SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The San Diego Padres announced today they have selected outfielder Blake Tekotte from Double-A San Antonio and optioned outfielder Will Venable to Triple-A Tucson.  In addition, the club has designated right-handed pitcher Samuel Deduno for assignment.  Executive Vice President/General Manager Jed Hoyer made the announcements.

Tekotte, who turns 24 years of age tomorrow, has hit .291 (43-for-148) with nine doubles, three triples, six home runs, 24 RBI, 30 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, 26 walks against 31 strikeouts, a .410 on-base percentage and a .486 slugging percentage in 39 games played for San Antonio this season.   The left-handed-hitting outfielder was originally selected by the Padres in the third round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft and will be the second player from that draft to reach the Major Leagues for the Padres, with infielder Logan Forsythe also making his Major League debut this season.  Over parts of four minor league seasons in the Padres (2008-11) organization, he has hit .272 (365-for-1342) with 73 doubles, 16 triples, 43 home runs, 173 RBI, 241 runs scored and 79 stolen bases in 346 games played.

Venable, 28, has hit .224 (30-for-134) with five doubles, two triples, eight RBI, 16 runs scored, 13 walks against 36 strikeouts and 11 stolen bases in 40 games for the Padres this season.  The left-handed-hitting outfielder has made 31 starts for San Diego this season.  Originally selected by the Padres in the seventh-round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami, the Missouri native has hit .248 (230-for-929) with 34 doubles, 13 triples, 27 home runs, 107 RBI, 130 runs scored, 96 walks against 274 strikeouts and 47 stolen bases in 294 games played over parts of four Major League seasons with San Diego (2008-11).

Deduno, 27, made his first Major League Opening Day roster with the Padres this season.  He was previously optioned to Triple-A Tucson on April 10.  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.  In 18 appearances for Tucson this season, the right-hander went 2-1 with a 2.92 ERA (8 ER/24.2 IP) and 22 strikeouts against 18 walks.  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.