Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Outfielder Hunter Renfroe and second baseman Carlos Asuaje are going to be busy during the second week in July.
Already selected to play in the SiriusXM Futures Game at Petco Park on July 10 along with El Paso teammate Manuel Margot, Renfroe and Asuaje -- plus Chihuahuas infielder Casey McElroy -- were named Thursday to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team for the Triple-A All-Star Game three days later in Charlotte, N.C.
Additionally, El Paso pitching coach Bronswell Patrick was named the PCL pitching coach for the Triple-A All-Star Game.
In addition to the PCL All-Star announcement, six pitchers -- including top June Draft pick Cal Quantrill -- had outstanding outings in the Padres system Thursday night while the promotion of outfielder Alex Dickerson to the Padres triggered more movement among the affiliates.
And Austin Hedges and Hector Sanchez continued their torrid hitting for El Paso as the Chihuahuas defeated Reno 8-6 in west Texas to extend their PCL-best record to 47-33. El Paso leads the PCL Pacific Southern Division by 4 ½ games.
First baseman Sanchez, who was outrighted to El Paso earlier this week after clearing waivers, hit two homers Thursday night with four RBIs. He was 2-for-2 with two walks and is now 6-for-11 for the Chihuahuas with five home runs.
Catcher Hedges was 2-for-4 Thursday to extend his hitting streak to 12 straight games. He is 24-for-48 with eight homers during the streak to raise his season batting average to .385.
Center fielder Margot (.298) was 2-for-4 with his fourth homer and a walk Thursday. Renfroe (.325) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Shortstop Diego Goris (.381) was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
Right-hander Michael Kelly improved to 3-0 since being promoted to El Paso, although he allowed four runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, his ERA climbed slightly to 3.71.
Right-hander Eric Yardley (2.57 ERA) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk with a strikeout in one-third of an inning. Right-hander Michael Dimock (3.86) issued one walk with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 otherwise perfect innings. Left-hander Keith Hessler (3.93) issued a walk with three strikeouts in two otherwise perfect innings to get his first save.
Quantrill, the eighth overall pick in the June Draft, allowed two hits with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings in his first game action since he had Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2015.
Other notable starting pitching performances in the system working down from the top:
Double-A right-hander Kyle Lloyd (3-3, 4.29 ERA) allowed one run on four hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. High Class A right-hander Enyel De Los Santos (4.58) allowed three hits and a walk with three strikeouts over five shutout innings. Low Class A right-hander Austin Smith (5.15) allowed two hits with six strikeouts over five shutout innings. Short-season Class A starter Jordan Guerrero (3.09) allowed three unearned runs on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts over five innings. And Dominican Summer League left-hander Omar Fernandez (0.00 ERA) allowed four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in six scoreless innings.
Additionally, right-hander Brandon Morrow, who returned to the mound for the first time in more than a month, allowed an unearned run on a hit with a strikeout in an inning with the Arizona Rookie Padres.
As for other movement in the system:
Center fielder Auston Bousfield was promoted from San Antonio to El Paso to replace Dickerson on the Chihuahuas roster. Center fielder Franchy Cordero was promoted from Lake Elsinore to San Antonio and first baseman Ty France was promoted from Fort Wayne to Lake Elsinore where he will be closer to his San Diego State roots. Right-hander Johnny Hellweg was released by El Paso.
AROUND THE FARM:
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (3-4, 25-52) - MISSIONS 6, TULSA 2: 1B Gabriel Quintana (.247) was 2-for-4 with a double, a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored. Cordero was 2-for-3 with a triple, a RBI and two runs scored in his Missions debut. C Rocky Gale (.259) was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. LHP Jose Torres (0.84 ERA) followed Lloyd and got the last out in the sixth. RHP Rafael De Paula (2.53) issued a walk in an otherwise perfect inning. LHP Kyle McGrath (1.57) struck out the side around a walk in the eighth. RHP Tayron Guerrero (2.77) allowed a run on a hit and a walk with a strikeout in an inning.
HIGH CLASS A LAKE ELSINORE (4-4, 36-42) - LANCASTER 5, STORM 1: 2B Luis Urias (.325) was 2-for-4 with a double. CF Michael Gettys (.412), DH Ricardo Valenzuela (.348) and C A.J. Kennedy (.400) were all 2-for-4. LHP Brandon Alger (3-1, 6.30 ERA) followed De Los Santos and allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings. RHP Trey Wingenter (3.77) allowed a hit and two walks with a strikeout in a scoreless inning. LHP Trevor Seidenberger (6.45) allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout in an inning.
LOW CLASS A FORT WAYNE (4-4, 40-38) - DAYTON 4, TIN CAPS 2: DH Carlos Belen (.206) was 1-for-2 with a walk and a RBI. RHP Elliot Morris (1-1, 5.87 ERA) allowed two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. RHP Louis Distacio (4.24) allowed two runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings.
SHORT SEASON CLASS A TRI-CITY (9-5) - C Chris Mattison (.200) hit a homer in three at-bats for two RBIs. SS Chris Baker (.233) was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. 3B Jose Savinon (.357) was 1-for-2 with a walk. RHP Diomar Lopez (2-0, 1.59 ERA) followed Guerrero and allowed a hit with a strikeout in three scoreless innings. LHP Jose Castillo (1.80) issued a walk with a strikeout in an otherwise perfect inning to record his first save.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (6-3) - ANGELS 6, PADRES 4 - DH Hudson Potts (.314) was 2-for-5 with a steal, a RBI and a run scored. SS Fernando Tatis Jr. (.353) was 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. 3B Tyler Selesky (.417) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. OF Dayon Olmo (.318) was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. C Jose Lezama (.150) was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. RHP Henry Henry (0-1, 6.14 ERA) followed Quantrill and allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.
DSL PADRES (10-12) - BLUE JAYS 2, PADRES 1: SS Luis Guzman (.245) homered in three at-bats. RHP Adonis Santana (1-3, 4.00 ERA) followed Fernandez and allowed a run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings.