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Melvin Upton has injured foot examined by Padres' doctor

Newly acquired outfielder will meet with manager Black at home opener

LOS ANGELES -- New Padres outfielder Melvin Upton Jr., whom the team acquired Sunday from the Braves with closer Craig Kimbrel, is in San Diego meeting with team doctors about his injured left foot.

Upton began the regular season on the disabled list with sesamoiditis in his left foot, an injury that kept him from action most of Spring Training. Upton, the brother of Padres outfielder Justin Upton, is not expected back in the big leagues until May at the earliest.

San Diego manager Bud Black found out Wednesday afternoon that he'll have a chance to sit down with Upton for the first time.

The Padres play their home opener at 3:40 p.m. PT Thursday at Petco Park against the Giants.

"He'll be there [at Petco Park], I was told," Black said. "And then he'll pop over to Arizona to continue his therapy."

That therapy will take place at the team's Spring Training facility in Peoria, Ariz.

Black said Upton has met with Padres team physician Dr. Heinz Hoenecke. On Thursday morning, he'll get a chance to meet his new manager.

In order to land Kimbrel, considered one of the best closers in the game, the Padres took Upton in the deal, agreeing to take the remaining $46.35 million his contract. Melvin Upton is owed $14.45 million this year, $15.45 million in 2016 and $16.45 million in 2017.

"We'll have a chance to sit down with Upton … to get a sense of where he is health-wise. He's probably not going to be in a big league game for at least three or four weeks, at least, and maybe the beginning part of May," Padres general manager A.J. Preller said. "It's really for us to get around him a little bit … to see where the fit is on our club."

The Padres are carrying four outfielders on their roster; Justin Upton, Wil Myers, Matt Kemp and Will Venable. Myers plays center field, the position where Melvin Upton has mostly played during his big league career, though Preller said Sunday that Myers is the team's center fielder.

Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. Keep track of @FollowThePadres on Twitter.
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