Rymer Liriano heads back to the Padres dugout after striking out in his first MLB at-bat. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune)

The San Diego Padres designated prospect Rymer Liriano for assignment Friday to make room on their 40-man roster for former Chicago White Sox infielder Alexei Ramirez, who signed a one-year contract with the Friars.

Liriano played 166 games with the Fort Wayne TinCaps, split between the 2010 and 2011 seasons. After batting only .191 in 50 games with the 2010 team, he had a breakout season in 2011, batting .319 with 12 HR, 62 RBI and 65 SB for the TinCaps. That earned him the 2011 Midwest League MVP and Prospect of the Year awards.

After missing the entire 2013 season as he recovered from reconstructive elbow surgery, Liriano made his major-league debut for the Padres in 2014. He batted only .220 in 38 big-league games, prompting the outfielder’s return to Triple-A El Paso for the 2015 season. He batted .292 with 14 HR, 64 RBI and 18 SB in 131 games with the Chihuahuas.

Rymer Liriano swings at a pitch while playing for the Fort Wayne TinCaps in 2011. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)