Chase Headley headed to DL, Jace Peterson gets the call from AA

After Chase Headley strained his right calf in the second inning of Thursday's 12-inning win at Washington, everybody and her brother started guessing who might come up to take his place. Names like Brooks Conrad and the newly acquired Tyler Greene, both currently members of the AAA El Paso Chihuahuas, were tossed around, but ultimately the organization made the call to AA San Antonio and gave Jace Peterson the news that he's now a big leaguer.

Peterson is familiar with his new teammates, as he was a non-roster invitee this spring and saw time at third base when, this might sound familiar, Headley was injured. A first round pick out of McNeese State University by the Padres in 2011, the 23-year-old Peterson had moved up a single rung of the minor league ladder each year until this jump. Primarily a shortstop, he has appeared in one professional game at second and third bases, both coming this season.

In 18 games with San Antonio this year, Peterson hit .311/ .386/ .392 with three doubles, a homer, and four steals in 83 plate appearances. Speed is a big part of young Jace's game; in his three full seasons he stole 39, 51, and 42 bases, in that order. His 13 triples with high-A Lake Elsinore last year were good for third in the California League, and his 42 steals were enough for fourth place, 29 behind the league leader, teammate Travis Jankowski.