Aug. 15, 2008

The San Diego Padres announced today that the club has signed infielder James Darnell, the team’s second-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. Vice President of Scouting & Player Development Grady Fuson and Director of Scouting Bill “Chief” Gayton made the announcement.

Darnell, the 69th overall selection out of the University of South Carolina hit .306 (78-for-255) with 13 doubles, 19 home runs, 81 RBI and 52 runs scored for the Gamecocks in 2008. The 6-2, 210-pound junior led the club in RBI and multi-RBI games with 21, including six games driving in five or more runs. Darnell started all 63 games at third base while posting a .395 on-base percentage with a team-high 255 at-bats. The 21-year-old native of Danville, CA collected 18 multi-hit games and a season-high 10-game hit streak that ranked fourth on the club.