Short hops
• Infielder/outfielder James Darnell was granted his unconditional release on Friday. The Padres sought release waivers on him Wednesday. Darnell, who hit .226 in 62 at-bats with the Padres from 2011-12, was seeking a medical opinion on the left shoulder that he injured in a Minor League game with Triple-A Tucson earlier this season. The team could still re-sign him to a Minor League contract.
• Left fielder Carlos Quentin missed his seventh consecutive start Friday with a sore left shoulder. Quentin did hit on the field during batting practice before the game, the first time he's done so since he suffered the injury exactly a week ago. There's no timetable as to when he could return to the starting lineup.
View Full Game Coverage• Infielder/outfielder James Darnell was granted his unconditional release on Friday. The Padres sought release waivers on him Wednesday. Darnell, who hit .226 in 62 at-bats with the Padres from 2011-12, was seeking a medical opinion on the left shoulder that he injured in a Minor League game with Triple-A Tucson earlier this season. The team could still re-sign him to a Minor League contract.
• Left fielder Carlos Quentin missed his seventh consecutive start Friday with a sore left shoulder. Quentin did hit on the field during batting practice before the game, the first time he's done so since he suffered the injury exactly a week ago. There's no timetable as to when he could return to the starting lineup.
View Full Game Coverage• Second baseman Jedd Gyorko's right groin strain is close to fully healed. He's taken part in on-field drills before games, including running. He's hit during batting practice in the cage and could go on a Minor League rehab assignment as soon as Saturday. He's eligible to be reinstated from the disabled list on Tuesday.
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. Keep track of @FollowThePadres on Twitter. Jamal Collier is an associate reporter for MLB.com.