The Mets claimed Azocar off waivers from the Padres on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Azocar has split time between the majors and minors this season, posting just a .516 OPS in 61 games at the big-league level. The 28-year-old speedster will give the Mets some outfield depth in the minors.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Jettisoned from 40-man roster
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The Padres designated Azocar for assignment Monday.
The transaction frees up a 40-man roster spot for the return of Fernando Tatis Jr. (thigh) from the 60-day injured list. Azocar has hit just .243/.287/.322 over parts of three major-league seasons, but his speed and ability to play all three outfield spots could appeal to teams via waivers.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Heading to Triple-A
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The Padres optioned Azocar to Triple-A El Paso on Monday.
Azocar will head down to the minors after serving mostly as a defensive substitute and pinch hitter and runner for the big club, reflected by the fact that he has just 79 plate appearances over 61 major-league games this season. His demotion clears a spot on the 26-man active roster for Eguy Rosario, who was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Swipes bag in start
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Azocar went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Monday's loss to the Angels.
Azocar has gotten limited opportunities to play this season, but he made consecutive starts Sunday and Monday with the Padres facing a left-handed starter. He chipped in a double, a run, a walk and a steal over the pair of outings to make his presence felt. However, Azocar was pinch hit for in the ninth inning Monday and is slashing a meager .234/.290/.266 over 70 plate appearances on the campaign, so he's likely to continue to work mostly as a pinch hitter/runner and defensive replacement.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Chips in during start
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Azocar went 2-for-4 during Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Cubs.
Azocar made his 10th start of the season Tuesday, filling in for Jackson Merrill in center field, and received at least four at-bats for the first time since April 25. He delivered a pair of hits off Shota Imanaga for his second multi-hit game of the campaign. Despite operating in a reserve role for the Padres, Azocar is slashing .318/.362/.341 in 48 plate appearances.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Starting in center field
Rotowire
Azocar will start in center field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game versus St. Louis.
The right-handed-hitting Azocar gets the call in center field with the Cardinals starting southpaw Zack Thompson. Jackson Merrill will begin this one on the bench.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: May give way to Merrill in CF
Rotowire
With rookie Jackson Merrill likely to begin the regular season as the Padres' starting center fielder, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, Azocar could be looking at a reserve role.
For much of the spring, it looked like Azocar could open the campaign in center for San Diego given the team's lack of other options there. He's done well in Cactus League play, slashing .323/.344/.613 with two homers, seven runs and four RBI over 32 plate appearances, but Merrill has looked just as good with a team-leading 12 hits -- including two homers -- along with six RBI, seven runs, a stolen base and a .343/.395/.600 slash line. Per Cassavell, Padres manager Mike Shildt indicated Tuesday that Merrill would be joining the team for the Seoul Series in Korea to open the MLB regular season March 20-21, which is a strong indication that the rookie will get the first shot to start in center field. If that happens, Azocar would likely be pushed to a fourth-outfielder role behind Merrill, Fernando Tatis and Jurickson Profar.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Will get a shot in center field
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Padres manager Mike Shildt said last week that Azocar will get a shot in spring training to play center field, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Shildt indicated that while Azocar could play a different position if the team brings in a center fielder from outside the organization, the plan for now seems to be to give the 27-year-old a long look in center. Azocar has plenty of experience at all three outfield spots, but the majority of his time -- particularly in the minors -- has been spent in center. He has just a .633 OPS in 153 games at the big-league level and posted only a .695 OPS at Triple-A El Paso last season, but Azocar did steal 26 bases between the majors and minors in 2023.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Clubs first big-league homer
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Azocar went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 8-3 win over the Athletics.
Azocar's ninth-inning blast produced the final score. The 27-year-old outfielder needed 142 games to hit his first career homer, though he's had few chances this year with just 73 plate appearances over 44 contests. He's done alright when given the chance to hit, slashing .269/.300/.373 with eight RBI, 12 runs scored, four doubles and seven stolen bases, though he's likely to end the year in a part-time role at best.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Recalled from El Paso
Rotowire
San Diego recalled Azocar from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday.
