which is a pretty rare commodity. How long have you been catching, and when did you start switch-hitting?
Grandal: I started switch-hitting full-time when I was about 15. Around the same time, I started catching. I was always a third baseman and one day my stepdad ... he made me a catcher. I had to do the job, started liking it and I just stayed there. Right then, I figured I didn't like hitting against lefties, I started hitting righty and it stuck.

MiLB.com: I know it's early on in spring, but have you had time to think about goals for the season?
Grandal: I always have my goals set. My goal is still the same. My main goal is not only to make it to the Major Leagues but to have a career in the Major Leagues. I don't really think about stats. I think if I do my job in the Minor Leagues, hopefully I'll have a shot at the Major Leagues.


(milb.com)

Five of the 60 Padres in the major league camp have common roots in the University of Miami.

And the common link between the five is first baseman Yonder Alonso, who played with the other four University of Miami products in the Padres camp.

Alonso played for the Hurricanes from 2006 to 2008 and has a “U” tattoo in the appropriate colors.

Eddy Rodriguez was the first of three current Padres catchers to play at Miami from 2004 to 2006. Jason Hagerty caught for Miami from 2007 to 2009. And Yasmani Grandal caught for Miami from 2008 to 2010.

Blake Tekotte was Miami’s center fielder from 2006 to 2008.


(utsandiego.com)

Position: Catcher
Height: 6-2
Weight: 232
Age: 23
Born: Havana, Cuba
Drafted: 2010, first round, 12th overall
Acquired: Trade with Cincinnati Reds, Dec. 17
Projected arrival in majors: 2013

Strengths: Advanced from Single-A to Triple-A last season; switch-hitter is expected to provide above-average offense and solid defense; has a balanced approach, controls the strike zone, and uses the entire field.

Weaknesses: University of Miami product had 19 passed balls in 90 games and must improve receiving skills; has an average arm, and speed is well below average. Could need a full season at Triple-A.

Quote: "(Advancing three levels last season) was satisfying. Especially, as I moved on, I did better. It was satisfying just to be able to get those three levels under my belt in one year."


(nctimes.com)

Yonder Alonso has been one of the top prospects in baseball for the last couple of years. So it's not surprising that when he was traded to the Padres in the pre-Christmas blockbuster that sent young ace Mat Latos to Cincinnati for Alonso, pitcher Edinson Volquez and highly touted Minor Leaguers Yasmani Grandal and Brad Boxberger, he immediately became his new team's top prospect.

But the deal didn't just clear first base for Alonso, who had been blocked by Joey Votto in Cincinnati. It also sent a message that the already-stout San Diego farm system has gotten burlier, and is now teeming with talent and players on the cusp of Major League readiness.

"Cincinnati drafted me, and I thank them for that. But I feel like we have elite players in the game, right now, when it comes to prospects in San Diego," Alonso said. "Only positive things are happening for the Padres.

"For myself, it's something I've been waiting for. I feel like I can contribute tremendously, and it's something I'm definitely looking forward to. This team is not only getting ready to win now, but in the future, too."

Just take a look at the top names and it's easy to see why. Alonso has been considered ready for the big leagues for a while, and his five home runs and 15 RBIs in 88 at-bats in the Major Leagues last year indicated that the Padres had good reason to say goodbye to their other first-base prospect, Anthony Rizzo, whom they obtained in the 2010 Adrian Gonzalez deal with Boston and dealt to the Cubs this winter.

Catcher Grandal immediately checks in at No. 4 on the Padres' MLB.com list, and reliever Boxberger, who is at No. 12, has a chance to impact the big club's bullpen at some point in 2012.

"Any time you're building the foundation for sustainable success, it starts with scouting, player development -- and there always seem to be those key trades that are tough to swallow sometimes and difficult to take. But they mean change in the organization," said Padres vice president of professional scouting A.J. Hinch.

"When you do a four-for-one and you're trading a talented pitcher like Latos, you'd hope the return is significant. One thing is that we hope to see the fruits of that trade pretty quickly. If the talent and timing matches up and everybody's happy, it's a pretty good success."


(mlb.com)

We’ve gone surface level with our coverage of Yasmani Grandal up to this point, but now it’s time to go deeper. Our coverage to this point hardly qualifies as analysis, and that’s not a dig on us. There have been so many other aspects that needed analysis, Grandal has fallen through the cracks to this point. No more. It’s time for Grandal’s moment of glory. And let me assure you, there’s nothing more glorious than being the focus of an analysis piece here.

