Dirk Hayhurst, Vern Sterry Promoted

The San Diego Padres moved a couple of pitchers up a league in the minors on Friday. Right-hander Dirk Hayhurst has been promoted to Lake Elsinore of the California League and right-hander Vern Sterry has been added to the Fort Wayne club from the Eugene Emeralds of the Northwest League. Also, Marcus Nettles has been activated from the suspended list.

Vern Sterry was the eighth-round selection of the San Diego Padres in this year’s June Amateur Draft. The right-hander finished his senior season at North Carolina State where he was 9-2 with a 2.20 earned run average in 18 appearances (16 starts) for the Wolfpack. Sterry limited opponents to a .220 average while surrendering only 23 walks and 92 hits in 114 1/3 innings. He struck out 106.

Sterry was named a first-team All-America by Collegiate Baseball magazine, the first honor for a NC State player since the 1997 season. He was also named a second-team All-America by the college baseball website InsideCollegeBaseball.com and was voted to the first-team All-ACC by the league’s coaches.

Dirk Hayhurst was one of the more dominating pitchers for the Wizards this season. He was 9-4 with a 2.66 ERA (fifth in the Midwest League). In 118 1/3 innings (26 appearances/17 starts), Hayhurst had allowed a league-low 19 walks (tied with Brad Knox) while striking out 106.

Sterry began his minor league career with Eugene this season and was 2-3 with a 3.96 ERA in nine starts before being promoted. He appeared in 50 innings, holding opponents to a .226 average, walking 11 and striking out 52.

Marcus Nettles was also activated from the suspended list and will rejoin the Mobile BayBears. Nettles has appeared in 35 games for the BayBears this season and is batting .244 with no home runs, eight runs batted in, and four stolen bases.