SAN DIEGO (AP) - The San Diego Padres have placed outfielder Mark Kotsay on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain and recalled outfielder Blake Tekotte from Triple-A Tucson.

Kotsay's move is retroactive to last Sunday. The 36-year-old is hitting .294 with one homer and six RBIs in 18 games, and is 3 for 10 as a pinch-hitter, with a double, homer and four RBIs.

Tekotte is up for the second time this season. He was first recalled April 28 and played in five games before being optioned back to Tucson on May 8.


(si.com)

San Diego optioned outfielder Blake Tekotte on Tuesday. The team recalled Alex Hinshaw to add depth to the bullpen.

Tekotte had just three at-bats for the Padres, as he was the utility man off the bench.


(cbssports.com)

After the Padres 5-3 win in San Francisco Friday night, Padres beat reporter Corey Brock reported that Jeremy Hermida is headed to the disabled list with a “strained hip flexor,” and that the Padres have recalled outfielder Blake Tekotte from AAA Tucson.

Hermida has gotten into 13 games for the Padres this year, hitting .250 with a pair of RBI’s. He made the team out of Spring Training despite being a non-roster invitee. For his career, Hermida has posted a triple slash line of .257/.334/.415, and hit a career-high 18 homers with the Marlins in 2007.

Tekotte, who is 24, was playing with the Tucson Padres at the time of his call-up. For the year, Tekotte has put up a triple slash line of .278/.305/.494, with 11 extra-base hits in 83 plate appearances. Tekotte had a cup of coffee with the 2011 Padres, hitting just .176 with one RBI in 19 games. Tekotte was the Padres 3rd round pick in 2008.


(chicekfriars.com)

Center fielder Blake Tekotte extended his hitting streak to 12 straight games and left fielder Daniel Robertson was 2-for-3 with a double, but Triple-A Tucson (3-11) was shut out 2-0 in Colorado Springs.

Right-handed starter Jorge Reyes (0-3, 5.23 ERA) allowed two runs on nine hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings.


(utsandiego.com)

Triple-A Tucson (3-9): SALT LAKE 6, Tucson 2 – CF Blake Tekotte extended his hitting streak to 10 straight games with a double. 1B Matt Clark was 2-for-4 with an RBI. SS Everth Cabrera was 2-for-4. RHP Greg Gonzalez made an emergency start for the injured Casey Kelly gave up six runs on eight hits in 2 1/3 innings. Relievers Eddie Kunz, Ryan Kelly and Alex Hinshaw followed Gonzalez and combined to allow four hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.


(utsandiego.com)

Triple-A Tucson (1-5): Sacramento 18, TUCSON 6 – It all fell apart for the T-Padres after right-handed starter Joe Wieland allowed two hits and a walk while striking out four in two scoreless innings before coming out because he’s reportedly headed to San Diego to join the Padres rotation. Sacramento had 20 more hits against Tucson relievers in seven innings and scored seven runs on seven hits in 1 1/3 innings against Brian Tallet, who the Padres just acquired from Pittsburgh. CF Blake Tekotte was 3-for-4 with a double, triple and RBI. 1B Matt Clark had a homer and three RBI and RF Sawyer Carroll hit a two-run homer. 3B James Darnell, who is off to a .438 start, was 2-for-4 with a double, and DH Vincent Belnome was 2-for-4.


(utsandiego.com)

The Padres drafted outfielder Blake Tekotte out of high school in the third round of the 2008 draft.

The flychaser got a taste of Class AA in San Antonio in 2010 and returned to the Missions to start 2011. After posting .285-19-67 numbers in 106 games, he was promoted to Petco, where the 24-year old went .176-0-1 over 19 games.

The Padres have some good things going within their system, and Tekotte will likely be back and part of the festivities before 2012 is done.


(usatoday.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres are down to 48 players in Major League camp, after a handful of moves on Thursday that saw six players optioned and two more reassigned to Minor League camp.

