Padres Minor League report: March 5
03/05/2006
Hot topic: Double-A Mobile figures to open with a pair of fast-track right-handers, Cesar Carrillo and Jered Wells, throwing to the club's premier catching prospect, George Kottaras.
Three southpaws -- Sean Thompson, Roger Deago and Mario Ramos -- could join Carrillo and Wells, both of whom could make the jump to Triple-A Portland sometime during the season. This has the potential to be a dominant rotation, particularly if Ramos summons his old form.
Ramos, Oakland's sixth-round pick in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, is trying to kick-start his career. A finesse pitcher who attended Rice, Ramos was dealt to Texas in 2002. Having experienced success at all Minor League levels, he made three starts for Texas in '03, going 1-1 with a 4.94 ERA. He threw five shutout innings against the A's before Miguel Tejada went deep on him. He was then reacquired by the A's before joining the Padres organization.
On the move: Andres Macias, a Fontana, Calif., native who attended Chaffey JC and was signed by Chris Gwynn as a draft-and-follow in 2003, has added more than 20 pounds of muscle, filling out his 6-foot-3 frame at 197. A skilled left-handed-hitting and lefty-throwing outfielder, Macias had eight homers and 55 RBIs while batting .266 at Fort Wayne last year and is driving the ball with more authority this spring.
Name in the game: Rick Sutcliffe, a one-time Cy Young Award winner now known for his television voice, has been a vibrant presence in camp working with pitchers and keeping manager Bruce Bochy and the staff entertained.
They're No. 1: Matt Bush, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, has been given a taste of high-level competition with veteran Manny Alexander showing up late because of visa issues. Bush has showcased a powerful arm and range at shortstop but has struggled to hit top-shelf pitching. Carrillo, last year's top pick out of the University of Miami, dazzled in his Spring Training debut, retiring all three hitters he faced while getting ahead in counts with a fastball he moves around the zone with the polish of a seasoned pro.
Class of '05: Carrillo, left-handed pitcher Cesar Ramos, third baseman Chase Headley, catcher Nick Hundley and pitcher Josh Greer appear to be the most advanced of the crop. All played at high competition levels in college and it shows in their mature approach. It's a deep class, one the team plans to use to begin developing the productive farm system chairman of the board John Moores has mandated through club president Sandy Alderson and personnel maven Grady Fuson.
Stat machine: Kottaras, whose smooth, effortless stroke has drawn comparisons with John Olerud, cracked a run-scoring double during Saturday's 17-4 rout of Seattle.
What they're saying: "Mario is a quality pitcher. He threw very well in the Dominican Republic this winter. I'm familiar with him from my time in Texas. He's an intelligent guy who knows what he's doing out there, with a good changeup to go with a breaking ball and fastball that goes from 85 to 89. I'd love to see him have a good year for us." -- Fuson on Ramos
Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/
Hot topic: Double-A Mobile figures to open with a pair of fast-track right-handers, Cesar Carrillo and Jered Wells, throwing to the club's premier catching prospect, George Kottaras.
Three southpaws -- Sean Thompson, Roger Deago and Mario Ramos -- could join Carrillo and Wells, both of whom could make the jump to Triple-A Portland sometime during the season. This has the potential to be a dominant rotation, particularly if Ramos summons his old form.
Ramos, Oakland's sixth-round pick in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, is trying to kick-start his career. A finesse pitcher who attended Rice, Ramos was dealt to Texas in 2002. Having experienced success at all Minor League levels, he made three starts for Texas in '03, going 1-1 with a 4.94 ERA. He threw five shutout innings against the A's before Miguel Tejada went deep on him. He was then reacquired by the A's before joining the Padres organization.
On the move: Andres Macias, a Fontana, Calif., native who attended Chaffey JC and was signed by Chris Gwynn as a draft-and-follow in 2003, has added more than 20 pounds of muscle, filling out his 6-foot-3 frame at 197. A skilled left-handed-hitting and lefty-throwing outfielder, Macias had eight homers and 55 RBIs while batting .266 at Fort Wayne last year and is driving the ball with more authority this spring.
Name in the game: Rick Sutcliffe, a one-time Cy Young Award winner now known for his television voice, has been a vibrant presence in camp working with pitchers and keeping manager Bruce Bochy and the staff entertained.
They're No. 1: Matt Bush, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, has been given a taste of high-level competition with veteran Manny Alexander showing up late because of visa issues. Bush has showcased a powerful arm and range at shortstop but has struggled to hit top-shelf pitching. Carrillo, last year's top pick out of the University of Miami, dazzled in his Spring Training debut, retiring all three hitters he faced while getting ahead in counts with a fastball he moves around the zone with the polish of a seasoned pro.
Class of '05: Carrillo, left-handed pitcher Cesar Ramos, third baseman Chase Headley, catcher Nick Hundley and pitcher Josh Greer appear to be the most advanced of the crop. All played at high competition levels in college and it shows in their mature approach. It's a deep class, one the team plans to use to begin developing the productive farm system chairman of the board John Moores has mandated through club president Sandy Alderson and personnel maven Grady Fuson.
Stat machine: Kottaras, whose smooth, effortless stroke has drawn comparisons with John Olerud, cracked a run-scoring double during Saturday's 17-4 rout of Seattle.
What they're saying: "Mario is a quality pitcher. He threw very well in the Dominican Republic this winter. I'm familiar with him from my time in Texas. He's an intelligent guy who knows what he's doing out there, with a good changeup to go with a breaking ball and fastball that goes from 85 to 89. I'd love to see him have a good year for us." -- Fuson on Ramos
Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/
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