Padres recall C Yasmani Grandal, designate RHP Jeff Suppan for assignment

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres today announced they have recalled catcher Yasmani Grandal from Triple-A Tucson and have designated right-handed pitcher Jeff Suppan for assignment. Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcement.

Grandal, 23, has hit .317 (38-for-120) with 10 doubles, four home runs, 23 RBI, 22 runs scored and 21 walks in 34 games for Tucson this year. The switch-hitting catcher was acquired by the Padres this past offseason along with right-handers Brad Boxberger and Edinson Volquez and infielder Yonder Alonso from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for right-hander Mat Latos. Rated as the No. 2 prospect in the Padres organization by Baseball America heading into this season, his first appearance will be his Major League debut. Originally selected by the Reds in the first round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft (12th overall) out of the University of Miami, he has hit .307 (160-for-522) with 42 doubles, 18 home runs, 92 RBI, 95 runs scored and 84 walks over 147 minor league games played.

Suppan, 37, went 2-3 with a 5.28 ERA (18 ER/30.2 IP) over six starts for the Padres this year. The right-hander also made two starts for Triple-A Tucson before joining San Diego this season, having signed a minor league contract in February earlier this year. Over parts of 17 Major League campaigns with the Boston Red Sox (1995-97; 2003), Arizona Diamondbacks (1998), Kansas City Royals (1998-2002), Pittsburgh Pirates (2003), St. Louis Cardinals (2004-06; 2010), Milwaukee Brewers (2007-10) and Padres (2012), he has gone 140-146 with a 4.70 ERA (1328 ER/2542.2 IP) in 448 games, 417 starts.