Padres option Will Middlebrooks to El Paso, recall Abraham Almonte

The San Diego Padressent struggling infielder Will Middlebrooks to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday.

Middlebrooks was the Padres' Opening Day third baseman but recently had been playing at shortstop after losing the everyday third base job toYangervis Solarte.

He is batting .212 this season with nine home runs and 29 RBIs.

The Padres acquired Middlebrooks from the Boston Red Sox in December in a swap for catcher Ryan Hanigan.

Abraham Almonte was recalled from Triple-A to take Middlebrooks' roster spot. The center fielder/second baseman was hitting .275 with four home runs and 35 RBIs for El Palso.