Mercado, a five-year big-league veteran, spent time in Triple-A with the Padres and Tigers last season and hit .222/.308/.405 in 361 plate appearances. He’s a career .237/.289/.388 hitter in 973 MLB plate appearances.

The 29-year-old outfielder had signed a minor league deal with the Padres in spring training, but eventually opted out after the trade deadline after hitting .226 with 11 homers and 12 stolen bases in 78 games at Triple-A El Paso. He’ll report to Triple-A Toledo.

The 29-year-old was hitting just .226 in 78 games at Triple-A El Paso but had hit 11 home runs and stolen 12 bases. He’s 40-for-49 in stolen bases over the past couple of seasons so some team could give him a look as a pinch runner and fourth outfielder.

Not a bad little day for the 29-year-old outfielder, especially once you consider that he didn’t enter the game until the sixth inning. He got the Padres on the board in the sixth with a solo shot off of Mason Barnett. Mercado then demolished a two-run shot off of Anderson Paulino in the seventh inning that increased the Padres’ lead to 6-2. With a strong showing in Cactus League play, Mercado should find himself on the Padres’ Opening Day roster.