The players who were optioned included pitchers Jose De Paula, Juan Pablo Oramas and Erik Hamren, outfielders Rymer Liriano, Blake Tekotte and infielder Edinson Rincon.

The two players who were reassigned to Minor League camp were left-handed pitcher Robbie Erlin and catcher Jason Hagerty

The eight players will likely start playing in Minor League games beginning on Friday, said Padres manager Bud Black.

This is the second round of camp cuts, as the Padres reassigned five players to Minor League camp on Monday.


(mlb.com)

Highly touted Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish struck out three in two scoreless innings in his first MLB appearance as Texas defeated San Diego, 6-2, in spring training play.

Alberto Gonzalez went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI and Yorvit Torrealba drove in two runs on two hits for the Rangers.

Blake Tekotte tripled in both runs for the Padres, who received two innings of one-hit ball from starter Jeff Suppan.


(sacbee.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. — They all wear midnight blue and white, but some bleed green and orange.

The San Diego Padres have five players in camp -- including two non-roster invitees -- that attended the University of Miami: first baseman Yonder Alonso, center fielder Blake Tekotte and catchers Yasmani Grandal, Jason Hagerty and Eddy Rodriguez.

“Every time we play with a fellow teammate or someone that played at Miami, it’s really like a family,” Grandal said. “Even if you didn’t play with them, we all know each other.”

Grandal and Alonso came from the Cincinnati Reds in a five-player deal for pitcher Mat Latos. Both players speak passionately about “the U,” as Miami is commonly referred to. Although the school is mostly known for football, its baseball program is just as rich in history.

They’re just two of 38 former Hurricanes on professional baseball rosters from a program that in baseball circles is widely known as one of the best in the country.

“The only reason they talk about the football team is because the publicity they get, but we’ve had almost the same history as they have,” Grandal said. “We’re a good program as well. I think both programs are known nationwide. It’s just a good system they got there whether it’s for football or baseball. We’ve both been successful.”

Grandal spent three seasons as a Hurricane. He played with Alonso during his freshman year. He said Alonso taught him a lot, including how to lead the team.

“That’s the thing about Miami, once you learn the system -- once you learn how to play Hurricane baseball – you try to pass that on,” Grandal said.
Grandal always saw former Hurricanes like Aubrey Huff, Pat Burrell and John Jay in the batting cages in the offseason. They always gave him tips to help him improve. The 53rd-ranked prospect by Baseball America said he always wanted to be listed with those players in the school’s media guide.

“More and more you see guys getting up and doing big things,” Grandal said. “Those big things go all the way back to the University of Miami.”
Grandal has a tattoo of the school’s logo inked inside of a baseball with a cross surrounding it. Alonso has a tattoo of the logo as well -- a big orange and green “U” on his shoulder.

“That says enough right there,” Alonso said when asked what the university means to him.

Alonso spent three seasons in Coral Gables, Fla. He still spends his offseason working out at the school’s facilities. Alonso grew up idolizing the program because he appreciated the way Miami played the game.

“A lot of swag,” Alonso said. “They knew they belonged, which is something big. You grow up watching them, imitating them and playing like them.”
At Miami, Alonso became good friends with Alex Rodriguez, who originally had committed to the Hurricanes in high school before he signed his first professional contract with the Seattle Mariners.

Their relationship started when Alonso asked Rodriguez if he could hit with him. Rodriguez thought it was funny Alonso wanted to compare himself to a professional baseball player, but agreed to Alonso’s request.

They went on to hit together for two months straight.

“Even to this day, I just talked to him a couple days ago and we were talking about how it was going with camp and (Padres manager) Bud Black,” Alonso said. “It’s just nice to have someone that knows the game that has been around the game for several years.”

Grandal and Alonso make sure to help current players on the team. It can become a difficult task now that they don’t reside on the East Coast for the majority of the year, but they understand how much the interaction with professional players benefited their play on the field.