We can rehash Grandal’s prospect ranking all day, but I promised you substance. To get that, let’s start with his story.

While most American boys were concerned about Power Rangers and how far they could jump their bikes off ramps, Yasmani Grandal was waiting to find out his future. There are ways out of Cuba.  Many of them are unpleasant and dangerous. But there was a simple method back in 1998, a method Grandal’s family took. They essentially asked the Cuban and United States governments for permission.

Fourteen years ago, Grandal’s family applied for and won a lottery (the Cuban Special Migration Program), and his entire family was allowed to defect to the United States.  The program arose out of the U.S.-Cuban Migration Accords of 1994, and it allows Cuban nationals who otherwise would not qualify for asylum in the United States to participate in a lottery.  The lottery winner is chosen randomly, as was the case with Grandal and his family.  The program is no longer in existence today, and Grandal’s family was one of the last to be allowed to participate.

In a June 2010 article in the Palm Beach Post, Grandal said, “I think about what would have been if I stayed there.”  Things certainly would have been different.

His is a rare tale of a chance at a better life without the inherent danger most Cuban defectors face.  Rather than a life-threatening open-seas trip to Florida, Grandal and his family arrived with relative ease and safety in Florida.  Grandal was ten years old at the time.  He quickly went from a life in which he would go to sleep hungry to a life in which food was abundant, snacks were available, and life was easier.

“In Cuba, we woke up in the morning wondering what we were going to eat in the afternoon,” said Maria Gomez, who arrived in the U.S. on July 3, 1999 with husband Elieser, her parents and son Yasmani, now a star catcher for the University of Miami. “He got here where you could watch television all day in a nice air-conditioned house with tons of goodies to eat.”

Grandal adjusted nicely to the United States, built up his weight and began playing baseball.  By June of 2010, as he waited to find out what Major League team would draft him out of the University of Miami, Grandal was 6′ 2″, weighing 210 pounds.  He had become one of the best players in all of college baseball, a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award and the Golden Spikes Award.

Grandal struggled in his first two years of college ball hitting .234 and .299 respectively.   However, his Junior year proved to be his breakout season.  During that season, Grandal hit .422/.545/.754 with 14 home runs.  And these were just his stats at the plate.  Behind the plate, Grandal was just as good.  In his final year with the Hurricaines, Grandal threw out 40% of the runners trying to steal against him.  His arm will be as valuable as his bat at the Major League level.

The Cincinnati Reds took Yasmani Grandal 12th overall with the June 2010 draft.  As we know, he spent two minor league seasons with the Reds’ organization before being sent to San Diego in the Mat Latos trade.

In his two minor league seasons, which spanned two different Rookie League teams followed by Single-A ball; Double-A ball; and Triple-A ball, Grandal struck out in 22% of his plate appearances, but walked in 13% of those appearances.  He hit .303/.401/.488.  He’s shown some pop hitting 14 home runs in 105 games in 2011, but his real talent is his ability to put the ball where the fielders aren’t.  Part of his BAbip in the minor leagues is the lower-level fielding ability of many of the defenders, but much of Grandal’s numbers have to do with where he hits the ball.  His 2011 BAbip with the Reds’ Single-A affiliate was .359 in 56 games.  In 45 games with the Double-A affiliate, Grandal’s BAbip was .377.  Obviously that number will come back close to .300 when he hits the Major Leagues, but the trend is promising.  Grandal has been able to find the gaps throughout his minor league seasons.  Over the course of 113 combined games, he has hit 32 doubles.

Behind the plate, Grandal threw out 34% of runners in his minor league career thus far.  He had 19 passed balls in 2011, but just 5 combined between Double-A and Triple-A ball.

With Nick Hundley behind the play for 2012, and John Baker serving platoon duty, Grandal will likely start the season in Triple-A Tucson.  He has a shot at a September call-up, but barring any injuries to the Major League roster, Grandal is more likely to see a 2013 call-up.  The Padres have opened up their options behind the plate.  Hundley has been slowly building steam as a trade chip over the last season or so.  With Grandal waiting in the wings, it makes it easier for the Padres to consider a trade.

Whether we see Grandal in 2012 or 2013, the Padres seem very well-set in their catching situation with  player who was selected to the 2010 Collegiate Baseball First Team and the All ACC First team, was a member of the 2009 United States National Team, and was a finalist for both the Johnny Bench Award and Golden Spikes Award.


