MILWAUKEE -- The last time Luis Torrens walked into a Major League clubhouse, his presence was a technicality, but when he went through the door of the visitors' clubhouse at Miller Park on Monday afternoon, he was there for a purpose.

The Padres recalled Torrens from Double-A Amarillo Monday after he helped the Sod Poodles win the Texas League championship.

"We're excited to have him," Padres manager Andy Green said. "He's earned his way here. The first time he was here, he was a Rule 5 pick and a long way away from being a big leaguer. He knows this is something that he's earned."

Signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 2012, Torrens was selected by the Reds in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft. Cincinnati dealt the 21-year-old to San Diego that same day for a player to be named later that ultimately turned out to be Josh Van Meter.

By rule, San Diego had to keep him on its big league roster for the entire 2017 season. He appeared in 56 games for the Padres, batting .163 with three doubles, a triple and seven RBIs and was assigned the following season to Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore, where he hit .280/.320/.406 with 73 RBIs and a .727 OPS.

Torrens built on that performance this season, batting .300 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs in 97 games for Amarillo.

"He had a great season," Green said. "He helped lead [Amarillo] to a championship yesterday and then gets the news that he's coming here. He knows this is something that he's earned. He feels good about that, and he should."

Along with his offensive production, Green and the Padres' staff have been impressed with Torrens' development behind the plate as well.

"He's caught really well," Green said. "He's put a lot of effort into his receiving and you see the growth happening there. He throws the ball quickly, he's a bright guy and there's a future for him behind the plate."

Torrens is the third catcher on San Diego's roster at the moment, and that group is expected to grow to four when Francisco Mejía returns from the injured list in the near future.

Green said he's confident he'll be able to find playing time for all four catchers, including Torrens, as the season winds down.

"We'll get him a few starts," Green said. "When there are 13 games left and four catchers, nobody is going to be out there 8-10 times and Frankie won't be in a position to be ready to catch that much anyway. We'll split it up and he'll get some opportunities to catch."

Renfroe improving

Outfielder Hunter Renfroe was out shagging fly balls during batting practice Monday and is getting closer to returning from a sore right ankle.

"He's been available to pinch-hit the last couple of days," Green said. "He's getting closer and closer and hopefully we'll get hm back on the field in the next day or so.”