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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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Luis Verdugo, a 25-year-old infielder who reached Triple-A with the Philadelphia Phillies last year, agreed to a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres according to BeisbolPuro.com.
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Verdugo batted .180 (18 for 100) in 31 games with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in 2025, his only season in the Phillies' organization.
More news: Phillies Lose 6-Year Veteran in Free Agency
A native of Mexico, Verdugo rose the minor league ranks in the Chicago Cubs organization from 2018-24, reaching as high as Double-A. He slashed .257/.313/.328 in 109 games with the Tennessee Smokies in 2024.
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A free agent for the first time, Verdugo signed a minor league contract with the Phillies in December 2024. Now he'll head to San Diego, which recently hired a new manager (Craig Stammen) for the 2026 season.
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Verdugo is currently playing for the Tomateros de Culíacan in the Mexican Winter League. Through Thursday, he was slashing .260/.353/.450 with nine home runs and 31 RBIs in 64 games.
In four seasons in the Mexican League, all with Culíacan, Verdugo has hit .251/.328/.403, with 14 home runs and 60 RBIs in 141 games. This winter represents somewhat of a breakout, and perhaps the Padres were encouraged by his power at the plate.
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A right-handed hitter, Verdugo could push for the roles currently ticketed for infielders Sung Mun Song, Mason McCoy, or Will Wagner, who bats left-handed. The Padres signed Song, a contact-oriented hitter who had a power breakout in 2025 in the KBO, to a four-year, $15 million contract in December.
Verdugo spent time at all four infield positions last year as well as DH. He's played 61 of his first 64 games at shortstop with Culíacan.
Verdugo was named the Midwest League Player of the Week on Sept. 10, 2023 while playing for the South Bend Cubs. He went on to win the league's Player of the Month award.
In 19 spring training games with the Cubs and Phillies, Verdugo is 5 for 21 (.238) with three walks and nine strikeouts.
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