Another player-development deal is in the books, as the San Diego Padres and Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low Class A; Midwest League) renewed their PDC through the 2012 season.
“We’re happy to continue our relationship with the Padres. They have been a big part of this franchise’s success over the last several years and we’ve really enjoyed working with the player-development staff,” TinCaps president Mike Nutter said. “The Padres have been a tremendous partner for over a decade and we look forward to more success on and off the field.”
This season is Fort Wayne’s 12th as a Padres affiliate; the parties began their relationship in 1999. The team is on its way to its seventh playoff appearance during the partnership including last year’s Midwest League championship run. The 2009 TinCaps tied a league record with 101 wins between the regular season and playoffs and the club was named MiLB.com’s Team of the Year. The Padres are currently in first place the National League West.
A total of fifty-seven San Diego farmhands have gone from Fort Wayne to the major leagues. Last year RHP Mat Latos became the first player to go from Fort Wayne to the major leagues in one season. This year Latos is 13-5 with a 2.29 ERA for the first-place Padres. Latos is currently working on a string of 13 consecutive games with 2 or fewer runs and 20 games with three or fewer runs — both Padres records. He last gave up more than three runs on April 26th. RHP Jake Peavy played in Fort Wayne in 2000 and went on to win the 2007 National League Cy Young Award. OF Will Venable and C Nick Hundley were both members of Fort Wayne’s roster in 2006; and are key parts of this year’s division-leading Padres club.
Here’s a look at the current affiliate status.
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