William Dion Venable...married to Kathryn...graduated from San Rafael (CA) High School…lettered four times in basketball, three times in baseball and once in track and field in high school…was a standout in baseball and basketball at Princeton University...is only the second player in Ivy League history to earn first team All-Ivy honors in both basketball and baseball, joining Chris Young...was First-Team All-Ivy League in basketball in 2004 and baseball in 2005…received the B.F. Bunn Trophy in 2004-05, "awarded to that member of the Princeton varsity basketball team who through sportsmanship, play and influence has contributed most to the sport"…compiled 1,010 career points in four seasons with the Tigers…majored in anthropology...his father, Max, played parts of 12 Major League seasons and is now a minor league hitting coach in the Mariners organization…signed by Padres scout Jim Bretz.
2014
Appeared in 146 games for the Padres, hitting .224 (91-for-406) with 13 doubles, eight home runs and 33 RBI...Hit .261 (41-for-157) with two doubles, one triple, six home runs, 19 RBI and 16 walks in 59 games during the second half of the season, compared to a .201/.258/.277 (50-for-249) line with 11 doubles, one triple, two home runs, 14 RBI and 17 walks before the All-Star break...Did not commit an error in the outfield, becoming just the third qualifying outfielder in franchise history to go an entire season without committing an error (also Eric Owens in 2000 and Dave Roberts in 2006)...Over his final 54 games of the season (from 7/28 on), hit .294 (10-for- 34) with a double, two home runs, 13 RBI and five walks with runners in scoring position…prior to this stretch, hit .171 (6-for-35) with two doubles, and 11 RBI with RISP in his first 92 games of the season...In 26 plate appearances as a pinch-hitter in 2014, hit .348 (8-for-23) with a home run and four RBI with two walks…among Major League players with at least 25 plate appearances as a pinch hitter, his batting average ranked fifth...Tallied his first walk-off hit of the season with an RBI-single in the bottom of the 12th inning on 5/5 vs. KC…since the start of the 2010 season, Venable has eight game-winning RBI in interleague games, tied for the second-most among National League players, trailing only Justin Upton, who has nine...Recorded his second walk-off hit of the season with an RBI-single in the bottom of the 12th inning on 8/2 vs. ATL… the walk-off was his sixth of his career, tied for fifth-most in Padres franchise history, trailing only Tony Gwynn (8), Kurt Bevacqua (8), Bip Roberts (7) and Gene Richards (7)...When hitting sixth in the lineup, Venable hit .300 (24-for-80), the sixth-best batting average in the National League among hitters with at least 75 plate appearances in the six-hole.
2013
Unanimously named the Padres' Most Valuable Player by the San Diego chapter of the BBWAA following the season...Set career-highs in nearly every offensive category, including games played (151), average (.268), hits (129), home runs (22), RBI (53), runs scored (64), slugging percentage (.484), OPS (.796) and tied his career-high in triples (8, 2x, also 2012)...Signed a two-year extension with the Padres through the 2015 season on September 3, 2012...One of nine players in Major League Baseball to record 20-or-more home runs and stolen bases in 2013 and one of eight to do so in Padres franchise history (10th instance)…first Padres to do so since Mike Cameron in 2006 (22 HR, 25 SB)...Over 62 games in the second-half of the season, hit .315 (74-for-235) with 14 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs, 21 RBI, 34 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, a .357 on-base percentage and a .549 slugging for a .906 OPS…in the first half of the season, hit .224 (55-for-246) over 89 games...His .549 slugging percentage in the second-half ranked sixth-best among National League players…had 29 extra-base hits in the second half, tied for sixth-most in the NL...Named National League Player of the Week for August 12-18, batting .406 with five extra-base hits, five RBI and seven runs scored in that time…his first career weekly honor...Named Padres nominee for the Hank Aaron Award, recognizing the most outstanding offensive performer in each league...Hit two leadoff home runs in 2013, with his first on September 6 vs. Colorado for the eighth of his career to pass Quilvio Veras for the Padres franchise record…hit his second leadoff homer and ninth of his career on September 12 at Philadelphia against Roy Halladay...Enjoyed his best month of the season in August, hitting .367 (40-for-109) with six doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 15 RBI, 20 runs scored, six stolen bases, a .395 on-base percentage and .697 slugging percentage for a 1.092 OPS over 26 games...His 40 hits were the most in the month of August by a Padre since Mark Loretta had 41 in August of 2004…his .367 average ranked sixth-best among National League players in August while his 17 extra-base hits led all National Leaguers…his 40 hits ranked second-most in the NL and eight homers tied for second-most…according to ELIAS, only three other Padres in history have had 40-or-more hits and eight-or-more home runs in one single month: Dave Winfield (July 1979), Ken Caminiti (August 1997) and Phil Nevin (August 2000)...Had a career-best 15-game hit streak from August 2-18 (.377, 23-for-61), the longest by a Padre in 2013 and longest since Chase Headley had a 16-game streak in 2011…hit streak was the longest by a Padres outfielder since Rondell White had a 16-game hit streak in 2003 (May 19-June 6, 2003)...Hit his first career walk-off home run on August 18 vs. New York-NL, a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning…also had a walk-off single with the bases loaded on May 29 vs. Seattle...From July 14 through the end of the season, hit .318 (76-for-239) with 14 doubles, four triples, 12 home runs, 23 RBI, 35 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, a .359 on-base percentage, a .561 slugging percentage and a .920 OPS in 63 games played.
