Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘San Diego Padres’

MadFriars’ John Conniff recently posted an interview with Fort Wayne Wizards GM, Mike Nutter. It came just after the announcement to re-up with the Padres for another two years, so they had plenty to discuss.

You know we were asking them to agree with us, but we were throwing out some concerns. We didn’t get some of the bigger names that the Padres have drafted in recent years like Khalil Greene, Cesar Carrillo, Tim Stauffer and Jake Gautreau. Obviously not all of those guys made it, but when our fans read about the Padres drafting a big name they would like an opportunity to see him so if one day they are watching a major league baseball game on television they can say, “I saw him play.” Things like that are always very important to a minor league franchise.

His unexpected call from Double-A San Antonio resulted in a Major League Debut for former Wizards infielder, Sean Kazmar, Wednesday night.

He was slotted in the San Diego Padres’ lineup batting 8th and playing shortstop.

Kazmar went one-for-two and collected his first career hit on the first pitch that he saw from Brewer’s pitcher, CC Sabathia, in the second inning.

“I think everyone I talked to said I should swing at a first-pitch fastball,” said Kazmar, who was 1-for-2. “The nerves were definitely there. It was very exciting … and very overwhelming. I’m glad I got it out of the way in the first at-bat” [source: mlb.com]

He was lifted for Luis Rodriguez in the fifth inning after his second at-bat when he lined out to second base.

Kazmar is the 68th former Fort Wayne Wizards player to make his MLB debut. He’s the third from the 2005 team; he joins Colt Morton and Chase Headley. He is the sixth former Wizard to debut in 2008; behind Luke Carlin, Jared Wells, Eddie Bonine, Leo Rosales, and Nick Hundley.

With the Wizards in  2004, Kazmar appeared in 5 games as a late season addition. He spent the entire 2005 season with the Wizards and appeared in 125 games where he hit .267 with 10 home runs 48 RBI, and seven stolen bases. He drew 44 walks and collected 469 hits in 469 at-bats.

Photo by Chad Gramling, 2005.

The just turned 24-year-old former Fort Wayne Wizard, Sean Kazmar, is hitting .264 with three homers, 39 RBI and a .333 on-base percentage has made 18 errors in the field with with Double-A San Antonio this season.

Those numbers aren’t exactly what I would call “Big League Watch List” material, but the Padres are short on infield depth and that might just mean an opportunity for Kazmar.

San Diego promoted the Double-A shortstop (and sometimes second baseman) today.  Luis Rodriguez is expected to start this evening’s contest, but he may see some action during the three-game series with Milwaukee.

Until late last season, Kazmar had been used primarily as a second baseman. 2008 marks the first year since being drafted in the 37th round (1112nd overall) of the 2003 draft that he has played short regularly. He started the season by hitting .just 198 over his first 48 games. Then he hit his stride and hit .314 over the next 63 games, including a .368 average over his last 10 games.

With the Wizards in  2004, Kazmar appeared in 5 games as a late season addition. He spent the entire 2005 season with the Wizards and appeared in 125 games where he hit .267 with 10 home runs 48 RBI, and seven stolen bases. He drew 44 walks and collected 469 hits in 469 at-bats.

UPDATE: The Padres/MLB.com have posted an article with quotes from Kazmar: “Kazmar Gets Unexpected Call“:

“He’s the best guy we have to play shortstop,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “He has shown a little bit of bat in the Minor Leagues. We saw him the last couple of springs, and he swung the bat pretty well. He’s a gritty, gutty-type player.”

Photo by Chad Gramling, 2005.

Let the speculation stop. The team may not be called the Wizards, but they will undoubtedly be a San Diego Padres affiliate – at least through 2010 . . .

The San Diego Padres today extended their Player Development Contract (PDC) with Single-A Fort Wayne of the Midwest League for two years through the 2010 season.

“The Padres organization is honored and excited to renew our agreement with the city of Fort Wayne and Wizards General Manager Mike Nutter and his staff.” Grady Fuson said. “With the anticipation of the new stadium nearing, this will be a tremendous environment for our players and staff. Fort Wayne and the Padres have been a family since 1999, and we will continue this treasured relationship and the challenge of bringing championship-caliber baseball to the city of Fort Wayne. “

Since becoming the Midwest League affiliate of the Padres in 1999, the Wizards have compiled a 652-712 (.478) record over parts of 10 seasons, including a 62-58 (.516) overall mark in 2008. The Wizards have advanced to the playoffs five times during that span. Additionally, the Sports Business Journal ranked Fort Wayne as the #1 Minor League City in a 2007 poll and the Wizards will move into their new home in downtown Fort Wayne, Harrison Square Ballpark, in 2009.

Current Padres who have played for the Wizards include right-handed pitcher Jake Peavy (2000), catchers Luke Carlin (2003-04) and Nick Hundley (2005-06), and outfielder Chase Headley (2005).

“I am excited that we will continue our relationship with Fort Wayne, and am proud that the Padres will be the organization that opens the Wizards new downtown ballpark,” Executive Vice President/General Manager Kevin Towers said. “None of this would have been possible without the efforts of Mike Nutter and his staff, and I hope to bring a Midwest League Championship to Fort Wayne soon.”

