Luis Durango Called Up, Luis Perdomo Sent Down

In yet another move from a busy Sunday for the Padres, Luis Durango has been recalled from Triple-A Portland to provide some much-needed defensive help in an outfield that has been playing Oscar Salazar and/or Matt Stairs fairly regularly.

Reliever Luis Perdomo, recalled just the day before, was sent back to Portland, in an expected move.

Durango was pulled from Portland’s Sunday night game early, forcing first baseman/corner outfielder Craig Cooper to spend most of the game in center.

Durango batted .305/.384/.318 with Portland. He has almost no power, with a triple as his lone extra-base hit. The switch-hitter has impressive speed, but was caught 10 times in 28 steal attempts.

Durango did walk 19 times, so he showed decent strike zone control for a speed guy.

He doesn’t have enough power or discipline to be an everyday player, but Durango certainly has value as a defensive replacement, and he should be able to produce more than Tony Gwynn Jr. has this year. Speculation is rampant that Durango will step in as the Padres’ leadoff man, but I’d rather see Chris Denorfia in that role. I think Durango is best off as a reserve long-term.

Perdomo still needs more Triple-A time before he’s much of a major league pitcher. He didn’t appear in a game with the Padres after posting a 3.76 ERA with Portland, and likely will slide back into a middle-innings role with the Beavers.