Fuson says new catcher is 'a leader'

[jacs]

By Tom Krasovic / UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

When the Padres drafted catcher Mitch Canham in June, they saw shades of Jason Varitek, the Red Sox catcher and captain. Canham “has a good bat and power, can run a game, a leader,” said Grady Fuson, Padres vice president of scouting and development.

Canham helped Oregon State win the College World Series each of the past two years. “He's got a couple of rings on his fingers,” Fuson said. “That's what it's all about, getting those rings, man.”

A left-handed hitter, Canham batted .379 with a home run in his first seven professional games. Fuson said Canham probably will be promoted from rookie-level Eugene (Ore.) to low-Single A Fort Wayne (Ind.) this month.

Notes

A week after the Padres guaranteed him about $600,000 to forgo a scholarship, shortstop Drew Cumberland, acquired last month with one of the franchise's five compensation picks between the first and second rounds of the draft, lost a popup in the sun and suffered a dislocated ring finger on his right hand. “It's more like a real severe sprain,” Fuson said. Cumberland, who had one professional at-bat, probably will join the Arizona Summer League next month.

Even in the hitter havens of the California League, Lake Elsinore right-hander Matt Buschmann is thriving. The 23-year-old, who is 9-4 with a 3.01 ERA, “has nailed about seven starts in a row,” Fuson said.

On the comeback trail from shoulder surgery that ended his season in Double-A, catcher Colt Morton hit three home runs and a double for Lake Elsinore on Saturday. “Soon he will go Double-A,” Fuson said.

Second baseman Matt Antonelli, promoted to Double-A last week, went 8-for-12 with two walks and a double in three games.

Shut down 10 days ago because of a sore shoulder, pitcher Matt Bush probably will throw off a mound this week.


SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Padres -- Fuson says new catcher is 'a leader'

[padrefanforever]

Sure is nice to hear nothing but positives coming from our farm system.......it's such a new thing, I'm still not sure what exactly to do with it all

[jacs]

They have done a great job the past 2 or 3 years and hopefully they keep it up.

[jacs]

First-round compensation pick Mitch Canham, the catcher on Oregon State's national championship teams the last two years, was to rise to low Single-A Fort Wayne this week but instead will be out a few weeks. Canham required testicular surgery after being struck in the protective cup.

That had to suck.