Padres Promote Sherman, Prospects

The Padres promoted outfielder Darrell Sherman and six other prospects to their 40-man roster that was submitted Friday to the National League office.

Sherman, projected to be the Padres’ opening-day left fielder after the Colorado Rockies claimed Jerald Clark in the expansion draft, joins the 40-man roster for the first time. He was left unprotected last season and selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the Rule 5 draft, but returned to the Padres when the Orioles did not keep him on the 40-man roster.

The Padres also decided to provide competition for Sherman. They signed Jarvis Brown, six-year minor-league free agent from the Minnesota Twins, to a triple-A contract. Brown, who played in the 1991 World Series, batted .250 with 17 stolen bases and 16 RBIs in 62 games for triple-A Portland last season. He’ll be invited to the Padres’ major league training camp.

The Padres also retained six-year free agent outfielder Vince Harris. He batted .281 with 38 stolen bases in 80 games for double-A Wichita.

The other newcomers to the Padres’ 40-man roster are first baseman Jay Gainer, outfielder Steve Pegues, catcher Brian Johnson, and pitchers Tim Worrell, Scott Sanders and Erik Schulstrom.

Pegues also might fit into the Padres’ outfield picture. He is batting .353 with 26 RBIs in the Arizona Fall League.

The Padres have 38 players on their 40-man roster, allowing them to select up to two players Dec. 7 in the Rule 5 draft.

Padre Roster

Pitchers: Andy Benes, Doug Brocail, Terry Bross, Gene Harris, Greg Harris, Jeremy Hernandez, Bruce Hurst, Mike Maddux, Jose Melendez, Rich Rodriguez, Scott Sanders, Erik Schullstrom, Tim Scott, Frank Seminara, Wally Whitehurst, Tim Worrell.

Catchers: Brian Johnson, Tim Lampkin, Dan Walters.

Infielders: Paul Faries, Jay Gainer, Jeff Gardner, Ricky Gutierrez, Ray Holbert, Luis Lopez, Fred McGriff, Gary Sheffield, Craig Shipley, Kurt Stillwell, Tim Teufel, Guillermo Velasquez.

Outfielders: D.J. Dozier, Tony Gwynn, Darrin Jackson, Steve Peques, Darrell Sherman, Dave Staton, Jim Vatcher.