Padres' farm is yielding crops
By Tom Krasovic / UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
The Padres aren't expecting their farm system to send them a high-impact player as the club pursues its third consecutive National League West title, a chase that resumes tomorrow in Phoenix. In terms of advanced minor leaguers who have exciting upside, the rival Dodgers and Diamondbacks are in better shape than the Padres are.
The San Diego farm system may be closing the gap, though, as evidenced by the fast ascent of second baseman Matt Antonelli, the Padres' first-round selection in 2006, who last night was promoted along with left fielder Chad Huffman from Single-A Lake Elsinore to Double-A San Antonio.
“This kid could come quickly,” said Grady Fuson, Padres vice president of scouting and development.
Antonelli isn't breathing down the neck of Padres second baseman Marcus Giles. But by hugely increasing his home run power and handling a move from third base to second, Antonelli is entering the fringes of organizational discussions for the 2008 Padres.
Antonelli has reached base more than 40 percent of the time for the second consecutive year – but he has also hit 14 home runs after hitting none last year. A leadoff man, he had 18 stolen bases to go with 88 runs scored in 81 games going into yesterday's play.
Fuson said Antonelli, a 22-year-old whose footspeed is slightly better than the average major leaguer, will sand some edges on his defensive game and that his new manager, former major league second baseman Randy Ready, will speed the process.
“When you have the kind of athletic ability of a player like that, it's easier to coach and easier to teach,” Fuson said. “The learning curve gets quickened up because there is so much life in these young bodies. The great thing about Antonelli is the instincts match up with the athleticism. He's got instincts. And for the naysayers out there that wrote he has no power, he's cleaned that up.”
Farm-system reinforcements for this year's major league club, which has the best record in the NL, are most likely to come from the Triple-A bullpen in Portland, where the ranks include left-hander Justin Hampson and right-hander Scott Cassidy. General Manager Kevin Towers has said that if he needs a starting pitcher, he is most likely to trade for one, a nod to the 6.59 ERA of the Padres' former No. 3 starter, Clay Hensley, who also has been nagged by shoulder tendinitis, Fuson said.
Towers also has said he is searching the trade market for bench help.
In Portland, two of the club's best producers are infielder Craig Stansberry and Frank Mechenino, a former major leaguer. Triple-A outfielder Vince Sinisi had revived his career after detours caused by injuries, batting .310 with nine home runs and playing solid defense, but he will be shut down 2-3 weeks by a stress reaction in his hip. Fuson said his return isn't a lock.
“That one kind of hurts,” Fuson said. “The kid was having a real good year. He's put himself back on the map. The reality is even if (the hip condition) cools down, he's going to be out for most of the rest of the season.”
The solid returns of late from Padres third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff reduced the likelihood the Padres will recall Chase Headley, but Fuson said that Headley, who is batting .350 with 14 home runs for San Antonio, “felt very, very confident about his time up there” with San Diego.
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