2012
Played in a career-high 148 games in 2012 and set career highs in several offensive categories, including hits (110), runs
scored (62), doubles (26), triples (eight) and OPS (.765)...finished
with a career-best tying .264 average on the season (also, 2008).
Started a career-most 103 games, including 80 in RF, 16 in CF
and seven in LF...started 48 games batting leadoff.
Hit.353(30-for-85)overall in 2012 with runners in scoring position,
the 10th-best qualifying mark among all Major League players
and sixth-best in the NL.
Hit.270(95-for-352)off right-handed pitching and .231 (15-for-65)
off left-handers.
In 74 games on the road, hit .286 (63-for-220) while hitting .239
(47-for-197) in 74 games at home.
In the 103 games he started, hit .279 (106-for-380) while hitting
.108 (4-for-37) in 45 games as a substitute.
Enjoyed his best month of the season in August, hitting .324 (23-for-71) over 23 games played.
In 68 games after the All-Star Break,hit.286(50-for-175)after hitting .248(60-for-242)over 80 games in the first half.
Over his final 38 games of the season from 8/19-10/3, hit .340 (36-for-106) with 23 runs scored.
On 6/10 at MIL, collected three hits to bring his career-total at the time to 339, passing his father's (Max Venable)
Major League total of 337 hits (337-for-1397, .241).
Collected his second career game-ending hit on 5/20 vs. LAA with an RBI-single with two outs in the bottom of the
13th inning to score Clayton Richard, the pinch-runner.
Collected his first home run of the season on 4/13 at LAD off former teammate Aaron Harang, snapping Harang's
streak of nine consecutive strikeouts in that game.
Hit two leadoff homers in 2012 on 5/23 at STL and 6/10 at MIL to bring his career total to seven, tying Quilvio Veras
for the most leadoff homers all-time by a Padre.
Collected a career-high tying four hits twice on 5/15 at WSH and 8/21 vs. PIT (6x total).
Collected a career-high tying four RBI on 7/30 at CIN (6x total).
Committed a career-high seven errors in 2012, tied for the most among qualifying NL outfielders (also,Bryce Harper,
Hunter Pence and Giancarlo Stanton)....five of his seven errors came at home, after committing just two errors in
168 career games at Petco Park coming into the season.
2011
In his fourth year with the Padres, made 85 starts in the outfield (71 in right field, 10 in center field, 4 in left field)...Tied career highs in both doubles and triples...Set a new Padres record by belting five leadoff home runs, the first five of his career...five leadoff homers also tied him for second on the club's all-time list (also Brian Giles and Rickey Henderson), behind only Quilvio Veres' seven...Ranked 12th in the NL with 26 stolen bases and second in the Majors with an 89.7 success rate (29 attempts)...Optioned to Triple-A Tucson on 5/23 and recalled 6/9...hit .224 (30-for-134) in 40 games prior to being optioned and .258 (61-for-236) in 81 games after returning to the Big Leagues...On the season he hit .298 (37-for-124) with runners on base, .299 (23-for-77) with RISP and .271 (13-for-48) with RISP and two outs.
2010
Appeared in a career-high 131 games for the Padres,
including 101 starts in the outfield...made 64 starts in right
field, 19 in left field and 18 in center field...Ranked among team leaders in games played (3rd), runs scored (3rd),
triples (1st), home runs (2nd), RBI (3rd), stolen bases (1st)...posted a
.732 OPS that would have ranked second on team (did not qualify)...Set career highs in games played, runs, hits, triples, home runs,
RBI and walks...Missed time from 7/3-21 while on the disabled list with lower back
stiffness...missed several games throughout season while not on the
DL due to back injury...Finished the season by hitting .368 (25-for-68) over his last 23
games from 9/8-10/3, raising his average .026 points from .219 to
.245....403 OBP and .529 SLG over that stretch (.932 OPS)...over
the entire month of September, hit .347 (26-for-75) while posting a
.372 OBP and .493 SLG...Led the team with a career-high 29 stolen bases...combined with his 13 home runs, he became the 12th Padre (18th time
overall) to record at least 20 steals and 10 home runs in a season...Tied his career high (third time) with four hits 5/19 at LAD...also tied his career high (third and fourth times) with two four-
RBI games; 6/20 vs. BAL and 8/2 at LAD...In 32 games against NL Central opponents, he hit .315 (34-for-108) with a .405 OBP and .444 SLG.
