Padres prospect Wisler moves to Double-A
No. 8 prospect was 2-1 with 2.03 ERA in six starts at high-A level
SAN DIEGO -- One of the Padres' top Minor League prospects is on the move.
Right-handed pitcher Matt Wisler, who is regarded as the Padres' No. 8 prospect according to MLB.com, has been promoted from Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore (California League) to Double-A San Antonio (Texas League) on Monday.
"He's thrown the ball well every time out," said Randy Smith, the Padres' vice president of player development and international scouting. "It's time to go. He earned it. It wasn't a should-we or shouldn't-we."
Wisler, 20, suffered his first loss Sunday against Inland Empire. He allowed four runs in five innings with two walks and five strikeouts.
In six starts this season with the Storm, Wisler was 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA. He had 28 strikeouts and 22 hits allowed with six walks in 31 innings.
"He has a plus-fastball, good natural movement and can run through a lineup," Lake Elsinore manager Shawn Wooten said last week. "The ball jumps out of his hand; he has a nice, slow rhythm. He knows how to use his slider, which right now is probably ahead of his curveball.
"He's a soft-mannered kid, but his demeanor is bulldoggish."
In 2012, Wisler's first full professional season, he went 5-4 with a 2.53 ERA in 114 innings for Class A Fort Wayne of the Midwest League.
Wisler has credited Padres bullpen coach Willie Blair for helping him with his slider. Blair was Wisler's pitching coach last season in Fort Wayne.
Wisler was a seventh-round Draft choice in 2011 out of Bryan (Ohio) High School. The Padres convinced him to turn down a scholarship to Ohio State University.