CHICAGO -- As he moved up the San Diego Padres organization, catcher Austin Hedges was known for his defense.
But Padres manager Andy Green also considers Hedges an offensive threat. And Hedges showed that Friday with a two-run double and his eighth home run, a solo shot, in the Padres' 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Hedges' three RBIs tied a career high. Among catchers, his eight homers top the majors, and his 20 RBIs were tied for second with the Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez entering Saturday.
"A pitcher makes a mistake, he's got the kind of power that can make somebody pay for it," Green said. "He's done that consistently for us. He's had really good at-bats lately, some balls that didn't go for hits."
Hedges has hit all of his home runs since April 15. After beginning the season in an 0-for-24 slump, he was batting .196 entering Saturday.
"Since [that start] it's consistent, hard contact," Green said. "His challenge, same as Hunter Renfroe, is to stay in the strike zone. If he stays in the strike zone and hits pitches very hard, he hits spin well, he hits fastballs well, there's no way to really beat him consistently if you're in the strike zone. And that's where his challenge is, maintaining that level of aggression but in a smaller space."
To break out of that early slump, Hedges made a mechanical tweak because his hands were out of sync with his lower half.
In his last five games, Hedges is 5-for-15 with two home runs and five RBIs.
"Over the course of the year, I've been trusting the process," Hedges said. "Obviously, I haven't gotten as many results as I'd like to, but I'm going to keep trusting the process and keep going and try to win ballgames day in and day out."
Injury updates
• RHP Jarred Cosart (right hamstring strain) has "a good chance" of being activated from the 10-day disabled list on Sunday, Green said.
• C Hector Sanchez (right foot contusion) will resume full baseball activity on Sunday, Green said. Sanchez is expected to return to playing soon.
• OF Alex Dickerson (bulging disk in lower back) is doing baseball activity, including hitting and throwing and some fielding, but he has yet to fully run, Green said. Dickerson may progress to fully running within the next week. Barring setbacks, he could possibly return from the 60-day DL by mid-June. When he returns, he likely will not play every day, Green said.
• OF Travis Jankowski (right foot bone bruise) is expected to see a doctor on Monday to check how the injury is healing.