2009
Appeared in 95 games for the Padres after beginning the season at Triple-A Portland...played all
three outfield positions for San Diego, making 52 starts in right field, 16 starts in center field and three
starts in left field.
Recalled from Portland 6/3 and struggled through his first ... 38 games, hitting .204 (19-for-93) with six doubles, one home
run, five RBI and 10 runs scored.
... Hit .280 (56-for-200) over his final 57 games, beginning with a 4-for-5 performance 7/30 at CIN...raised his average from
.204 (on 7/29) to .256...eight doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 33 RBI and 28 runs scored over last 57 games....342 onbase
percentage and .505 slugging percentage.
... Hit right-handers at a .266 clip (59-for-222) and .225 (16-for-71) against lefties...all 12 homers and 27 of his 28 extra-base
hits came against right-handed pitching.
... Batted .299 (43-for-144) on the road compared to .215 (32-for-149) at home...hit .385 (30-for-78) in day games and .209
(45-for-215) at night.
... Career-high four hits on two occasions (7/12 at SF; 7/30 at CIN)...career-high four RBI on two occasions (7/30 at CIN; 9/23
at COL)...career-high four runs scored 7/12 at SF.
... Played in 53 games for Portland before being recalled...49 games in center field, two as pinch-hitter and two as designated
hitter...hit safely in 34 of 53 games, including two seven-game hit streaks...hit safely in seven of his first eight games, going
12-for-32 (.375) with two doubles, two triples, one home run, two RBI and eight runs scored.
2008
Contract purchased from Triple-A Portland 8/29
and made his Major League debut that night...hit .264
(29-for-110) with four doubles, two triples, two home
runs, 10 RBI, 16 runs scored and 13 walks in 28 games
with the Big League club...selected for having the "Best
Strike Zone Judgment" in the Pacific Coast League in
Baseball America's annual "Best Tools" survey featured
in the publication's 8/25-9/7 issue...With the Padres, batted at a .324 clip (11-for-34) off left-handed
pitching but hit both homers off righties...hit .308 (8-for-26)
with runners in scoring position and .500 (2-for-4) with the
bases loaded...Hit safely in 19 of 28 games, including nine multi-hit contests...
notched at least one hit in five of his first six games from 8/29-
9/4, going 8-for-23 (.348)...Played 27 games in center field, including 26 starts...no errors in 85 total chances with 84 putouts and one assist
in 238.0 innings...Made his Major League debut 8/29 vs. COL, collecting a triple in his first plate appearance...only the second
player in club history to triple in his first Major League at-bat, joining John Sipin who
accomplished the feat 5/24/69...First career homer 9/4 at MIL off Jeff Suppan...Spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Portland, hitting .292 (129-for-442)
with 26 doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 58 RBI, 70 runs scored, 44 walks and
seven stolen bases in 120 games...14 home runs (16 overall after 2 with SD) marked career-high at the professional
level...Played 100 games in center field, committing four errors in 209 total chances,
posting a .981 fielding percentage...On the disabled list 4/17-28 with a left shoulder strain...Notched a 13-game hit streak 6/30-7/12, batting .321 (18-for-56) during
that span.
2007
Spent the entire season with the Texas League Champion Double-A San Antonio Missions...named
the Padres No. 5 prospect by Baseball America entering the season...Ranked among Texas League leaders in hits (T-4th, 143), games (T-3rd, 134) and at-bats (2nd, 515)...Played 129 games in the outfield, posting a .993 fielding percentage...committed two errors in 294 total chances while
recording seven assists...Hit safely in 102 of his 134 games...17-for-40 (.425) over season-high, 10-game hit streak, 5/27-6/8...Hit for the cycle on 5/30 at Springfield...first Missions player to accomplish the feat since 2002...collected three RBI in
the game...Named to the Texas League Post-Season All-Star team...Went 12-for-31 (.387) in seven playoff games with two RBI...notched the most hits and stolen bases (2) among Texas
Leaguers in postseason play.
2006
Received the Padres Minor League Player of the Year Award after an all-star season with Single-A
Fort Wayne...ranked second in the San Diego organization in RBI (91), third in batting average (.314) and
fourth in stolen bases (18)...Named to the Midwest League Post-Season All-Star team...finished among league leaders in runs scored (T-1st, 86),
batting average (2nd), RBI (2nd), hits (3rd, 148), on-base percentage (T-3rd, .389), doubles (4th, 34) and total bases
(T-4th, 225)...Knocked two grand slams: 5/4 at Kane County and 8/18 vs. South Bend...Had a season-high five hits, two homers and three RBI in a 7-6 victory 6/25 vs. Cedar Rapids...Closed the month of June with a .361 batting average (35-for-97)...Hit .481 (13-for-27) with four homers and 14 RBI in seven games en route to Midwest League Batter of the Week honors
for 8/14-20.
2005
Split his professional debut between Rookie-level Peoria and Short-A Eugene...Hit safely in 12 of the 14 games in which he had an at-bat with Peoria...Went 2-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored and one steal in his debut 6/22 at the AZL Mariners.
