North Salem’s Rocky Gale called up by San Diego Padres

Rocky Gale, a 2006 graduate of North Salem, has been called up by the San Diego Padres.

This will be the first time the 6-foot-1, 175-pound catcher will be on a major league roster in his six-year professional baseball career.

The Padres designated Chris Rearick for assignment Wednesday to make room for Gale on the 40-man roster.

Gale batted .307 for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas this season, with .349 on-base and 3.91 slugging percentages and 39 RBIs in 102 games.

“I want to take full advantage of the small window of opportunity I have to keep playing the game and have fun,” Gale said in August.

The Padres recalled Alex Dickerson and Jon Edwards from El Paso. Yonder Alonso, Shawn Kelly and catcher Derek Norris were injured in Tuesday’s game against Texas.

Fellow North Salem graduate Jed Lowrie plays for the Houston Astros.