Gwynn Jr traded to Padres

Padres deal Gerut for Gwynn Jr.
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Tony Gwynn's son is going to get the chance to wear a San Diego Padres uniform just like his Hall of Fame father.

The Padres acquired outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. from the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday in exchange for outfielder Jody Gerut.

Gwynn Jr. got the news of the trade in a call from his father, who played for the Padres for 20 seasons and is now San Diego State's baseball coach.

"Dad's thrilled," the senior Gwynn told The Associated Press by phone from Fort Worth, Texas, where he's coaching the San Diego State Aztecs in the Mountain West Conference baseball tournament. "This is like a bolt out of the sky. You just didn't expect that. I'm thrilled, just happy he's going to get an opportunity and I think he feels the same way."

Gwynn Jr. played parts of three seasons in the majors.

He made his debut in the ninth inning of the Padres' 3-2 victory, walking as a pinch hitter. Gwynn Jr. scored the winning run on Scott Hairston's bases-loaded single off Brian Wilson.

Gwynn Jr. wore No. 18. His father's No. 19 is retired.

"I'm glad to be back," said Gwynn Jr., who grew up running around the Padres' clubhouse. "It still hasn't really kicked in yet. But my nerves were actually pretty good being up at the plate in the ninth inning."

Tony Gwynn said he had just returned from taking his Aztecs out for some early batting practice when he got a call from his wife, Alicia, that the trade was coming down. He called his brother, Chris, and then Tony Jr.

"I called Anthony because we weren't sure he knew," said Gwynn, who still calls his son by his given name. "I called him and broke the news to him and he was thrilled."

Gwynn Jr., 26, is hitting .309 for the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate in Nashville. In 2007, he helped to keep the Padres out of the playoffs with a game-tying triple off then-San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman that tied a game in which the the Brewers eventually won. Hoffman now pitches for the Brewers.

Gerut, 31, is batting .227 with four home runs and 14 RBIs. He enjoyed a fine 2008 season, hitting .296 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs in 328 at-bats.