The source for the above is MadFriars.com. It should be noted that current Major Leaguers who were Wizards that were not included in the release include Torii Hunter, LaTroy Hawkins, Michale Cuddyer, Oliver Perez, Jose (Javier) Velentin, A.J. Pierzynski, Chad Moeller, Luis Rivas, Juan Rincon, Joakim Soria and Leo Rosales. However, all those players are currently with other organizations or came up when the Wizards were a Minnesota Twins affiliate. There are a host of others (67 in total) who have appeared at the MLB level. Many have played and are currently still working toward everyday status at Triple-A.

More coverage:

• What’s Going Down(Town)
• Journal Gazette
• Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly
• Fort Wayne Wizards
• Friar John

The Matt Bush saga continues.

Reportedly, the three-time and oft-injured Wizard was recently involved in an off-field fight where he suffered bodily harm. This news comes on the heels of Grady Fuson telling the News Sentinel that Bush is progressing well in his rehab from Tommy John surgery.

The injury must not be too substantial, though. The 22-year-old shortstop turned pitcher is still participating in workouts at the club’s training site.

About a month after Bush became a millionaire prospect as the number one overall pick in the 2004 MLB draft, Bush and his brother Jeremy were arrested at a sports bar. Bush later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, trespassing and underage possession or consumption of alcohol and was suspended by the Padres.

“Obviously people are going to know he was in a fight,” Fuson said. “To the extent of that fight, people are going to have to guess. How it was caused, there was support there for him.

The San Diego Padres Vice President of Scouting and Player Development, Grady Fuson is in town with the Wizards this weekend. The News-Sentinel’s Nick West caught up with Fuson and talked about this seasons standouts, recent draft picks, the rehabs of former number one picks Matt Bush and Nick Schmidt and a host of other topics.

A great read. Definitely check it out.

The San Diego Padres recently acquired right-handed pitcher Evan Scribner from the Arizona Diamondbacks for infielder Tony Clark. Scribner will be assigned to Single-A Lake Elsinore, but as Paul Depodesta reports, it was a call from Wizards’ skipper, Doug Dascenzo that may have gotten the wheels turning on this deal:

In addition to the reports we receive from our scouts, both amateur and pro, we also ask our player development staffs to weigh in on players in their leagues. Generally we don’t ask for too much volume or detail. After all, our staffs are busy enough managing their own teams. However, we do ask that they leave a voicemail with some specifics if there is an opposing player they particularly like. That way we can make sure our scouts follow up with a more formal report as the season continues. In this case, Doug Dascenzo, our manager in Ft. Wayne, phoned in a report on Evan earlier this season which initiated our interest.

See Also: Padres Press Release | Clark for Scribner at Friar Forecast

In case you haven’t heard, the San Diego Padres will host their annual tryout camp on Wednesday, June 18th. High school and college players between the ages of 15 and 21, who are currently not drafted or under an affiliated Major League Baseball team contract, are invited to showcase their baseball talents and skills at the tryout camp conducted by area Padres scouts. For more information, visit the Wizards’ website.

The San Diego Padres are set to call up former Wizards, Chase Headley, who is widely regarded as the team’s top prospect. Reportedly, he will join the team this weekend in Cleveland.

The converted third baseman is in his first season playing the outfield and was hitting .305 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs in 65 games for Triple-A Portland. The switch hitting Headley also had a .383 on-base percentage at Portland.

No word on who else will be involved in the roster move that will bring him to the team, but it is likely that an outfielder will outfielder will be sent down to make room. Methinks it means Scott Hairston is heading for the DL or possibly an end to former Wizard, Paul McAnulty’s stay.

If you’re looking to keep up with some of your favorite former Wizards, here’s some links you’ll enjoy, courtesy of SignOnSanDiego.

• Chase Headley: “The jewel of the Padres’ minor-league system, the player that every other major league team mentions first when San Diego’s looking to make a trade, Headley’s a big-time ballplayer in the making and likely not much longer for Triple-A.” [See Also: "Headley's Portland apprenticeship is a matter of dollars and sense" by Tim Sullivan]
• Will Venable: “Desperate for a center fielder who can handle the spaciousness of Petco Park, the Padres think that guy could very well be Venable, whose gait is built more for chasing down fly balls and legging out triples than stealing bases.”
• Matt Antonelli: “Even with his batting average under .200, Antonelli is among the PCL leaders in walks (28). His patience at the plate belies the belief that Antonelli put way too much pressure on himself the first several weeks of the season.”
• Luke Carlin: “I wanted to call my dad (to tell him about the call-up), but he’s a civilian contractor in Iraq. The funny thing was we were in Omaha when I was promoted. We were headed for Iowa and my wife and daughter were coming down from Wisconsin. I called Kim and when I said `There’s a change in plans,’ she was silent for a moment.”
• Paul McAnulty: Fun short Q/A where McAnulty, an American retro car buff, reveals his five favorite machines.