Padres Call Up Jace Peterson from Double-A San Antonio

Jace Peterson, called up today by the Padres from AA, hitting for the big league club early in Spring Training this year.

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Two injuries to key Padres Thursday night in Washington opened the door for a big opportunity for 23-year-old San Antonio Missions infielder Jace Peterson.

As reported last night by the UT’s Dennis Lin, the calf issue for Chase Headley and the groin pull for Seth Smith leave the Padres in desperate need of depth.

Enter Jace Ryan Peterson of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The former 1st round pick, taken 58th overall, out of McNeese State has steadily progressed up the minor league ladder. He has put together season-long stops throughout different minor league levels from 2011 to 2013. He broke camp with Double-A San Antonio this season.

Hitting out of the three spot for San Antonio in most of their 18 games this season Peterson is hitting .311/.376/.392, with a home run, three doubles and seven RBI . His nine walks and nine strike outs this season match a trend over his four year career that has seen him strike out just eight more times than he has walked.

Peterson is a .283/.376/.400 hitter in his minor league career. His seven home runs, 66 RBI, 37 extra base hits and .303 average in 113 games last year with Single-A Lake Elsinore were all career highs.

A short stop by trade, appearing exclusively at the position over the past three seasons, Peterson did play one game each at second base and third base through the first 18 games this season for the Missions. He has demonstrated a good glove with a .946 fielding percentage, including a career high .956 a year ago as a short stop.

With 136 stolen bases in his career, Peterson could certainly give the Padres offense a boost of speed if nothing else. He is 4-for-7 in stolen bases so far this season at Double-A after being caught just 33 times over 167 attempts in his first three seasons. That included a career high 51 stolen bases in 2012 with Fort Wayne.