Baseball in Fort Wayne

The emerging former Wizards are making the most of their Spring Training opportunities:

• Matt Antonelli was drafted as a third baseman in the first round of the 2006 draft out of Wake Forrest. That year, he appeared in 5 games with the Wizards before a rise through the Padre’s ranks, ending the AA campaign with a respectable .294 batting average. Since his stay in Fort Wayne, he has been asked to switch to second base and has been considered for conversion to outfield. However, for now at least, the club plans to let him focus on 2B.
• Paul McAnulty: As I mentioned previously, McAnulty has been considered as trade bait. This Spring Training may be his last chance with the Padres since he is out of minor league options. He has appeared in 58 games with the parent club, but hasn’t found that staying factor just yet. A knee injury inhibited his 2007 campaign, but he is now healthy and looks to make the most of 2008. McAnulty came to Peoria early to continue an offseason conditioning program that dropped 20 pounds. The career .301 minor leagues hitter will undoubtedly get his shot somewhere (IMHO).
• Wade LeBlanc is now being mentioned as a candidate to take the fifth spot in the Padres rotation. LeBlanc is likely to return to the minors where he possesses a 18-9 record and 2.97 earned run average, but look for him sometime in 2008 (again, IMHO).
• Nick Schmidt was the club’s first round pick last year and appeared in three games in Fort Wayne before being shut down due to injury. He had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in October and will likely miss all of 2008. The surgery is simlar to that of another top pick that saw action in Fort Wayne, Matt Bush.

Read more about these news items at MLB.com.

[tags]Wade LeBlanc, Matt Antonelli, Matt Bush, Nick Schmidt, Paul McAnulty, Fort Wayne Wizards, baseball in Fort Wayne, Ft. Wayne[/tags]