It’s slightly less congested with Wil Myers on the sideline another five days or so and Franchy Cordero out for the season.

But the Padres’ outfield competition has reached a pivotal point where time is running short and performance seems to be ramping up.

Manuel Margot, Myers and Cordero would seem to be locks to return in 2019 — as long as they are not part of a trade. (It’s expected that few Padres players will be off-limits in what is expected to be an offseason full of dealing.)

That leaves Travis Jankowski, Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes being intensely evaluated for what might be one available spot. The competition has been ongoing most of the season, but perhaps never more fiercely than with less than two months remaining and all three demonstrating value.


Renfroe and Reyes have both homered in consecutive games and for the third straight game will start in left and right field, respectively, Wednesday against the Brewers.

Renfroe has started five straight games for the first time since June and is 7-for-21 in that span. Reyes is 5-for-6 with two homers and a double in the past two games and is batting .389/.500/.778 over his past 11 games (22 plate appearances).

Jankowski had hit in five straight games (7-for-15) before striking out in his only at-bat after entering Tuesday’s game as a defensive replacement. His sprint to backhand a dying liner to end the seventh inning demonstrated a facet of his game neither of the others possess, just as he doesn’t have their power.

“It’s fun,” manager Andy Green said. “You want to see guys rise up. Hunter has played really well as well. He’s had some big swings for us. … Both those guys on the corner have a ton of power. Travis brings something unique, too. He makes that catch in left field look relatively easy, and my guess is there’s only a few left fielders in the game making that catch. He’s as good out there with a glove on his hand as anybody. To have that kind of weapon late in the game to run the base and fill that role. …”


All three players have expressed their understanding of the situation, as the Padres assess which players they will keep for the next step in their building process.

“I have to give my 100 percent,” Reyes said Tuesday night. “I really want the opportunity to stay here. I want to make the space for myself.”

Over the weekend, Renfroe expressed the need to finish strong, and Jankowski on Sunday acknowledged the urgency of the situation. It wasn’t the first time either had said so. This has been their reality since spring training, though Reyes is really a late serious entrant in the derby, essentially replacing Cordero as their competition.

While Cordero is out the rest of the season following surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow, Myers appears on track to return early next week from the bone bruise in his foot.


Provided the Padres don’t make a trade involving one of the outfielders, Myers’ return will crowd the rotating door.

“You just want to see them go out and compete to win baseball games and have fun,” Green said. “It will figure itself out in time. But, obviously, they’re sitting there with an opportunity right now. You want to see them take advantage of it. … We’ll find a way to work everybody into the mix. There’s probably not a game we’re winning that Travis Jankowski doesn’t play a role. They’re all going to get opportunities.”

kevin.acee@sduniontribune.com