Padres send Esteban Quiroz to Rays to complete Tommy Pham deal
Credit: Chihuahuas
Esteban Quiroz is now a Tampa Bay Ray, as the San Diego Padres traded the infielder east to complete the Tommy Pham trade.
This Thursday, March 26, 2020, the San Diego Padres officially announced that 28-year-old infielder Esteban Quiroz was the player to be named later in the deal that sent Tommy Pham to the San Diego Padres. The initial trade was made on Dec. 6, 2019. It sent Pham and Jake Croneworth to San Diego and Xavier Edwards and Hunter Renfroe to Tampa Bay.
Quiroz has yet to make his MLB debut at 28 years old and did not have a spot on this Padres’ roster with all the competition at second base. Jurickson Profar, Brian Dozier, and Ty France can all play second base as it was going to be tough for “Pony” to make his MLB debut this season. The Mexican infielder can also play shortstop and third base, but with Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. on the roster, there was also no room for him there.
Quiroz began his professional career in his native Mexico in 2011 with Tigres de Quintana Roo. He played exclusively in Mexico until 2018 when the Boston Red Sox signed him. Quiroz demolished Double-A with the Portland Sea Dogs hitting .299/.413/.598 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs in just 24 games.
Despite his success, Quiroz never even received an opportunity in Triple-A with the Red Sox as he played in the Gulf Coast League and the Arizona Fall League. Quiroz played in the Mexican Pacific League in the 2019 offseason before being signed by the San Diego Padres.
The Mexican infielder finally received his opportunity in Triple-A last year with the El Paso Chihuahuas, and just like at Double-A, he demolished the division. Quiroz hit .271/.384/.539 with 19 home runs and 66 RBIs in 366 plate appearances.
Despite his success, he was not part of the September call ups for the Padres. He will now try to make his MLB debut with Tampa Bay. Quiroz proved he has the talent with the bat as he may have been underappreciated at San Diego.
The #Padres have sent INF Esteban Quiroz to the Tampa Bay Rays as the player to be named later to complete the trade for OF Tommy Pham.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 26, 2020
Quiroz has the ability to compete for a roster spot in Tampa against players like Daniel Robertson and Joey Wendle, who both really struggled offensively in 2019.
Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.