“It’s a tradition, it’s an honor,” Alonso said. “With all of that said, you got to make sure you fit that role very well. If you don’t, it doesn’t sit very well with the people around there. You got to make sure that you not only carry it on the field but carry it outside the field, too.”


(utsandiego.com)

Five of the 60 Padres in the major league camp have common roots in the University of Miami.

And the common link between the five is first baseman Yonder Alonso, who played with the other four University of Miami products in the Padres camp.

Alonso played for the Hurricanes from 2006 to 2008 and has a “U” tattoo in the appropriate colors.

Eddy Rodriguez was the first of three current Padres catchers to play at Miami from 2004 to 2006. Jason Hagerty caught for Miami from 2007 to 2009. And Yasmani Grandal caught for Miami from 2008 to 2010.

Blake Tekotte was Miami’s center fielder from 2006 to 2008.


(utsandiego.com)

LOS ANGELES -- Brad Brach showed up in the Padres clubhouse early Wednesday, not just early in the morning before a day game against the Dodgers -- but two days before the right-hander would have been added to the Padres roster.

Brach's early arrival immediately helped a taxed San Diego bullpen, as the right-hander made his big league debut with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Dodgers. Brach gave up two hits while walking one and striking out three.

The Padres purchased the contract of the 25-year-old Brach from Triple-A Tucson after squeezing 6 1/3 innings out of their bullpen in Tuesday's 8-5 loss to the Dodgers.

To make room for Brach, the Padres sent outfielder Blake Tekotte to San Antonio.


(mlb.com)

LOS ANGELES - The San Diego Padres announced today they have recalled outfielder Blake Tekotte from Double-A San Antonio and optioned right-handed pitcher Erik Hamren to Triple-A Tucson. Executive Vice President/General Manager Jed Hoyer made the announcement.

Tekotte, 24, is making his fourth stint with San Diego this season. The outfielder was previously optioned to Double-A San Antonio on August 14. He has hit .182 (6-for-33) with one double, one triple, one RBI, one run scored, two stolen bases and four walks against 20 strikeouts over 18 games for San Diego this year. Originally selected by the Padres in the third round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami, he was selected from San Antonio on May 23 this season and made his Major League debut for San Diego on May 25. In 88 games total for San Antonio this year, he has hit .298 (101-for-339) with 25 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, 56 RBI, 66 runs scored and 32 stolen bases.


(mlb.com)

The Padres called up right-handed reliever Pat Neshek from Triple-A Tucson and optioned outfielder Blake Tekotte to the minors before the final game of their series against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Neshek began his fourth stint with the Padres this season. He was sent to Tucson on July 29. Neshek is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 24 games.

Tekotte was sent back to Double-A San Antonio. He's had three stints with the Padres, batting .182 in 18 games. He was called up Aug. 6.



(therepublic.com)

Outfielder Blake Tekotte returned to the Padres Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh less than 72 hours after he was optioned back to Double-A San Antonio.

Tekotte was promoted for the third time since May 23 because Chris Denorfia fell victim to the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain.

Tekotte returned to San Antonio Thursday when left-handed reliever Joe Thatcher was activated from the 60-day disabled list.

Tekotte flew to San Antonio Thursday, played a home game for the Missions that night, made the five-hour bus ride the next day to Frisco and played Friday night before learning he was being recalled by the Padres.

“It feels good whenever they call on me,” said Tekotte, who is hitting .298 with 17 homers, 56 RBI and 32 steals for San Antonio this season and .250 in 24 at-bats with the Padres. He had a career-best three-hit, two-steal game for the Padres last Monday night against the Dodgers at Petco Park.

The stock of the 24-year-old Tekotte has climbed this season.

“I like the all-around game,” Padres manager Bud Black said of Tekotte Saturday.

“He’s a solid defender who can run with some pop.

“He projects to have a dependable, solid, all-around game. I think he likes to play. And there was a different look in his eye when he came back last week.”

Tekotte was previously recalled Aug. 1 after Denorfia suffered the hamstring strain and both Denorfia and Will Venable (back spasms) were listed as day-to-day.


