Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Allen Cordoba did it again Tuesday night.
The 21-year-old Rule 5 Draft pick entered the game as a second baseman, moved to shortstop, singled sharply to center in his only at-bat and scored the Padres' second run -- on the first Major League hit by another Rule 5 Draftee, catcher Luis Torrens.
Cordoba, who had never before played above short-season Rookie ball before making the Padres' Opening Day roster, continues to impress in a small sample size.
But Padres manager Andy Green said Cordoba's time is coming -- possibly this week during a six-game homestand.
"He's gonna get chances, he'll be getting more and more starts," said Green of Cordoba, who has made two starts in the Padres' first 15 games - one at short and one in left.
"I don't know how many, but I expect to see him out there sometime this series. I have tons of confidence in him in left field. I don't think that's going to be an issue. He could start at short."
Cordoba is 6-for-13 with a home run, two walks, three runs scored and a RBI.
The Padres' regular shortstop, Erick Aybar, is hitting .135 (5-for-37). The other veteran shortstop on the roster, Luis Sardiñas, is 2-for-16. Regular left fielder Travis Jankowski is off to a 6-for-38 start (.158).
It's not like the Padres would be risking much at the moment by giving Cordoba a chance.  
"I can't say enough good things about Cordoba," said Green. 
"If you go back through Cordoba's evolution in spring training, he was a guy in the very beginning who was overwhelmed and rightfully so coming from rookie ball. There were weeks when it didn't look like he was going to get it. Once he settled in and started to play baseball, you saw the skill set that the scouts loved." 
"Cordoba's flying all over the field. He comes up to me after Monday night's game apologizing for not making diving catches in left field to help win that baseball game. The at-bat on his walk was probably as good an at-bat as we've had all season.   
"He wants to win. He wants to be a part of this. There is nothing more we can ask. You can't emphasize enough where he's come from. In one sense it's unprecedented. You can't make a huge deal about it, but it is a huge deal. He's not treading water, he's having competitive at-bats every time up."   
GAME NOTES:   
--1B William Myers extended his hitting streak to nine games with a two-out RBI single in the third inning Tuesday night. Myers was 1-for-4 Tuesday and is 15-for-36 during the streak with three doubles, two triples and two homers for seven RBIs. But he is just 6-for-21 in the last five games of the streak with seven strikeouts.   
--SS Erick Aybar made the first pitching performance of his career Tuesday. He entered the game with two out in the top of the ninth and retired the only hitter he faced, Chris Herrmann on a grounder to the right side.  
--The hamstring strain suffered by RHP Jarred Cosart Tuesday night could lead to the activation of RHP Luis Perdomo from the 10-day disabled list to make Sunday's start scheduled for Cosart. Cosart, who pitched four scoreless innings in his first start of the season April 10 in Colorado, retired the first 10 Diamondbacks he faced Tuesday. But he didn't finish the fourth inning and said after the game: "It's pretty sore." Perdomo has been on the disabled list since April 8 with posterior shoulder inflammation. He will throw an extended bullpen session Wednesday and if all goes well, he could return from the 10-day disabled list without needing a rehab assignment.   
--3B Ryan Schimpf has drawn walks in nine of his last 10 games and leads the Major Leagues with 15 walks. Schimpf has also struck out 15 times, meaning he hasn't put the ball in play in 30 of his 54 plate appearances - or 56 percent.