Selected in the 42nd round of the 2008 draft, Brad Brach was not on the radar of many Padres fans.  Brach was a starting pitcher at Monmouth University and even though he finished his college career as the school leader in wins and stikeouts, the 42nd round pick was not highly decorated.  The Padres moved Brach to the bullpen and he has not looked back.  With an amazing stickout to walk ratio, Brach has flown through the system.  On the way breaking the CAL record for saves in a season with the Lake Elsinore Storm in 2010.

Brach started the 2011 season with the eventual Texas League Champions, the San Antonio Missions.  After posting great numbers in San Antonio, Brach moved up to Tucson, appearing in just 25 games before he was called up to San Diego.  Brach works fast and has a bulldog mentality on the mound.  I recently caught up with Brad and he talked about  Cal Ripken, Heath Bell, and Giants football.

Who was your favorite baseball player growing up?

Cal Ripken Jr.

Who has been the most influential person in your baseball career?

Matt Clark looked like the top first baseman in the Padres system at the end of 2010.  Putting up great numbers in pitcher friendly Wolff stadium, Clark was the best offensive player on the AA Missions.  Son of former major league pitcher Terry Clark, Matt essentially grew up in a clubhouse and has the pedigree to make it to the bigs.  Once Adrian Gonzalez was traded in 2010, it was assumed that Anthony Rizzo would now be the first baseman of the future.  A move that forced Clark to play in the outfield in 2011.

After talking to Matt in Tucson this season, he assured me that the transition would be easy.  Nicknamed "Hollywood" by Friarhood writer Matt Baker,  Clark has a million dollar smile, handles interviews interview with ease, and is cool under pressure.  This season Clark finished the year at Tucson with a line of .292/.363/.498/.861.

I had a chance to catch up with Matt during the off season, he talked about winning a silver medal with team USA, ping pong, and Jason Segal.

Never really had a favorite player growing up. Traveling around with my dad while he played allowed me to experience and be around so many great players. There were so many it's to hard to nail it down to just one.

I had a chance to catch up with Jeremy Hefner, a pitcher this season with the Tucson Padres.  Hefner, born and raised in Perkins, Oklahoma, still resides there in the off season with his wife and son.  As with most pitchers in the PCL, his numbers were a bit inflated in Tucson.  To explain what I mean, his 4.98 ERA he was second among Tucson starters with at least 15 starts. Hefner led the team in inning pitched (157.1), tied with Will Inman for the team lead in strikeouts (120) and was also ranked among the top 10 in both categories. 

Hef is a ball player, a family man, and a okie all the way through.  Enjoy. 

Steve: Who was your favorite baseball player growing up?

Jeremy: I don't remember having a "favorite" player when I was a kid. I lived in Oklahoma and we had no Major League team. So, for me its who I saw on TV all the time... i.e. Red Sox and Yankees. So naturally I was drawn to the players on those teams. I am a huge Oklahoma State fan so Robin Ventura and Jeromy Burnitz were some guys I looked up to. As a little league catcher I loved learning about Johnny Bench (an Oklahoman).

Steve: Who has been the most influential person in your baseball career? 

Chase Headley has been a fixture on the Padres since 2008, a slick fielding, switch hitting third baseman.  Chase was on pace to have the best offensive year of his career in 2011 and merited All Star consideration.  Most fans associate third base as a power position, but in this day and age, you don't have very many Alex Rodriguez and Evan Longoria types.  Those players are now the exception than the rule. 

Combine that with Headley playing in Petco National Park and you are going to end up with a guy that focuses on driving the ball and getting on base.  This season in limited action (113 games) Chase had 110 hits, 28 doubles, and an impressive live of .289/.374/.399./773.