(signonsandiego.com)

SAN DIEGO -- Blake Tekotte went 3-for-19 during his first stint in the Major Leagues earlier this season.

In his first game back Tuesday, the Padres rookie outfielder had three hits and two steals in four at-bats in a 1-0 loss to the Dodgers.

"Last time [in the Majors], it felt a little overwhelming, maybe," Tekotte said. "I got my feet wet, went back down and knew what I had to work on. I changed a little bit of my swing, just kind of my approach and everything.

"This go-around I feel a little bit more comfortable up there in knowing what I need to do."

Tekotte's big night came against starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, who pitched seven dominant innings and held all other Padres hitters to three hits.

"He was just throwing his sinker," Tekotte said. "I was just swinging at good pitches, and luckily I was finding some grass out there."

Tekotte was promoted from Double-A San Antonio on May 23 and optioned back June 8. He was added to the roster on Tuesday to take the place of outfielder Ryan Ludwick, who was traded to the Pirates on Sunday.


(mlb.com)

Blake Tekotte had three of the Padres' six hits and stole two bases Tuesday against the Dodgers. That should earn him another start Wednesday. Tekotte is contending with Will Venable, the injured Chris Denorfia, Aaron Cunningham and Kyle Blanks for time in the outfield corners for the Padres.


(fantasysp.com)

SAN DIEGO—The San Diego Padres on Monday recalled outfielder Aaron Cunningham from Triple-A Tucson and outfielder Blake Tekotte from Double-A San Antonio.

The Padres optioned left-hander Wade LeBlanc to Tucson.

Cunningham and Tekotte will join the Padres for the second time this season. In eight games in June, Cunningham batted .167 with a double and two RBIs. Tekotte made his major league debut on May 25 and hit .158 over 10 games.


(mercurynews.com)

San Antonio - San Antonio Missions centerfielder Blake Tekotte has been named the Texas League Player of the Week for the week of July 4-10.

In six games Tekotte hit .462 (12-for-26) with three doubles, five home runs, eight RBI, two stolen bases with eight runs scored while recording a .481 on-base percentage and 1.153 slugging percentage.

On the season, the 24-year old native of Columbia, MO is hitting .302 (76-for-252) with 19 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, 42 RBI, 25 stolen bases and 51 runs scored in 67 games. He is currently tied for the team lead in homers and is fourth in the Texas League in steals and on-base percentage (.422).

Tekotte was promoted to San Diego on May 23 and hit .158 (3-for-19) with a double, a triple and an RBI in 10 games with the Padres before being sent back to San Antonio on June 9.

Tekotte is fifth Mission to win the award this season joining Jaff Decker (April 11-17), James Darnell and Sawyer Carroll (May 30-June 5) and Vince Belnome (June 6-12).



(oursportscentral.com)

COLUMBIA - The major leagues don't take an all star break for a couple of weeks. But a break for the minor leagues is giving Columbia's Blake Tekotte a chance for some vacation in his hometown.

The 2005 Hickman grad received his first taste of the major leagues this season.

On May 23rd, The San Diego Padres promoted Tekotte from Double-A San Antonio.

In a couple of weeks, he had collected his first hit and RBI. But after 19 at-bats, the Padres sent Tekotte back to the minors. Tekotte says next time he plans to stay for good.

"You know I expect to be back up there you know for myself, you know I kind of expect a lot out of myself, and hopefully I'll be back up there again because you know they said see you soon whenever they expand the rosters," said Tekotte. "And in September hopefully I can get back up there, and you know try and help the team win a couple games. It's definitely a place I want to be and a place I expect to be. You know, for myself and hopefully I can get back up there and the next time I get up there I'll stay for the rest of my career hopefully."


(komu.com)

San Antonio - The San Diego Padres have optioned outfielder Blake Tekotte back to San Antonio and he is expected to join the Missions today in Frisco.

