PADRES RECALL LHP Wade LeBlanc FROM TRIPLE-A TUCSON

AND REINSTATE INF/OF Eric Patterson FROM 15-DAY DL

– Club options RHP Samuel Deduno and OF Cedric Hunter to Triple-A Tucson –

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The San Diego Padres today announced they have recalled left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc from Triple-A Tucson, reinstated infielder/outfielder Eric Patterson from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-handed pitcher Samuel Deduno and outfielder Cedric Hunter to Tucson.  Executive Vice President/General Manager Jed Hoyer made the announcements.

LeBlanc, 26, made the start in the Tucson Padres first game on Thursday, April 7, working 4.1 innings and allowing nine runs, eight earned, on 10 hits, three home runs and two walks.  The southpaw went 8-12 with a 4.25 ERA (69 ER/146.0 IP) over 26 games, 25 starts, for the Padres last season.  Originally signed as a second-round selection by the Padres in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, LeBlanc has gone 12-16 with a 4.51 ERA (107 ER/213.2 IP) in 40 career games, 38 starts, over parts of three Major League seasons with the Padres.

Patterson, 28, began the season on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring.  The left-handed hitter made two rehab starts for Single-A Lake Elsinore, with one game started at second base and one in center field, and went 0-for-4 with two walks and a stolen base.  Acquired by the Padres on December 16, 2010 to complete the trade of infielder Adrian Gonzalez to Boston, Patterson hit .438 (14-for-32) with seven doubles, a triple, a home run and eight RBI in 15 games played this Spring.

Deduno, 27, was recalled from Triple-A Tucson on March 28 and made a Major League Opening Day roster for the first time in 2011 with San Diego.  Over two relief appearances for the Padres this season he worked 3.0 innings and allowed one run on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts.  Claimed off waivers from the Colorado Rockies on February 1 this year, he posted a 6.43 ERA (5 ER/7.0 IP) with four walks against 12 strikeouts in six relief appearances this Spring.

Hunter, 23, was also recalled from Triple-A Tucson on March 28 and made his Major League debut for the padres on Opening Day, March 31, at St. Louis as a pinch runner.  The left-handed hitter collected his first Major League hit on April 5 as a pinch hitter against the San Francisco Giants at PETCO Park.  In 16 games for the Padres this Spring, he hit .435 (10-for-23) with four doubles, one triple, one home run, 10 RBI, six runs scored and three walks before being optioned to Tucson on March 15.  He was originally selected by the Padres in the third round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.