(chickenfriars.com)

Yasmani Grandal, Padres: The possible competition for a big league job between Grandal and Mesoraco was averted when Cincinnati sent Grandal to San Diego in the Mat Latos deal. The 2010 first-rounder is now the Padres' top catching prospect, and after finishing 2011 in Triple-A, he should be knocking on the door soon. Grandal showed an ability to hit from both sides of the plate, with some power and an advanced approach at the plate. He should be a capable catcher defensively, though he could use some move development time, and his strong arm enabled him to throw out basestealers during his climb. Only Nick Hundley really stands in his way, and when Grandal is ready, he should be given an opportunity.


(mlb.com)

Padres acquired 1B/OF Yonder Alonso, RHPs Edinson Volquez and Brad Boxberger and C Yasmani Grandal from the Reds for RHP Mat Latos.

Alonso, the seventh overall selection in the 2008 draft, excelled in his time in the majors last season, batting .330/.398/.545 in 88 at-bats. His minor league numbers were more good than great, so he’s probably not a future All-Star. However, he projects as a nice regular at first base and the Padres will have him under control for six years. What that means for fellow top prospect Anthony Rizzo still has to be figured out. Alonso could be stashed in left field at some point or maybe he gets traded again. For now, he’ll probably start at first, with Rizzo returning to Triple-A.



(rotoworld.com)

Bakersfield catcher Yasmani Grandal earned a Major League contract from the Cincinnati Reds for the power-hitting skills he showed at the University of Miami. Grandal slugged 31 home runs over his last two seasons with the Hurricanes and is a power threat for the Blaze with a .298 batting average and eight homers in 37 games.

Grandal's path to the Majors began long before the Reds made him the 12th overall pick in last year's Draft. He was born in Cuba and came to the United States with his mother when he was a child.

"It was an experience I won't forget," he said. "It was tough getting here and not knowing anybody. Once you look back, everything plays out."
Grandal had to leave most of his family behind to have a shot at better opportunities in Miami. His father still lives in Cuba and he calls his relatives there when he can.

The Reds have a recent Cuban connection. Four of their top 30 prospects were born in Cuba. Pitcher Aroldis Chapman and outfielder Felix Perez defected from Cuba and guys like Grandal and Triple-A Louisville first baseman Yonder Alonso came from Havana to Miami as children.
Grandal and Alonso were college teammates and Grandal is looking forward to playing alongside Alonso again in Cincinnati.

The Reds have another top-rated catching prospect ahead of Grandal. Devin Mesoraco was the team's 15th overall pick in 2007 and is the immediate future behind the plate.

Grandal is used to competition at his position. Jason Hagerty was a star catcher at Miami when Grandal joined the Hurricanes. Grandal played so well that he pushed Hagerty to first base.

"I had to fight to get that spot," he recalled.

Grandal has high praise for Mesoraco, adding, "I think competition within the organization is even better."

The 22-year-old is developing his skills behind the plate in Bakersfield, focusing on working with a staff of pitchers he'd never seen before this season.

"[I'm] trying to call pitches better and trying to get a feel for that," he said. "So far, it's going well, especially with the starters."

Grandal sees competition from college as well as from his Team USA days. Last week, he went up against Stockton outfielder Michael Choice, who went 10th overall to Oakland in last year's Draft. Both played for Team USA in 2009.

The Reds surprised Grandal with their Major League contract offer.

"I was just trying to get drafted in the first place," he said. That focus has allowed him to hone his game without giving in to the pressure that accompanies high expectations.

"I think every first-rounder is going to feel pressure because they're expected to put up numbers and develop quickly," he said. "Just because they offered me a MLB contract, it doesn't mean they're going to put more pressure on me. If you play ball under pressure, you're not going to get too far."



(minorleaguebaseball.com)

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Reds pared their Spring Training roster Monday by reassigning nine players to Minor League camp, reducing the number of players in Major League camp to 45.

Catcher Yasmani Grandal, the team's No. 1 pick (12th overall) in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, was among the players on the 40-man roster sent out, along with right-hander Daryl Thompson and left-hander Philippe Valiquette.

Lefties Donnie Joseph and Jeremy Horst, right-handers Matt Klinker and Justin Lehr, outfielder Danny Dorn and catcher Chris Denove were the non-roster invitees reassigned.



(mlb.com)

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