Tekotte was called up to San Diego on May 23 and made his Major League debut on May 25 against the St. Louis Cardinals at PETCO Park appearing as a pinch-hitter. He collected his first Major League hit on May 28 at Washington, a second inning double to right field off Nationals starter Jordan Zimmerman. Tekotte went 2-3 in that game, adding an RBI triple in the fourth.

The 24-year old native of Columbia, MO appeared in 10 games for the Padres and hit .158 (3-for-19) with a double, a triple, one RBI and one run scored.

In 39 games with San Antonio before his call-up, Tekotte hit .291 (43-for-148) with nine doubles, one triple, six home runs, 24 RBI and 30 runs scored. He leads the Missions and is still fourth in the Texas League in stolen bases with 14 and fifth in on-base percentage (.410).

Tekotte was San Diego's third round selection in the 2008 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami (FL) and entered the 2011 season as the Padres' 14th rated prospect by Baseball America.

To make room for Tekotte on the roster, outfielder Danny Payne was sent to Class A Lake Elsinore in the California League.


(oursportscentral.com)

According to North County Times reporter Dan Hayes, the Padres have activated catcher Nick Hundley from the Disabled List and optioned prospect Blake Tekotte to the minors.

Hundley was doing well before going on the DL, and when healthy ranks as one of the Padres' better hitters.

Yes, of course that's damning with faint praise but doesn't mean he's not a good player and a prince among Padres. In Hundley's absence, Rob Johnson got way too much playing time. Johnson, a veteran, probably won't lose his roster spot but the Padres would be better served -- hitting-wise, at least -- with a tandem consisting of Hundley and lefty-hitting Kyle Phillips. Don't hold your breath, though.

Tekotte, hardly a top prospect entering the season, skipped Class AAA on his way to the big club and went just 3-for-19 in his brief tryout. Presumably he'll get another shot later this summer, after he's done something in the Pacific Coast League.


(mlb.sbnation.com)

When Blake Tekotte was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the third round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, the five-tool outfielder immediately started charting a course for the big leagues.

“Whenever I was drafted, one of my goals was to make it to the big leagues before my 24th birthday,” Tekotte said.

Two days before his 24th birthday last month, time was about to run out on his goal as the 2005 Hickman graduate was packing for a road trip to Springfield as a member of the Padres’ Double-A affiliate in San Antonio.

Then he looked at his phone and noticed a text from his minor league manager, Doug Dascenzo.

“It said, ‘911. You need to call me now,’ ” Tekotte said. “I was kind of worried.”

When Tekotte reached Dascenzo, the manager instructed him to pack his bags — something Tekotte assured his manager he was already doing for the team’s impending trip to Springfield.

“He was like, ‘No, you have a flight tomorrow morning. You’re going to San Diego,’ ” Tekotte said.

On May 23, one day before his 24th birthday, Tekotte arrived in San Diego for the start of a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.
His draft-day goal magically realized.

“That was pretty cool how all that went down,” Tekotte said. “I made it the day before, which is pretty crazy.”

Two weeks later, Tekotte is still living out his life-long dream as a major league baseball player.

Entering last night’s late-starting West Coast game against Houston, Tekotte had appeared in nine games for the Padres with five starts. The left-handed-swinging outfielder was batting only .167 (3 for 18), but his big league arrival has coincided with a recent surge by the last-place NL West Padres — who had won five of their last seven games entering last night.

“These past two weeks have been awesome,” Tekotte said. “It’s been everything I dreamed it would be and then some.”

Tekotte watched his first two games from the dugout before Padres Manager Bud Black called on him to make his big league debut on May 25 as a pinch hitter with one out in the eighth inning of a tie game against the Cardinals.

The experience was surreal as Tekotte stepped into the batter’s box to face Chris Carpenter, who won the National League Cy Young award with the Cardinals the same year Tekotte graduate high school.

“I walked up to the box and saw” Cardinals catcher Yadier “Molina right there and looked up and saw Carp — that was pretty cool,” Tekotte said. “I’ve watched them on TV the last couple years, and you realize that I finally got my opportunity to come up here and show what I can do.”

