Padres organization players of the week: August 9-15
Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
The San Diego Padres had a rough week at the big league level, but that didn’t stop players up and down the organization from succeeding.Ā
Though the Padres limped to a 3-4 record this week, several players stood out, especially at the plate.
Jose Azocar (El Paso)
Azocar had it all clicking at the plate for the Chihuahuas this week. The 25-year-old outfielder has hit safely in the last five games. He put together a .389 average, five doubles, four runs scored, along with a 1.228 OPS. This happened to be the first six games of his Triple-A career after getting promoted from San Antonio.
Adrian Martinez (San Antonio/El Paso)
Martinez is getting a lot of love within the Padres organization and outside it in the last month. He was named the Double-A Central Pitcher of the Month in July. In his final start in Double-A, he went six innings and struck out seven, allowing just one run, earning the win. He then was promoted to El Paso over the weekend and will make his Triple-A debut soon. In 17 appearances this season for San Antonio, he posted a 2.34 ERA in 80 2/3 innings.
RHP Adrian Martinez promoted from @missionsmilb to @epchihuahuas.
AA Central pitcher of the month in July is a name to keep an eye on if #Padres continue to need pitching.
— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) August 15, 2021
Despite criticism from fans, Hosmer is performing at a high level at the moment. Since August 1, in 13 games, with a .311 average. This week, he kept it going by hitting safely in five of the seven contests. In four of those games, he collected multiple hits. Over the seven games, he batted .346 with three doubles, one home run, and a .970 OPS.
Myers is another Friars’ hitter that has mostly struggled this year which has turned it on lately. Though he finished the week 0-for-5, he still posted a .318 average over seven games, along with a .900 OPS and 146 wRC+. He homered in Friday’s loss to the Diamondbacks, which tied the game briefly.
Wil Myers wakes up the @Padres offense with this 2-run blast š„ We have a tie ballgame!@wilmyers | #HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/EJHDmKJyBJ
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) August 14, 2021
Let’s be honest, the highlight of the week happened on the last day, Sunday. After a long 15-day stint on the injured list, Tatis returned with a vengeance on Sunday in Arizona. The Padres had lost four in a row and three straight to the lowly Diamondbacks. Not only did he return to form at the plate, but he did so at a new position in right field. In his first at-bat, he lined a double. In his next two plate appearances, he launched home runs into left field, extending his National League lead, now standing at 33. He finished the game with a two-run single with the bases loaded, putting the game out of reach as the Padres snapped their losing streak.
Just for fun, that one game produced a 3.000 OPS and 689 wRC+ for the new right fielder.
.@Tatis_jr has 2 HR in every game he's played in right field. pic.twitter.com/f0YfBOUUgh
— MLB (@MLB) August 15, 2021
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.