SAN DIEGO -- Since his callup on Tuesday, Jose Pirela has done precisely what he's done his entire life. He hit in the Minor Leagues. He hit in the Venezuelan Winter League. Now, he's hitting in the Major Leagues, too.
Pirela racked up three more hits in the Padres' 12-6 loss to the Royals on Saturday, including a leadoff homer and a double. He knocked in three runs and scored two more, providing nearly all of the San Diego offense.
All this for a player who was removed from the Padres' roster in December after an injury-riddled 2016 campaign.