On the second pitch he saw, Tekotte ripped a line-drive to right field that Jon Jay — a college teammate of Tekotte’s at Miami, Fla. — snagged for the second out.

Tekotte would have to wait three more days before getting his first big league hit, but he made it worth his wait.

With nine family members traveling to Washington, D.C. for a series with the Nationals, Tekotte went 2 for 3 with an RBI triple and a run scored in a 2-1 Padres’ win on May 28.

Tekotte’s day of firsts was made even more special because his family was celebrating the first birthday of his nephew Alec. The family had planned a birthday celebration in Springfield while Tekotte was to be in town with his minor league team, but the party was moved to D.C. when he got called up to the Padres.

“I kind of had to ruin the plans, but I guess in a good way,” Tekotte said.

His first major league road trip also provided some lasting memories off the field. Among Tekotte’s rookie responsibilities, he had to carry the suit of second baseman Orlando Hudson, haul drinks onto the team bus after games and even offer musical entertainment to his teammates by singing a tune.

Tekotte belted out “All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo to what he said were favorable reviews.

“I did a good job,” Tekotte said, “so I don’t have to go back up there and do it again.”

With his playing and singing debuts out of the way, Tekotte is trying to settle into what he hopes will be a long major league career.

Tekotte is now under a major league contract that will pay him the league minimum while he’s with the Padres and a modified — but still substantial — amount if he were to return to the minors.

Of course, Tekotte hopes he won’t be returning to the minors any time soon. He and fellow rookie infielder Logan Forsythe were actually apartment shopping this week during the Padres’ recent home stand.

Although he realizes his position with the big club isn’t guaranteed, Tekotte explained that the apartment search is just another rookie rite.
“The team puts you up” in a hotel “for seven nights before you have to go find your own place to live,” Tekotte said.

San Diego, with its surf and sun, certainly wouldn’t be a bad place to call home. Tekotte said he’s doing everything he can to make a good impression with his coaches and teammates to keep his roster spot.

A recent conversation with his new manager indicated to Tekotte that he’s going about things the right way.

“Buddy was walking with me the other day, and he told me he really liked my work ethic and to keep working hard,” Tekotte said. “That was comforting to hear.

“I’ve been hearing a lot that it’s easier to get up here than to stay up here, so I just have to work even harder than I did before.”



(columbiatribune.com)

Called up to the majors for the first time on May 23, the 24-year-old from Columbia, Mo., covers super heroes, Mickey Mantle and punting.

Q: You’ve played 346 games in the minors. What’s the longest bus ride you’ve taken?
A: Oh, man. I’ll have to go from Springfield, Mo., to San Antonio. That’s a loooong bus trip. About 12 hours.

Q: How do you pass the time?
A:Sleep. Maybe take some Nyquil. Watch a couple movies. Surfing my phone, surfing the Internet, just finding anything to do.

Q: Best minor league promotion?
A:Super Hero night in Lake Elsinore. On the scoreboard they had The Hulk, but with Kyle Blanks’ face all green. That was pretty funny.

Q: As part of the Adrian Gonzalez trade the Padres acquired center fielder Reymond Fuentes. They drafted Rico Noel in the fifth round last year. Your thoughts on the team stockpiling talent at your position?
A: It’s great. You don’t want to be given something on a silver platter.

Q: Toughest part about going straight from Double-A to the bigs?
A:Just the pitching’s a lot better. They hit their spots. They’ve got more movement on it. They’re able to throw every pitch (for strikes) on any count.

Q: Enough baseball questions. It’s your last meal. What are you eating?
A:I’ll have a nice big filet, a little baked potato and definitely a warm brownie with some ice cream for dessert. I’d go out in style, absolutely.

