San Diego Padres: Carlos Asuaje Continues On His Hot Streak

Carlos Asuaje has been on a tear so far this spring for the San Diego Padres. After another big day today, the 26-year-old is showing that he’s ready to assume the everyday second base position.

After a solid 2017 for the San Diego Padres, Carlos Asuaje has gotten off to a hot start this spring in Peoria, AZ. Over 307 at-bats last year, the 26-year-old Venezuelan slashed .266/.328/.356 with four home runs, 21 RBI, and 16 doubles.

Manager Andy Green was so pleased with the progress Asuaje made over the course of last year that no moves were made this past offseason to shore up the second base position. That non-activity shows just how much confidence the Friars have in this young man.

With the recent addition of free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer, Jose Pirela, who was slated to share time in left field as well as to sub in for Asuaje at second, is left with only one true position to play; second base. He could see some time in left but with the current logjam in the outfield, that’s unlikely in my opinion.

If Cory Spangenberg plays well, he can play second and some outfield too. The Padres could head into the season without one of these three guys on their roster. Who the odd-man out is will be determined by how the rest of Spring Training plays out, both on the field and off.

Carlos Asuaje is doing all he can to earn that Opening Day nod for Padres

So far this spring, Carlos Asuaje has done all he can with the opportunities Andy Green has given him. If Asuaje plans on getting the lion’s share of playing time at second, he knows he has to have a productive preseason.

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And productive is exactly what he’s been thus far. In fourteen at-bats, the 26-year-old has six hits (one double, two triples) with six RBI and a .357/.412/.714 slash line.

That’s precisely what the Friars team brass was hoping to see when they began spring workouts with Asuaje atop the depth chart at second.

Hopefully, Green will figure out who goes where and how to appease each and every guy who’s on the Opening Day roster, and even those who aren’t but figure to make appearances at some point. That’s just the type of manager he is.

Next: Bryan Mitchell Is Impressing

If Pirela, Spangenberg, and Asuaje all play well enough to deserve playing time, he’s going to try his hardest to reward them for their hard work. The competition that should develop out of the constant battling for playing time should result in improved play from all players involved.