PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres have signed third baseman Mike Olt to a Minor League contract. The deal did not include an invitation to big league Spring Training, and Olt reported to Minor League camp Thursday.
Once a highly touted prospect, Olt was released by the White Sox on Tuesday. In parts of three big league seasons, he has batted .168/.250/.330 with 16 homers.
Selected in the first round of the 2010 Draft out of UConn, Olt spent parts of four seasons in the Rangers organization. Current Padres general manager A.J. Preller was a part of the front office that drafted him.
Olt was dealt to the Cubs in 2013, and he played 89 games with them in '14 and seven more last April. However, he didn't see any playing time there after Kris Bryant was called up. Olt was selected off waivers by the White Sox in September.
"He's a guy that brings some power from the right side and plays a good third base," manager Andy Green said. "He's somebody that we felt good, as an organization, reaching out for, bringing him in and giving him the opportunity to re-establish himself as a player here."
Olt has two singles in 11 at-bats this spring. With Yangervis Solarte at third and a number of other utility options who can play the hot corner, Olt won't factor into the equation for a Major League roster spot.
Worth noting
• Tyson Ross is currently in line to pitch Sunday against the Dodgers, but the Padres will most likely skip his start, with the April 4 season opener against Los Angeles on the horizon.
"We're kind of pondering Tyson and the Dodgers and the best course of action," Green said. "You don't really want to throw your Opening Day starter against the team he's going to face on Opening Day."
Ross will most likely get his work in on the Padres' back fields instead, and left-hander Robbie Erlin could start in his place, Green said.
• The Padres announced their regular-season broadcast schedule Thursday. All 162 games will be aired on either FOX Sports San Diego, FS1 or FOX, while 150 games will be televised in Spanish.