Padres’ Wil Myers Looks for Timing on Rehab Assignment with Storm
Lake Elsinore, California
Tuesday night at the Diamond in Lake Elsinore was anything but ordinary. The Storm took on the Inland Empire 66ers, but there was a special guest in attendance; San Diego Padres’ outfielder Wil Myers, who was starting a rehab assignment.
Wil Myers taking some swings in the cage before the #Storm game tonight. A rehab start for the #Padres @EVT_News pic.twitter.com/QVHHz10n9G
— Patrick Cusick (@TheProfessorPQ) April 17, 2018
Myers entered the game today after being placed on the disabled list April 4th, retroactive to the 3rd, for right arm nerve irritation. Batting third, in the DH spot, for the second game of a three-game set, Myers did not have a chance to test the arm in his first at-bat, walking on four pitches from right-handed pitcher Jason Alexander.
“I feel like the arm is completely good to go,” Myers said before the game. “The only thing I’m concerned about right now is getting my timing back. I just want to go out there today, see some pitches, and put some good swings on balls.”
Timing appeared to be the issue in his next three at-bats, as he flew out to center in the second inning, just missing the Alexander offering, and struck out looking in the fourth on six pitches from the right-hander. In the sixth, Myers faced reliever Jonah Wesely and it looked to be more of the same. Myers was off-balance the whole at-bat and did not seem to have the pace down as he struck out looking to end the inning.
“Just looking to get the timing back before I head back,” Myers, who should start in the outfield tomorrow, mentioned. “But it feels good, I’m right where I need to be. Hopefully I can get out there in the outfield tomorrow and show them I am good to go. I’m throwing to bases tomorrow, so once they see that, [the Padres] will feel a little better.”
For Myers, he cannot get back soon enough.
“We’re playing well right now.” Myers continued, “You see [Joey] Lucchesi come up here and really prove that he belongs here, same with [Christian Villanueva]. Those guys have come up here and proved that they belong here and I think that is really cool. Not that we weren’t expecting those guys to play well, but you know, for them to come out and be the players that they are, is very exciting to see what they are going to do going forward.”
Hopefully, if all goes well, Myers can see it firsthand, sooner rather than later.
Game Notes
– Lake Bachar, pronounced Bock-er, was the starting pitcher for the Storm tonight. After going six scoreless, Bachar has thrown 17 innings this year without giving up an earned run. The former college kicker/punter from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has been a welcome surprise to the Storm rotation, only allowing nine hits all year.
– Buddy Reed continues to ride a hot bat for the Storm. He has 15 hits in his last six games, hitting .556 (15-27) with five straight multi-hit games during the streak. The second round pick from the University of Florida hit two home runs on the night, one of the inside-the-park variety, that one-hopped the 425 sign in left center field, and a high drive that just snuck over the big right field wall. The ball off the left center wall was especially fun to watch as the athlete best known for his speed, really turned it on, scoring standing up. Not to be overlooked, he also had two hustle doubles.
“Working with my hitting coach Doug Banks and staying on the fastball,” Reed commented after the game. “Just trying to recognize it, see it, and put my best swing on it.”
Reed also had this to say about the inside-the-park home run. “When I saw the ball bounce when I was just getting to second base, it took a big hop to the center fielder’s right and at that point, I just made the decision that I was just going to go home and see what happens.”
– The Storm got five runs across in the second inning, after four errors in three batters helped give them an early lead. 66ers third baseman Richie Fecteau had three in the inning, two on a ball hit by Ruddy Giron. Fecteau bobbled the grounder, allowing Giron to get on first, then Fecteau threw the ball away, allowing the runners to advance.
– Even though the Storm scored nine runs, there was not much offense outside of Reed. The switch hitter accounted for six of the nine runs and four of the ten hits, with Eguy Rosario getting two for himself.
– The Storm took down the 66ers 9-1 to even the series at one apiece.
Since he was a little kid he wanted to be one of those guys at the game who had the headset on, listening to the Colonel and Uncle Teddy, he has grown out of that, but the love is still there. Padres’ coverage will be biased at times, but mostly an honest dissection of the team he loves.