SAN DIEGO — A.J. Preller has set the bar high for the San Diego Padres – World Series high.

Preller was hired as general manager Wednesday after developing a reputation as a hard-working, hard-charging scouting and player development executive the last 10 years with the Texas Rangers. He has extensive international scouting experience, particularly in Latin America.

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Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, who is retiring in January, says there’s a list of three candidates to replace him. The Associated Press

Preller said at his introductory press conference that it was “intriguing to me that the Padres have had some tremendous players over their history, some All-Stars, some Hall of Fame players, some good clubs, but have never won a World Series.”

The Padres played in the World Series in 1984 and 1998, losing both times.

They’ve been back to the playoffs only twice since 1998, winning the NL West title in 2005-06. They were swept by St. Louis in the playoffs in 2005 and won just one game in the postseason the following year.

Since then they’ve had only two winning seasons.

Preller joined the Rangers in November 2004 and helped build teams that became perennial contenders. They reached the World Series in 2010 and 2011, losing both times.

Preller replaces Josh Byrnes, who was fired June 22.

COMMISSIONER BUD SELIG expects baseball owners to vote next week from a list of three candidates for his successor.

“Yes, there will be a vote in Baltimore,” Selig said Wednesday, referring to the owners’ meeting next week.

Selig said the seven-member panel appointed earlier this year, and headed by St. Louis Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. worked independently to get to this point.

“I told them at the time that the job was theirs because, after all, they have to live with the commissioner. I’m going to be gone,” said Selig, who is retiring in January.

The reported finalists for the job are Rob Manfred, MLB’s chief operating officer; Tim Brosnan, MLB’s executive vice president for business and Red Sox chairman Tom Werner.

When asked about those names, Selig said “the list is accurate.”

The commissioner has refrained from publicly endorsing anyone as his replacement after 22 years on the job.

WHITE SOX: Center fielder Adam Eaton left Wednesday’s game in the second inning after running into the right-center field fence at U.S. Cellular Field and the White Sox said he has a bruised lower back.

INDIANS: The team plans an extensive renovation of Progressive Field over the next two years, remodeling the 20-year-old downtown ballpark to better connect with their fans.

The club intends to make interior and exterior modifications to the area stretching from center to right field, a person familiar with the plans confirmed for The Associated Press.

The changes will require a modest reduction in seats, which the team will offset by the addition of social areas to accommodate fans, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The first phase of the project, expected to be finished by the 2015 home opener, will be privately financed, the person said.

The Indians will provide details of the “major enhancements” at the 43,000-seat ballpark at a news conference Thursday. Team president Mark Shapiro will lead a guided media tour to areas of the ballpark that will be modified and upgraded.

ROCKIES: Colorado activated right-hander Jordan Lyles from the 60-day disabled list and placed lefty Brett Anderson on the 15-day DL.

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