Every year for the past 6 years I have gone to Peoria, AZ to watch Padres' Spring Training games and enjoy the spring weather in Arizona (not to mention the bars and restaurants in the surrounding area). I have also spent a significant portion of my time there watching minor league practices and games. Until last February I kept notes and photos of the minor league players for my own enjoyment and as a hobby. Then I met Steve Adler, founder of the Friarhood, and became a staff writer covering the minor leagues. Steve allowed me to assume this role because I am passionate about following the minor league teams and love sharing what I have learned with anyone who will listen.

This year I made two trips to Peoria and was able to roughly double my time spent with the minor league teams, as well as watching Padres games and taking lots of photos. This post is meant to share some photos as well as a few observations made during these two trips. Hopefully it will give those of you who can’t make it a little flavor of the season, as well as some early photos to enjoy of this year’s Padres and their minor league prospects.

The first trip coincided with the first game of the spring season- the charity game with our hated rivals, the Seattle Mariners. This game featured 10 innings and a total of 25 runs and 34 hits with the Padres losing 13-12. This game did not support the theory that the pitchers are ahead of the hitters in early spring. Here are some photos from the game (names on jerseys for clarity):

This trip also featured a bunting contest Monday morning that displays another example of the team-building exercises that Bud Black favors during spring training. The guys were clearly having a good time. It was pitchers vs. players with teams represented by Ernie Frieri and Cedric Hunter for the final.

There were lots of guys still in camp as the minor league and spring training invitees were all still around, and it was clear that over 60 players were too many to keep track of. All I could do was take pictures of the mass of humanity and jot some notes on who got playing time

On my return trip in March there were a lot more decisions already made about whom to use going forward and a lot more games were being played. The minor league players had reported and were playing games, with the majority of the minor league guys previously invited to major league camp sent back to join their respective teams.

It was now possible to see who might be playing at which level and which roles they might be playing with their teams. The minor league prospects that are highly regarded by the organization are given looks during this time, with many of the players who achieved some success last season rewarded by the organization with the opportunity to play in major league spring training games. This year seemed a little different in this respect as a lot of the same players were given repeated opportunities and a couple have been getting action almost every day and are still in major league camp (Logan Forsythe, Oscar Salazar, Randy Flores). Forsythe, in particular, seems very close to getting major league time this season and the word is that he will get playing time at shortstop when he does go down to AAA to allow him a quicker avenue to the major leagues.

The week of St Patrick's day contains the only off day of the spring season for the major league team and Mat Latos pitched in a minor league game to keep his schedule intact. It was the AA vs. the AAA team with Latos pitching for the AA team (opposing the AAA hitters). Mat has struggled with his control this spring and this game was no exception with 5 runs and 6 hits in 3+ innings.

I was able to watch two other minor league games as well as 3 three major league games during the trip. There was also the annual basketball tournament that takes place at the same time a

s the beginning of the NCAA tournament. I was not able to take photos of this competition but can attest to the shooting skills of both Cory Luebke and Wade LeBlanc. Will Venable was not able to participate because of his oblique strain but he was an enthusiastic observer, along with many other non-basketball playing teammates.

The minor league prospects that are under the most intense scrutiny (Rizzo and Kelly) got extensive playing time with the major league squad this spring as well as making their starts with their respective minor league teams. Both are working hard and may get time with the major league team this season.

Some surprises during the spring so far include:

Eddie Rincon playing for A Lake Elsinore even though a defensive position has still not been decided for him.

James Darnell starting the season with AA San Antonio; a repeat of last season, to try to establish the consistency he struggled with last season and work on his defense at third.

Jumping SS/2B Jonathon Galvez and Jeudy Valdez (20 and 21 yr. old respectively) to A Lake Elsinore to further develop their bats. Both have exceptional defensive skills and are young for that level. It will be a treat to see how they develop.

Switching SS Paul Bingham and OF Yefri Carvajal to pitching during the off-season. Both struggled with the bat during their early careers but have exceptional arm strength.

There will probably more surprises in store as the final assignments are worked out in the last couple weeks of spring training for the minor league players. There will also be extended spring for those who don’t fit on a full season team, are rehabbing from injury or need further tutelage at their positions. An update on these developments will be filed after the start of the minor league season and I will no doubt be eating some crow regarding a few of my predictions. It happens every year and this should be no different!