Padres promote top prospect Austin Hedges

The best defensive catcher in the minor leagues will get his first chance to squat behind the plate in an MLB game Monday night.

The San Diego Padres selected the contract of Austin Hedges from Triple-A El Paso on Monday before opening a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. In order to clear a spot for Hedges on the active roster, the Padres designated 37-year-old catcher Wil Nieves for assignment

Hedges, a second-round pick in the 2011 draft, has earned effusive reviews from scouts for defensive abilities that "play to borderline elite levels at present," according to Nick J. Faleris of Baseball Prospectus. Though the California native doesn't project to wield an impact bat, Hedges could contend for All-Star berths at some point in his career due to his plus-plus defensive skills.

"I hate to anoint a minor-league player anything prior to his time, but there's no reason why he can't play in the big leagues for a long time," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told MLB.com in 2013, when he served as a special assistant in the Padres organization.

Not only did Hedges manage a .914 OPS with two home runs and eight walks in 79 plate appearances with El Paso, but he also retired 31 percent of potential base stealers and didn't allow a passed ball in 17 games behind the plate.