Carlos Asuaje

Career

The Padres acquired Asuaje along with Javier Guerra, Manuel Margot and Logan Allen in November 2015, in the same transaction that sent Craig Kimbrel to the Boston Red Sox.

Previously, Asuaje was selected by the Red Sox in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB draft out of Nova Southeastern University in Broward County, Florida. He came to terms on a contract calling for a reported bonus of $100,000.

Asuaje posted a .356/.451/.519 slash line in three seasons at Nova, being named Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year in 2011 and Sunshine State Conference Co-Player of the Year in 2012.

He debuted professionally with the Short-Season A Lowell Spinners in their 2013 season, starting his career as a shortstop, but eventually moved full-time to third base where his skills profile best. He also has shown the ability to play second base or left field if need be, while spending some time at designated hitter. In just 52 games for Lowell, he hit .269/.366/.368 with 19 runs scored and 20 RBI.

In 2014, Asuaje hit for a .305 average in 90 games for the Low A Greenville Drive, driving in 73 runs and scoring 69 times, while boasting a .391 OBP and collecting 45 extra-base hits. Batting 11 home runs, 10 triples and 24 doubles, he topped the South Atlantic League with a .542 slugging percentage and made the All-Star team before joining the High A Salem Red Sox on July 14.

At Salem, Asuaje reached base safely in 35 of his 39 games against the more advanced High-A Carolina League pitching. He showed a progressive approach with a 11-game hitting streak from August 14–25, 2014, to finish the year with a .323/.398/.516 line, four home runs and 28 RBI. Overall, Asuaje hit .310 and slugged .533 in 129 games in his two stints. Additionally, he was the only player in the Sox minors system to collect 100-or-more RBI (101) and went on to post the best slugging percentage (.533). He also ended fourth in homers (15) and OBP (.393) and 10th in batting average (.310), while his on-base plus slugging (.927) was surpassed only by Mookie Betts (.960). Besides, Asuaje was named Greenville Drive Player of the Year and added another All-Star selection to his list of accomplishments, as he was chosen to the 2014 South Atlantic League Annual All-Star team.

Asuaje was promoted to the Double A Portland Sea Dogs in 2015, where was one of five Sea Dogs selected for the Eastern League All-Star team. Asuaje ended 2015 with eight homers, seven triples, 23 doubles, 61 RBI, 60 runs scored and nine steals, as he slashed .251/.334/.374 over 131 games. He also gained a spot in the Arizona Fall League as a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions during offseason.

Asuaje opened 2016 with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas of the Pacific Coast League. He played in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game, in his future home stadium, Petco Park, on July 10, then the Triple-A All-Star Game three days later and 2,079 miles away at BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte, North Carolina. He won the 2016 PCL Rookie of the Year Award, leading the league in hits (172) and runs (98), along with top-10 totals in doubles (32), triples (11), total bases (253), batting average (.321) and on-base percentage (.378).

The Padres promoted Asuaje to the major leagues on September 21, 2016.