Padres send four players to Minor League camp

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres began the process of 'thinning the room' as manager Bud Black likes to say, as the team moved four players to the Minor League side on Sunday.

The team announced that it optioned outfielder Yeison Asencio to their Double-A roster in addition to reassigning right-handed pitchers Adys Portillo and Joe Ross to Minor League camp. Outfielder Daniel Robertson was also sent to Minor League camp.

Manager Bud Black also indicated that left-handed pitcher Juan Oramas will be optioned to the team's Triple-A roster on Monday.

When Oramas departs, the team will have 56 players left in camp, meaning there will be more cuts moving forward, possibly as soon as Monday.

Asencio had one hit in five at-bats and will being his season with Double-A San Antonio. Ross impressed during camp. The younger brother of Padres pitcher Tyson Ross, Joe Ross allowed one run in two games over three innings.

"Joe did fine. For a 20-year-old, in his first big league camp, I thought he presented himself very well," Black said of Ross, who will begin the season with Class A Lake Elsinore. "I thought he threw the ball well."

Portillo allowed three runs in three innings in three games. He's being converted from a starter to a reliever, a conversion that will continue in the Minor Leagues. Robertson was hitless in eight at-bats. He'll begin the regular season at Triple-A El Paso.