Jorge Padilla
Encyclopedia
Jorge Rafael Padilla is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
. He was first called up to the major leagues on August 5, 2009.
in the third round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
. He soon made his debut with the Rookie-level Martinsville Phillies
. He batted .356 with five homers and 25 RBIs in 23 games.
In Padilla split his season between the Class A Piedmont Boll Weevils, where in 44 games he hit .208 with three homers and 17 RBIs, and the Short-season Batavia Muckdogs, where in 65 games he hit .252 with three homers and 30 RBIs.
With the Class A Clearwater Phillies Padilla ranked ninth in the South Atlantic League
in batting with a .305 average. He also had 11 home runs and 67 RBIs in 108 games in .
He spent the entire season with Class A Advanced Clearwater, hitting .260 with 16 homers, 66 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 100 games.
In Padilla was promoted for the Double-A Reading Phillies
. He hit .256 with seven homers, 65 RBIs and 32 stolen bases in 127 games.
Playing for Double-A Reading again in , Padilla batted .295 with two homers and 23 RBIs. He suffered a hand injury in late June, which required season-ending surgery.
With the Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons Padilla batted .253 with seven homers and 45 RBIs in 117 games in .
Padilla started the season with Clearwater after missing two months with an injury. He soon rejoined Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre. He got off to a great start hitting .317 in his first 19 games but fell apart in his final 30 games batted .223.
In Padilla spent the entire year with the Double-A Binghamton Mets
marking his first season in the New York Mets
organization. He hit .295 with 10 homers and 54 RBIs in 129 games. Padilla finished fourth in the Eastern League in hitting and third in hits with 142. He was selected for the Eastern League All-Star team.
He spent the season with the Double-A Wichita Wranglers
in the Kansas City Royals
organization. He hit .336 with 10 homers, 51 runs scored and 49 RBIs in 69 games and was soon promoted to the Triple-A Omaha Royals
where he hit .291 with six homers, 27 runs scored and 20 RBIs in 55 games.
Padilla hit .330 with a homer, 25 runs scored and 14 RBIs in 33 games with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators
. This marked his first season in the Washington Nationals organization.
He started the season with the Syracuse Chiefs.
Austin Kearns
was placed on the disabled list with a right thumb contusion. Padilla earned the promotion after hitting .367 with four home runs and 21 RBIs for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. The right-handed hitter stated his reason for his high batting average was his ability to hit the ball to the opposite field.
On August 22, Padilla got his first start in left field for the Nationals.
After becoming a free agent following the 2009 season, Padilla signed with the Toronto Blue Jays
. On June 18, 2010, he was traded to the New York Mets
for future considerations. On November 10, 2010 Padilla became a minor league free agent
.
in Melbourne, Florida
. He was first-team All-State in baseball in 1997-98 and Player of the Year.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. He was first called up to the major leagues on August 5, 2009.
Minor league journeyman: 1998 to 2008
Padilla was selected by the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the third round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998...
. He soon made his debut with the Rookie-level Martinsville Phillies
Martinsville Phillies
The Martinsville Phillies were a short season minor league baseball team located in Martinsville, Virginia. Affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies, they existed from 1988 to 1998, playing in the Appalachian League...
. He batted .356 with five homers and 25 RBIs in 23 games.
In Padilla split his season between the Class A Piedmont Boll Weevils, where in 44 games he hit .208 with three homers and 17 RBIs, and the Short-season Batavia Muckdogs, where in 65 games he hit .252 with three homers and 30 RBIs.
With the Class A Clearwater Phillies Padilla ranked ninth in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
in batting with a .305 average. He also had 11 home runs and 67 RBIs in 108 games in .
He spent the entire season with Class A Advanced Clearwater, hitting .260 with 16 homers, 66 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 100 games.
In Padilla was promoted for the Double-A Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
. He hit .256 with seven homers, 65 RBIs and 32 stolen bases in 127 games.
Playing for Double-A Reading again in , Padilla batted .295 with two homers and 23 RBIs. He suffered a hand injury in late June, which required season-ending surgery.
With the Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons Padilla batted .253 with seven homers and 45 RBIs in 117 games in .
Padilla started the season with Clearwater after missing two months with an injury. He soon rejoined Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre. He got off to a great start hitting .317 in his first 19 games but fell apart in his final 30 games batted .223.
In Padilla spent the entire year with the Double-A Binghamton Mets
Binghamton Mets
The Binghamton Mets are a U.S. minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club...
marking his first season in the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
organization. He hit .295 with 10 homers and 54 RBIs in 129 games. Padilla finished fourth in the Eastern League in hitting and third in hits with 142. He was selected for the Eastern League All-Star team.
He spent the season with the Double-A Wichita Wranglers
Wichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
in the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
organization. He hit .336 with 10 homers, 51 runs scored and 49 RBIs in 69 games and was soon promoted to the Triple-A Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
where he hit .291 with six homers, 27 runs scored and 20 RBIs in 55 games.
Padilla hit .330 with a homer, 25 runs scored and 14 RBIs in 33 games with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
. This marked his first season in the Washington Nationals organization.
He started the season with the Syracuse Chiefs.
A chance with the Nationals: 2009
Padilla was called-up to the Nationals after right fielderRight fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Austin Kearns
Austin Kearns
Austin Ryan Kearns is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent.-Cincinnati Reds:...
was placed on the disabled list with a right thumb contusion. Padilla earned the promotion after hitting .367 with four home runs and 21 RBIs for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. The right-handed hitter stated his reason for his high batting average was his ability to hit the ball to the opposite field.
On August 22, Padilla got his first start in left field for the Nationals.
After becoming a free agent following the 2009 season, Padilla signed with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. On June 18, 2010, he was traded to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
for future considerations. On November 10, 2010 Padilla became a minor league free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
Personal life
Padilla's wife's name is Sheila. Padilla is a 1998 graduate of Florida Air AcademyFlorida Air Academy
Florida Air Academy is a private co-ed boarding school founded in 1961 by Jonathan Dwight, located in Melbourne, Florida. Students grade 6-12 are provided college-preparatory education...
in Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
. He was first-team All-State in baseball in 1997-98 and Player of the Year.