Just two weeks into his time with the San Diego Padres organization, Patrick Kivlehan's four-year wait is over.

The 26-year-old former Rutgers football and baseball star was called up to the majors Saturday for the first time in his career. He is batting seventh and starting in left field for the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 8:40 EST.

The Padres do not have any trips remaining this season to New York or Philadelphia.

"He's going to impress some people," Rutgers baseball coach Joe Litterio told NJ Advance Media. "He is a very athletic kid with great bat speed. The ball comes off his bat like a major-leaguer.

"He'll have his moments that he'll struggle like everybody else, but I know he is the kind of kid who can stick there. Speed, power, everything you need to play in that league, he has it.

Looking to take the series vs. ARI with Patrick Kivlehan making his @mlb debut! Here's the full lineup: pic.twitter.com/2CXBdB4ghz — San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 20, 2016

After winning Big East Player of the Year honors in his only season on the Rutgers baseball team, Kivlehan was a fourth-round pick of the Seattle Mariners in the 2012 MLB Draft. He excelled at the lower levels of the minors in his first three seasons and climbed as high as No. 5 in the organization's prospect rankings.

Kivlehan bounced from the Mariners to the Texas Rangers back to the Mariners as he tried to fight his way out of Triple-A. The Padres claimed the super utility player off waivers from the Mariners earlier this month and optioned him to Triple-A El Paso.

"I thought he should've been called up last year," Litterio said. "I thought he had the numbers, especially for a September call-up. And then this year, he's getting shipped around to a couple places, you kind of start to think: What's going on? To hear he's finally getting called up, it's for exciting for him."

#RFootball fans - #Padres have called up @PatrickKivlehan to the big leagues, according to his bro @TKiv32. Awesome stuff. Good luck Kivvy! — Chris Carlin (@ChrisCarlin) August 20, 2016

The former St. Joseph-Montvale High School star is a career .282 hitter with 80 home runs and 363 RBI in the minor-leagues. Kivlehan's primary position is third base but he also has experience at first base and all three outfield spots.

"You have to get that one (personnel) guy that likes you and just says, 'Wow,'" Litterio said. "If that happens, you are in a good spot. It's hard to get called up and get to that level, but somebody likes him and that's a good thing."

A former reserve safety and holder for the football team, Kivlehan joined the baseball team as a walk-on after his senior season on the gridiron. By the end of the first series of the season, it was clear that Rutgers had uncovered a special talent.

"Pat is one of the nicest kids you'll ever meet, most humble kids you'll ever meet to this day," Litterio said. "We talked about getting called up and I'm congratulating him and he's thanking me for what I've done for him. That's just Pat to the fullest."

Kivlehan hit .392 with 14 home runs and 50 RBI for Rutgers in 2012.

The Padres are among the worst teams in the majors, with a 50-72 record entering the final 40 games of the season.

Rutgers radio broadcaster and SNY television personality Chris Carlin was first to report the call-up.

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.