MLB PLAYER NEWS

Padres’ Gyorko hopes to find old form

The Sports Xchange

July 01, 2015 at 4:16 am.

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

SAN DIEGO — The face was familiar but the San Diego Padres are banking on the swing being different.

Second baseman Jedd Gyorko returned to the Padres on Tuesday after being shipped out to Triple-A El Paso on June 10.

Gyorko, who led the Padres in RBIs in his first two years, was on the farm hoping something good would sprout regarding his swing.

He was demoted after batting but .210 to start this season. This was one season removed from another slow beginning and him batting injuries in hitting .210, although no Padres eclipsed his 51 RBIs.

“I believe in Jedd,” Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said.

Gyorko, who the team gave a $35 million contract extension early last season, wasn’t bummed about being sent down.

“When they called me in, I can’t say I was shocked because I hadn’t played in 12-13 days,” Gyorko said. “All I wanted to do was to get more playing time. That would give me an opportunity to show them what I can do.”

But Gyorko being summoned had more to do with a need. Second baseman Cory Spangenberg was placed on the disabled list with a bum knee which punched Gyorko’s ticket from El Paso to San Diego.

“I don’t want to talk mechanics,” Gyorko said about any swing changes. “I just wanted to play every day and get back to the level where I know what I’m capable of.”

Murphy, who coached Gyoko in the minors, is confident Gyorko will be a better player going forward.

“The bottom line is I’ve believed in him since I’ve known him,” Murphy said. “And I believe he will do well.”

But it didn’t come in Gyorko’s first game back. Gyorko was hitless in three at-bats and booted a ground ball.

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