Azocar, 27, has slashed just .235/.250/.275 in 26 games (55 plate appearances) this season at the major-league level. He'll likely serve as a backup outfielder and bench bat in his return to the Padres' roster.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Optioned to Triple-A
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Azocar was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Friday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Azocar will head to El Paso after being activated from the 15-day injured list May 20. Since his return from his elbow injury, Azocar has gone 2-for-10 with two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base, and he'll now get more consistent playing time in Triple-A. Alfonso Rivas was called up from El Paso on Friday to replace Azocar on the major-league roster.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Starts for Soto, swipes bag
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Azocar went 1-for-3 with a run, two RBI and a stolen base Sunday in a loss to the Yankees.
Azocar wasn't in the original lineup, but he got the start after Juan Soto (back) was scratched. Azocar rounded the bases after singling in the second inning, completing a little-league homer on a pair of New York throwing errors. The speedy outfielder came off the injured list May 20 but had seen minimal time since since his return, going 0-for-3 prior to Sunday. Soto is expected to be back in the lineup Tuesday, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, which will presumably push Azocar back to the bench.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Activated off injured list
Rotowire
San Diego activated Azocar (elbow) off the 15-day injured list Saturday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Azocar played just one rehab game with Triple-A El Paso before being reinstated. The outfielder will also hit eighth and play center field against the Red Sox on Saturday.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Heads out on rehab assignment
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Azocar (elbow) was cleared Friday to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Azocar has been sidelined since May 3 with inflammation in his left elbow, but he would appear on track to be an option again for the Padres' outfield sometime next week. The 27-year-old was slashing just .244/.262/.293 in 20 games (45 plate appearances) with San Diego prior to the IL stint.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Gets good news from MRI
Rotowire
An MRI on Azocar's injured left elbow revealed no damage, and the outfielder is hoping that an injection and rest will allow him to resume baseball activities, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
There were initial concerns that Azocar could have a loose body in his elbow, but the MRI confirmed that to not be the case. However, he's been shut down from baseball activity while the swelling in his elbow subsides, per MLB.com. It's not clear when Azocar may be able to return to action, but he doesn't appear close to rejoining San Diego.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Placed on 10-day IL
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Azocar was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to May 3, with left elbow inflammation.
Adam Engel (hamstring) has been activated off the IL in a corresponding move. Azocar, 26, leaves behind a rough .244/.262/.293 batting line through 20 games (45 plate appearances) this season with San Diego. There is no structural damage, so Azocar will hope an injection and rest will allow him to resume baseball activities in the near future.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Swipes bag in start
Rotowire
Azocar went 1-for-2 with a stolen base in a 5-3 win over the Cubs on Wednesday.
After five straight games on the bench, Azocar returned to the lineup as San Diego's starting center fielder Wednesday. The 26-year-old made the most of his opportunity with a single and a stolen base, though he was replaced in center by Trent Grisham in the seventh. Azocar has been effective on the basepaths with five thefts this season, but his playing time has taken a significant hit with Fernando Tatis returning to the club.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Loses starting gig to Tatis
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Azocar remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.
As anticipated, Azocar's run as a quasi-everyday player in the San Diego outfield came to an end last Thursday, when Fernando Tatis was reinstated from his 80-game suspension and cleared to make his 2023 debut. Tatis, Juan Soto and Trent Grisham have now served as the Padres' starting outfield for five games in a row, leaving no room in the lineup for Azocar.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Picks up fourth theft
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Azocar went 1-for-3 with a stolen base Monday in a loss to Atlanta.
The Padres' offense was nearly invisible in the loss, and Azocar gave the team one of its best chances to score when he singled in the second inning, reached second on another single and stole third base. The theft was Azocar's fourth of the season, two of which have come in his past three games. Though he offers speed on the basepaths, Azocar has produced very little in other categories this season. He's slashing .242/.265/.303 with no homers, one RBI, six runs and just one walk over 36 plate appearances.
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Padres' Jose Azocar: Starting against southpaw
Rotowire
Azocar is hitting ninth and playing right field Sunday against Atlanta.
With David Dahl (quad) out and now on the injured list, Rougned Odor and Azocar have split duties in right field as a platoon pairing, and once again it'll be Azocar in out there against southpaw Dylan Dodd and Atlanta on Sunday. In 17 plate appearances, the 26-year-old is slashing .286/.333/.357 with no homers and two stolen bases across eight games played.
