Jankowski taking precautions with ankle bruise

Wallace doing work despite sore foot; Rule 5 pick Perdomo in bullpen mix

March 23rd, 2016

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Padres outfielder Travis Jankowski is day to day with a bruised left ankle after being hit by a pitch Tuesday. Jankowski was originally slated to be a part of the club's travel roster for a pair of split-squad games in Mexico City this weekend, but the injury puts his status in doubt.
Jankowski sustained the injury after he squared around to bunt on a pitch that was low and in. He remained in the game but was hobbled trying to run first-to-third on a single later in the frame. When he got to third base, he noticed the swelling and was removed.
Spring Training: Schedule | Tickets | More info
"I got a lot of treatment on it, and it felt good when I woke up," Jankowski said. "I got it taped to prevent the swelling, took the tape off, and it ballooned again. So probably a couple days -- maybe not even that -- and I should be back."

Jankowski missed Wednesday's workout while receiving treatment, but he could be back doing team activities on Thursday. The club -- or half of it, at least -- departs for Mexico City on Friday, with games against Houston on Saturday and Sunday.
"We don't really want to take somebody down to Mexico that we've got to be too cautious with," said Padres manager Andy Green. "He feels fine moving around, there's just probably going to be a day or two where he's moving a little slow. [The pitch] got him pretty good."
In 17 games this spring, Jankowski is 8-for-30 with five walks and five steals. He's currently battling for the club's fourth-outfield spot, with Jabari Blash and Jose Pirela also in the mix.
Sore foot bothering Wallace
It's been more than a week since Brett Wallace has appeared in a Cactus League game, but the Padres' backup first baseman has still gotten in plenty of work during that time.

Wallace has been bothered by a sore right foot, but the lefty slugger has taken part in back-field games, getting seven or eight at-bats per day without running the bases. If the season started today, Green said Wallace would be on the roster, without question.
"He's feeling fine, it's precautionary right now," Green said. "[In Spring Training], I'd rather err on the side of caution."
Wallace figures to be the Padres' late-game power option off the bench this season, especially against right-handed pitching. He batted .304/.385/.565 against righties last year. He also thrived coming off the bench, batting .368/.400/.895 in a pinch. His 1.138 OPS in those situations was second among all players with at least 20 pinch-hit at-bats.
"Those things like roles and how many at-bats you're going to get and things like that, that's out of your control," Wallace said. "So my job is to be prepared to play and whenever they call me, be ready to go and try to have an impact."
Perdomo 'very much in the mix'
Despite his struggles this spring, Rule 5 Draft pick Luis Perdomo still has a chance of making the Padres' bullpen, according to Green.

"His stuff makes a very positive impression on the staff," Green said of the right-hander. "He's very much in the mix to make our team. He's going to have to improve a little bit on the on-field performance to make it, but he's a guy -- we like what he brings."
At 22, Perdomo is easily the youngest of the four Rule 5 selections currently on the Padres roster. He has never pitched above Class A Advanced, and he's struggled to adjust to big league hitters this spring.
Perdomo, the club's No. 12 prospect, would need to remain on the big league roster throughout the season to stick with the Padres.
"His side sessions are outstanding," Green said. "He's a young kid who pitched in A-ball. There's that element of [needing] to slow the Major League game down a little bit and recognizing, 'Hey, it's still baseball' -- you're still 60 feet, six inches away from the glove you're trying to throw it to."