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Padres to activate Kelley from DL, option Vincent

PHOENIX -- Padres right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley will be activated from the disabled list on Friday, having recovered from the left calf strain that knocked him out 15 days ago. He hasn't pitched since April 22.

After his club's 11-0 loss to the D-backs on Thursday, manager Bud Black announced that reliever Nick Vincent will be optioned to Triple-A El Paso to make room. Vincent allowed two runs on three hits in one inning on Thursday.

Eighth-inning setup man Joaquin Benoit seems to have recovered enough from inflammation in his right shoulder to skirt the DL. Benoit has pitched only once in the past nine games after allowing three runs on two hits without recording an out against the Astros on April 27. He's 3-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 13 appearances.

"He's fine," Black said about Benoit, who last threw an inning of scoreless ball on Sunday at home against Colorado. "He had [four] days off and then he didn't pitch in San Fran, so he's good to go."

Kelley returned to the team on Thursday after three Minor League rehab assignments and was also pronounced "good to go." Friday is his first day of eligibility to come of the 15-day DL.

Kevin Quackenbush, Vincent and Frank Garces were the last three active relievers added to the roster. Garces was just recalled on Tuesday, when starter Brandon Morrow was placed on the DL because of a sore right shoulder. Quackenbush was recalled on April 24, the day Kelley was put on the DL.

Kelley, who was traded to the Padres by the Yankees this past Dec. 29, has been shaky thus far in his six outings with the Padres. He's 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA. But Black said he liked the reports about Kelley's rehab stint.

"He was throwing good," Black said. "I liked the fact that he went up to Fresno [with Triple-A El Paso] and went two scoreless innings, 94-95 [miles per hour] on the fastball, good slider. And then he threw again [Tuesday] night, another scoreless inning.

"Like most of our relievers, he's had variable results. Shawn will fall back into the bullpen. Every game is different. It's hitter-based, score-based, situation-based, so we'll see how we use him."

Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Boomskie on Baseball. Follow @boomskie on Twitter.
Read More: San Diego Padres, Joaquin Benoit, Nick Vincent, Shawn Kelley