Travis Jankowski knew the situation before Franmil Reyes was brought up to make his major league debut for the Padres on Monday.

“This is a big year,” Jankowski said over the weekend. “With the talent and the way this organization is moving, the opportunities are going to be fewer and fewer.”

Reyes had his contract selected Monday, as the Padres sent down Carlos Asuaje to make room for the 6-foot-5, 275-pound outfielder. Reyes is in the starting lineup, batting sixth and playing right field against the Rockies.

He earned his call-up by hitting 14 home runs so far this season and batting .561/.647/1.317 in 12 games this month for Triple-A El Paso.


And with Hunter Renfroe and Wil Myers on the disabled list, now was a good time to get Reyes in the lineup.

“You have to take these windows of opportunity when they present themselves,” manager Andy Green said. “… This was really nice opportunity to get a first look at him.”

This has increasingly become what the 2018 season is about for the Padres – determining which of their many outfielders will be a part of future seasons.

“You only have 40 spots on that roster,” Green said. “You look up in the next couple years, it’s only going to get tougher on us. There’s going to be a long list of guys we’re going to have to protect this coming year. That’s what this opportunity presents – to find out which guys are going to be a huge part of this going forward in the future.”


Not only do the Padres need to make room on their roster this season for second baseman Luis Urias and possibly shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., a handful of other prospects will be subject to December’s Rule 5 draft if the team doesn’t get them on the 40-man roster.

The Rule 5 draft is when teams can poach other organizations’ minor leaguers that have been in pro ball for four or five years (depending on their age at the time of their signing) and are not on 40-man rosters.

The Padres need to find room on their roster this offseason for highly touted prospects like Anderson Espinoza, Chris Paddack, Trey Wingenter, Austin Allen and possibly others. And 2019 brings a monster crop of Rule 5 eligibles, including Tatis, Logan Allen and Jorge Ona.

That means the Padres need to know whether Jankowski, Reyes, Renfroe, Manuel Margot, Franchy Cordero, Cory Spangenberg, Christian Villanueva and others can perform at a level the organization believes matches the caliber of player they see coming up through their system, widely regarded as one of the major leagues’ best.


That’s why Reyes is set to make his major league debut – so the team can find out if the power and improved plate discipline he has demonstrated in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League translate.

Essentially, this season has been and will continue to be an audition for several players.

Most pressing is the settling of a crowded outfield.

Reyes’ defense has been a major knock against him, though that has reportedly improved this year. And with the way he was smacking baseballs, there was really no way to keep him down.


“Smart organizations pay attention to what bats are telling them,” Green said. “His bat was screaming.”

Said Reyes: “With the numbers I was having, I knew someday I would be here, and here I am.”

Uber-talented rookie Franchy Cordero, who has improved dramatically in virtually all aspects of his game, plays every outfield position is locked into an extended everyday look.

The team has anticipated Margot, which it acquired as part of the Craig Kimbrel trade in 2015, will be its center fielder of the future. He is a tremendous defender but has spent all but four games this season with a sub-.200 batting average.


Myers, who has spent all but 10 games this season on the disabled list and is not expected back until some time next month, is the second-highest paid Padres player and, thus, very much part of the team’s future.

Renfroe, on the DL since April 21 due to an elbow issue, is in the midst of a huge prove-it season. His power is coveted, but he has struggled this season as much as ever against right-handers.

Jankowski has thrust himself into the conversation by tearing up Triple-A and continuing to do so in the 13 games since his call-up. He is on par with Margot defensively and, playing mostly against right-handed starters, has batted .371/.463/.571 in nine games as the Padres’ leadoff hitter.

“Travis is going to be out there,” Green said. “He’s played way too well to be forgotten on the bench. We’ll look at it more as a convenient way to rest guys on this coming trip than a platoon situation.”


kevin.acee@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

7:05 p.m.: This story was updated with further reporting and quotes.