Scott Hairston is the likely starting RF for the San Diego Padres in 2010
29-year old righty swinging Scott Hairston didn’t play at all in RF last season but that is where he will be penciled in to start in 2010. He played in 116 games for the Padres & A’s last season in which he was 114 of 430 (.265 avg, .763 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 17 homers, 64 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Hairston is more than capable of being a solid defensive RF for the Padres while providing them with some thump in the lineup.
23-year old righty swinging Aaron Cunningham came over to the Padres along with Scott Hairston in a trade over the winter and he will compete with him for the starting job in RF. Cunningham played in 23 games for the A’s last season and he was 8 of 53 (.151 avg, .456 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs. He also played in 83 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 101 of 334 (.302 avg, .851 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 11 homers, 48 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Cunningham did not play well in the field either as he made 2 errors in 16 games in RF last season while showing poor range. Cunningham was one of the better prospects the A’s had so maybe he’ll find himself in 2010 with the Padres.
29-year old righty swinging Chris Denorfia is also at spring training trying to win a outfield job for the Padres in 2010. He played in 4 games for the A’s last season and he was 0 for 2 (.000 avg) with 1 run scored and 1 RBI. Denorfia also played in 107 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 117 of 432 (.271 avg, .715 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 9 homers, 49 RBIs and 15 stolen bases.
PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RF IN 2010: C