Q: You can invite any four people to dinner. Who are you breaking bread with?
A: Mickey Mantle. I just like the way he played. There was this quote I always liked him saying. One of his teammates asked why he played every day, even when he could barely get out of a cab. He said it might be one kid’s first ballgame and the only game he’ll ever be able to attend. And he didn’t want to disappoint any kids. Ken Griffey Jr. He’s the man. Tom Brady. He’s got tremendous swagger. And Jessica Alba. She just seems like she’s got a really great personality.

Q: All-time favorite movie?
A: “Varsity Blues” is a good one. It just kind of brings you back to your old high school days.

Q: Give us a little-known fact about Blake Tekotte.
A: I was a quarterback and left-footed punter in high school (in Missouri). Averaged about 40 yards.



(signonsandiego.com)

SAN DIEGO -- When Blake Tekotte was called up in late May, he received some advice from former Major Leaguer and two-time All-Star Scott Cooper.

Cooper played for St. Louis in 1995, about an hour and a half from where Tekotte grew up, and the two hit together this offseason.

"He was just really happy for me whenever I got called up, and he just said, 'Enjoy every minute of it, because it goes fast,' " Tekotte said. "So I've been trying to not take anything for granted ... and I'm just trying to take it all in."

That includes the big moments, such as his first Major League hit, against Washington on May 28, when he went 2-for-3 with a run, an RBI and a walk. He was the first Padre to collect multiple hits in his first career start since Luis Durango did so on Sept. 16, 2009, against the D-backs.
But he's also taking in the smaller moments, such as explaining the pronunciation of his last name.

"Especially when I first got here, everybody was like, 'How do you say it?' But yeah, 'TEE-koah-te," he said, pronouncing each syllable. "I've heard everything in the book, so I'm kind of used to it."

Tekotte has played in nine games with the Padres, and though he's done his best to soak up veteran wisdom and not draw unwanted attention, he has tried to savor the big league atmosphere.

"It's awesome," he said. "It's definitely something you can get used to, compared to Minor League living. These guys have been helping me out quite a bit. You'd rather be seen than heard around here, especially if you're younger."

Tekotte's big league stint started well. After his first five games, he was batting .300, but he has gone 0-for-10 at the plate in his last four outings, dropping his average to .167.

Of course, with such a small sample size, batting average isn't a great tell. Tekotte said that he's just gotten a little away from the approach that got him to the Majors.

"I've been a little anxious, swinging at some bad pitches, trying to do too much, I think," he said. "Right now I'm slowing the game down, trying to see [the ball] and hit it instead of thinking that something is wrong with my swing.

"I just have to stay within myself."



(mlb.com)

Blake Tekotte received one at-bat in his first five days with the San Diego Padres after being promoted from Double-A to join the parent club on Monday.

On his sixth day in the majors, the 2005 Hickman graduate received his first start. Judging by his performance, it probably won’t be his last.
Playing center field and batting sixth for the Padres yesterday against the Nationals in Washington D.C., Tekotte collected his first two major league hits, first RBI and scored his first run in a 2-1 Padres’ win.

Tekotte’s first hit was a second-inning double off the right-field wall against Washington right-hander Jordan Zimmerman. With two outs in the fourth, the left-handed-swinging Tekotte ripped an RBI triple off the outstretched glove of $126 million right fielder Jayson Werth before scoring on a single by Kyle Phillips for what proved to be the winning run. Tekotte, who wears No. 15, also walked and struck out to finish 2 for 3.

For a team that has topped two runs only once in its last 11 games, the offensive infusion Tekotte provided was what the Padres were looking for when they called him up.

“We felt like bringing someone up that’s young and hungry, who can do some of the things we need on this team, was important,” Padres General Manager Jed Hoyer said this week in a radio interview. “I think it’s also nice to bring up a fresh face that hasn’t been here this year and around this group to hopefully inject some energy into this team right now.”

Hoyer also offered during that interview: “I don’t think he’ll play every day, but certainly he’s not going to just sit on the bench.”

San Diego Manager Bud Black must have missed that radio interview, because Tekotte hadn’t received many opportunities until yesterday. Tekotte’s only other at-bat came as a pinch hitter on Wednesday against the Cardinals when he was robbed of a hit by former Miami, Fla., teammate Jon Jay.

