At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds Victor Figueroa strikes an imposing figure in the batter’s box. He’s living up to expectations, too, now that he’s past the jammed pinky that delayed the start of his professional career.
The left-handed-hitting Figueroa doubled in four at-bats in low Single-A Lake Elsinore’s 1-0 loss at Visalia on Friday. That brought his batting line down to .527/.581/1.073 through his first 15 games as a pro. He has six home runs, six doubles, three triples and 20 RBIs, while playing 14 games at first base and one in right field.
Again, because of his size, the foot speed, quickness in small spaces and range top his developmental to-do list. The arm strength will also have to improve, but there was no doubt what the Padres were after when they signed Figueroa for $150,000 last summer as an 18th-round selection out of Florida Southwestern State College after mashing 17 homers in 58 games.
“The biggest calling card is going to be his bat,” Padres assistant farm director Mike Daly said.
Figueroa was trending toward breaking camp with the Storm when he jammed his right pinky while diving back to first base late in spring training.
Instead, he started the year in extended spring training and then in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League earlier this month, where he paired five home runs and 17 RBIs with a .605/.659/1.263 batting line in 11 games.
The 21-year-old was promoted to Lake Elsinore this week, doubled during a two-hit game on Tuesday and homered during his second game with the Storm on Wednesday. After an 0-for-4 in his professional debut in the ACL, he’s collected hits in 14 straight games and multiple hits in 11 of those games.
His double on Friday was one of three doubles from Storm hitters — right fielder B.Y. Choi (.601 OPS) and center fielder Ryan Wilson (.668 OPS) had the others — and the team’s only hits in the game.
Left-hander Boston Bateman (2-3, 4.45 ERA) struck out five and allowed one run on three hits and three walks in four innings.
The Storm are 17-26.
Friday’s scoreboard
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (24-25)
Tacoma 8, Chihuahuas 1: RHP Ryan Bergert (4.22 ERA) struck out three over three scoreless innings, scattering two hits and a walk in the start. Bergert has allowed two runs over 9⅓ innings over three starts since returning from the majors. LHP Austin Krob (5.81 ERA) followed with two scoreless innings. RHP Francis Pena (5.71 ERA) allowed four runs in one-third of an inning. DH Tim Locastro (1.133 OPS) went 2-for-3 and hit his third homer. SS Mason McCoy (finger) is 1-for-7 after playing his second rehab game.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (22-21)
Missions 2, Wichita 1: RHP Bryan Hoeing (1-0, 0.00 ERA) struck out two batters in a scoreless inning to earn the win in second rehab appearance. RHP Sam Whiting (5.79 ERA) struck out six over 4⅓ scoreless innings in the start. C Brandon Valenzuela (.828 OPS) went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. The only other hits for San Antonio were singles from CF Kai Murphy (.597 OPS) and DH Devin Ortiz (.771 OPS).
HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (22-21)
TinCaps 6, Cedar Rapids 2 (7): RHP Josh Mallitz (2-1, 6.46 ERA) struck out three over two scoreless innings after RHP Jose Luis Reyes (5.04 ERA) struck out seven over four innings of two-run ball. RHP Tyson Neighbors (1.06 ERA) struck out three in a scoreless seventh. RF Jacob Campbell (.769 OPS) went 2-for-3 with his second homer, a double and two RBIs. 2B Brandon Butterworth (.738 OPS) went 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs.
TinCaps 9, Cedar Rapids 3 (7): Butterworth drove in three more runs on two hits, including another triple. LF Kaden Hollow (.857 OPS) went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs. Lee De Vries (.804 OPS) was 0-for-5 across the two games, but did walk, drive in a run and score twice in Game 2. RHP Miguel Mendez (3.65 ERA) struck out nine and allowed three runs on three hits and five walks in 4 ⅓ innings in the start. RHP Garret Hawkins (3.15 ERA) struck out a batter in a scoreless seventh
ROOKIE ACL PADRES (5-11)
Padres 6, Angels 0: RHP Winyer Chourio (2-1, 4.50 ERA) struck out four over four scoreless innings in relief in the win. RHP Cole Paplham (0.00 ERA) struck out a batter in a scoreless inning in his second appearance since a ball struck him in the face in spring training. RF Jesmaylin Arias (.450 OPS) hit his first homer. 1B Yoiber Ocopio (.697 OPS) went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. CF Donte Grant (.646 OPS) doubled twice. 3B Eguy Rosario (.610 OPS) went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts.
