San Diego Padres: Carlos Asuaje Is Performing Well, If Needed

If the San Diego Padres need a replacement for Christian Villanueva, Carlos Asuaje is performing well.

It feels like it has been a long time since the name Carlos Asuaje has been brought up. He last appeared in a game for the San Diego Padres on May 19th, getting two or more at-bats in a game only three times throughout the entire month. May Padres fans be seeing him again, shortly?

In Sunday afternoon’s contest against the Cincinnati Reds, Padres third baseman Christian Villanueva took another foul ball off his ankle, causing him to leave the game. It was the second time he had done so on the weekend.

As reported by the San Diego beat staff, Villanueva was diagnosed with an ankle contusion (bruise). Here is a replay of the foul ball.

As of Monday morning, no official announcement has been made by the San Diego Padres on whether or not Villanueva will require a trip to the disabled list. If he is going to miss at least a few days, the team will more than likely go ahead and place him on the 10-day disabled list, in order to bring up someone else from El Paso.

Carlos Asuaje has been hitting the ball well in El Paso.

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Since being optioned to AAA, Carlos Asuaje has played in 12 games, collecting 14 hits in 44 at-bats (.318 average), working a .388 on-base percentage. He is currently riding a three-game hit streak, including a 3-4 day at the plate on Sunday. Over his last seven games, Asuaje has 10 hits.

In seven of his games with El Paso, Asuaje has played third base, committing no errors in 12 chances, thus far. Should Villanueva hit the disabled list, Padres fans could very well see a Spangenberg/Asuaje mix in the hot corner until his return.

However, I’m just going to throw this out there, Luis Urias has also been playing some third base for the Chihuahuas. Unfortunately, Urias is hitting .118 over his last 10 games, with just one walk.

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Of course, we are hoping Villy will be back in two or three days and it is nothing more serious. Looking ahead, just in case, Asuaje doesn’t have much experience against this week’s probable pitchers for the Atlanta Braves outside of Sean Newcomb. The 26-year-old is two for three against him.