Although he spent his first two big-league games riding the pine — including a 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Cardinals on his 24th birthday — Tekotte seemed to be enjoying every moment in the majors.

After his first day with the Padres, Tekotte tweeted: “It’s been a day I’ll never forget and I want to thank all of those who have shown their support. It truly is a dream come true! #dreamBIG”.

Click here to watch his first two major league hits!



(columbiatribune.com)

Blake Tekotte did not play in the San Diego Padres’ 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals last night, which saved his friends back in Columbia the trouble of rooting against their favorite team.

“All my friends were telling me to take it easy on the Cardinals, and I told them, ‘I don’t think I can do that,’ ” Tekotte told MLB.com.

Tekotte, a 2005 Hickman graduate and a third-round pick of the Padres in 2008, learned he was making the leap from the Double-A San Antonio Missions to the big leagues late Sunday night. Tekotte replaced Will Venable, who was demoted to Triple-A.

Manager Bud Black told reporters the Padres liked Tekotte’s ability to defend, among other things.

“We lost an outfielder, so we’re going to bring in another outfielder,” Black said. “He can play all outfield positions, he can steal the bag. He’s a flexible player.”

Black said Tekotte, a left-handed hitter, would be an extra outfielder and get some spot starts in center field.

“Our minor league people said he was the guy,” Black said, adding that General Manager Jed Hoyer agreed. “We saw enough of Blake in spring training to know what we needed at this point. Right now he fits that bill.”



(columbiatribune.com)

SAN DIEGO -- It wasn't difficult to spot Blake Tekotte in the Padres clubhouse before their 7:05 p.m. game on Monday.

He was the one with the Major League smile.

The Padres selected Tekotte, who turns 24 on Tuesday, from Double-A San Antonio with a corresponding move that optioned Will Venable to Triple-A Tucson.

"It was a surprising call last night at about 11 o'clock," the outfielder said. "We had an early game so I already got back to my apartment after eating with some of the guys and Dougie [Dascenzo, manager] told me that he had something important to tell me, and that I had to pack my bags.

"I asked him what for and he said I was getting on the first flight out to San Diego the next morning. I kinda said, 'What?' And he repeated himself and then it finally kind of set in. It was just an indescribable feeling."

In order to make room on the 40-man roster for Tekotte, the Padres announced they designated right-hander Samuel Deduno for assignment.
Tekotte was batting .291 (43-for-148) in 39 games with San Antonio with 24 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .410. Sixteen of his 43 hits went for extra bases, including six home runs.

Manager Bud Black said the Padres liked Tekotte's ability to defend, among other things.

"We lost an outfielder, so we're going to bring in another outfielder," Black said. "He can play all outfield positions, he can steal the bag. He's a flexible player."

Like Venable, Tekotte is a left-handed batter, which was of huge consideration for the Padres. San Diego had other options in the Minor Leagues in Triple-A. Outfielders Cedric Hunter and Luis Durango seem to also fit what the team was looking for. Hunter is a lefty and Durango is a switch-hitter.

Black said the team looked at them, but in the end, Tekotte was who they wanted.

"Our Minor League people said he was the guy," Black said, adding that general manager Jed Hoyer agreed. "We saw enough of Blake in Spring Training to know what we needed at this point. Right now he fits that bill."

Tekotte follows infielder Logan Forsythe as the second member of the Padres 2008 Draft class to reach the Major Leagues.

Black said outfielder Chris Denorfia would get more starts now, but that Tekotte may get a spot start here and there.

Of interest, Tekotte grew up about an hour and a half from St. Louis, where he grew up watching the Cardinals -- the visiting team at PETCO Park on Monday night.  

"That was another bizarre thing about the whole thing, so that's pretty cool," Tekotte said. "All my friends were telling me to take it easy on the Cardinals, and I told them, 'I don't think I can do that.' "



(mlb.com)