DENVER -- Pinch-hitting in the sixth inning against the Rockies on Saturday night, Padres outfielder Jabari Blash made solid contact and instantly feared he hit the ball too well. He doubled off the wall in left-center for his first Major League hit.
"At contact, my first thought was, 'Shucks, I'm probably not going to get it back if I hit it out," Blash said. "I wanted the ball, so I was actually hoping it stayed in so it would be easier to retrieve. So I was glad that I was able to get a double and now I have a Major League average, so that's exciting."
The Padres acquired Blash in the Rule 5 Draft in December. Oakland took Blash from Seattle in that Draft and then sent him to San Diego to complete the deal that brought pitcher Drew Pomeranz to the Padres from the A's.
Blash pinch-hit in Colorado on Friday and grounded into a double play on the first pitch from Christian Bergman, an at-bat that was instructive for the slugger.
"I was a little too aggressive, and that's something I have to work on," Blash said. "So walking into the at-bat yesterday, I knew I had to be a little more patient and just stick with my approach and not try to square up the first thing you see. I was excited. I knew there was an opportunity to get my first hit."
Blash seized that opportunity, connecting on a 1-0 pitch from Jason Gurka and happily watching the ball hit the wall in left-center.