Huerta remains in thick of Padres' arms race

By: GREG BALL - Staff Writer | Saturday, March 27, 2004 9:18 PM PST ∞

PEORIA, Ariz. ---- Edgar Huerta wears the Mexican flag stitched on his baseball glove, and he said he's happy to have a chance to pitch close to the Mexico-United States border, where fans from his country can watch.

Huerta insists it matters little to him whether he starts the season as the Padres' situational left-hander out of the bullpen or pitching in the minor leagues ---- he's simply happy to be playing in the United States.

"As of right now, I feel I've done everything I can to make the team," Huerta said Saturday. "I'm going to try to keep doing what I'm doing. The worst that can happen is I go to Triple-A, but I'm prepared to go to Triple-A."

Huerta was signed by the Padres this winter virtually sight-unseen out of the Mexican League. The club paid an $850,000 fee to his former team, the Mexico City Tigers, to obtain his rights.

It was a risk Padres general manager Kevin Towers felt was worth taking ---- Huerta offered more upside than other similar pitchers who were available for $750,00 to $1 million ---- and one that has seemingly worked out well for the 24-year-old pitcher from Culiacan, Sinaloa.

Huerta went to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' spring training last season without a contract and failed to make an impact. He said he is much more at ease with his situation this spring.

"When he was with Tampa, he told me he was thinking about whether he was going to get the contract," said catcher Miguel Ojeda, who played against Huerta in Mexico. "He wanted to stay in the United States instead of going back to Mexico. When he got here (this season), he told me he was happy to be here and to learn.

"He's finding himself. He knows that he can throw strikes. He's comfortable, and he's shutting everybody down."

After a pair of shaky outings to start the spring, Huerta has been nothing short of stellar. Entering Saturday night's game, he had a 4.50 ERA in eight innings pitched, with eight strikeouts and two walks.

"The first outing I was trying to be too perfect with my pitches," Huerta said. "It had nothing to do with control or me not feeling well. I was just trying to be too perfect. The way to do it is to just play and have fun, and I'll be fine."

Huerta throws a fastball that tops out in the low to mid-90s, and mixes hitters up with a curveball and a sharp slider. His battle with Eddie Oropesa and a handful of other qualified relievers for the final spot in the bullpen could continue right up to Opening Day, but the Padres' brass is encouraged by what Huerta has shown.

"He's real tough on lefties, and he can get righties out, too," pitching coach Darren Balsley said. "If we do go with a lefty in the bullpen, he's going to be up almost every night. We'll have to see how durable he is. But he hasn't shown any signs of wearing down in spring training. He's thrown pretty much every other day."

Towers has been impressed with Huerta's confidence, especially when Huerta pitched to the Giants' Barry Bonds on March 24. Huerta retired Bonds on a ground ball to first base.

Huerta could face plenty of other tough lefties in key situations pitching in the National League West.

"I faced Bonds already," Huerta said. "I respect him very much, but I'm not afraid of him."

Added Balsley: "If his attitude stays the same during the regular season as it's been during spring training, he'll do fine."

Contact staff writer Greg Ball at (909) 676-4315, extension 2629 or gball@nctimes.com.