Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Padres infield prospects José Rondón, Josh VanMeter and Fernando Perez are coming off strong weeks in winter ball and the Arizona Fall League.
Shortstop Rondon, 22, was 6-for-15 with two doubles, a triple, two walks, three runs scored and two RBIs during a four-game hitting streak for Magallanes of the Venezuelan Winter League last week. Rondon, ranked the No. 12 prospect in the Padres' system, is hitting .277 (18-for-62) in Venezuela with a .356 on-base percentage. He has five doubles, two triples and a homer for a .462 slugging percentage and a .818 OPS, with 12 runs scored and six RBIs.
VanMeter, 21, who is playing third for Peoria in the AFL, is hitting .261 but with a .446 on-base percentage. He is 12-for-46 with 16 walks, 12 runs scored and seven RBIs.
Perez, a 23-year-old graduate of Otay Ranch High, went 5-for-12 last week with a double and two RBIs for Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific League. He is hitting .360 for Hermosillo with a .448 on-base percentage and a .848 OPS.
Center fielder Manuel Margot and second baseman Carlos Asuaje continue to pace the Padres playing in the Dominican Republic.
Margot, 22, is hitting .288 for Este with a .317 on-base percentage. He was 7-for-25 last week with three steals. Asuaje, 25, is hitting .236 for Escogido with six walks for a .323 on-base percentage. He has scored seven runs with 10 RBIs.
Left-hander Frank Garces has allowed three runs on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings for Este.
Shortstop Daniel Bravo is hitting .192 (8-for-42) for Aragua in Venezuela. Right-hander Luis Diaz, 24, has allowed 13 runs (10 earned) on 19 hits and seven walks with 13 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings over five starts for Caracas.

Center fielder Michael Gettys hit a three-run double to help the West win the AFL Fall Stars Game last Saturday. He is hitting .177 (11-for-62) on the season with four doubles, a triple and two homers. Center fielder Franchy Cordero is hitting .216 (11-for-51) with two doubles and a homer for the Javelinas.
After allowing only one run over 12 innings in his first four starts in Arizona, left-handed Kyle McGrath gave up six runs on six hits in two innings for Peoria on Monday afternoon, as his ERA climbed to 4.50.
Right-hander Phil Maton also allowed a run Monday and has a 1.74 ERA in 10 1/3 innings over eight appearances. He has allowed two runs on nine hits and a walk with 14 strikeouts. Right-hander Jason Jester has a 1.04 ERA in 8 2/3 innings over seven appearances, allowing one run on seven hits and four walks with eight strikeouts.
Left-hander José Torres has a 2.84 ERA in 6 1/3 innings. Right-hander Brad Wieck has an 8.66 ERA, although he has 14 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings. He has also allowed 12 hits and eight walks.