Lake Elsinore's 2004 club will feature Padres' top pick from 2003

By: GREG BALL - Staff Writer | Friday, April 2, 2004 10:28 PM PST ∞

PEORIA, Ariz. ---- Padres first-round draft pick Tim Stauffer will make his professional debut next week with the Storm. While it has been widely speculated that the right-handed pitcher's destination to start this season would be Lake Elsinore, it wasn't made official until Friday, when Padres personnel released the Opening Day rosters for their four full-season minor-league affiliates.

Other players highlighting the 2004 edition of the Storm include Gabe Ribas ---- the Padres' Minor-League Pitcher of the Year last season ----- as well as pitchers David Pauley and Brian Whitaker, outfielder Kennard Jones and first baseman Michael Johnson.

Stauffer, Pauley and Jones are the Nos. 4, 8 and 9 prospects in the Padres organization, as ranked by Baseball America. Johnson is No. 18, and Whitaker is No. 30.

"I feel good about this team," Storm manager Rick Renteria said.

"I think it's going to be a very good mix of people in terms of their chemistry. I think it's going to be a solid group."

The Storm's starting rotation appears to be its strongest suit. Some have speculated it could be as good as the 2001 staff, which included Jake Peavy, Ben Howard, Dennis Tankersley and Eric Cyr and led Lake Elsinore to a 91-49 record and a share of the split California League championship.

Stauffer was the fourth overall selection in last year's June draft. He signed for a significantly smaller bonus than expected after he revealed to the Padres that he had a shoulder injury, and that sent him to Lake Elsinore for rehabilitation.

He didn't pitch at all last year, but logged significant innings as the star of the University of Richmond team that went to the NCAA regional at Stanford. He went 9-5 with a 1.97 ERA for the Spiders and was a finalist for USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award

Ribas earned Pitcher of the Year honors by going 17-8 with a 3.29 ERA while splitting the season between Low Class-A Fort Wayne (Ind.) and the Storm.

Pauley went 7-7 with a 3.29 ERA last season at Fort Wayne. In 266 professional innings, he has struck out 232 batters while walking just 80.

Storm pitching coach Mike Harkey said he had yet to set the order of the rotation or name an Opening Day starter, partly because he's still not sure when Padres starter Sterling Hitchcock will make his rehabilitation starts. Stauffer and Ribas are the likely candidates to earn the Opening Day nod.

Jones is expected to lead off and play center field for the Storm. He had his season cut short last year when he broke his left hand in a non baseball-related incident while with the Storm, but hit .307 and stole 20 bases in 81 games at Fort Wayne.

He'll be followed in the batting order by second baseman Rob Watson, designated hitter Paul McAnulty, Johnson and third baseman Kervin Jacobo.

Shortstop Luis Cruz will bat sixth, and right fielder Casey Baker, catcher Andres Pagan and left fielder Marcus Nettles will fill out the bottom third of the lineup.

Watson joined the Padres organization Tuesday via a trade that sent Triple-A outfielder Richard Gomez to the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He was brought in to replace 2003 fourth-round draft pick Peter Stonard, who was slated to start at second base for the Storm but broke his left thumb during spring training.

The Storm's Opening Day roster will include 11 players who have been with Lake Elsinore before. The team opens the season April 8 at Inland Empire, and will hold its home opener the following night at The Diamond.

Greg Ball can be reached at (909) 676-4315, Ext. 2629 or gball@californian.com.

Lake Elsinore Storm 2004 Roster

Following is the Storm roster released at the San Diego Padres' minor-league camp Friday. Probable starters are listed with position.

Pitchers (12)

Starting rotation

Gabe Ribas RHP

Tim Stauffer RHP

Jon Huber RHP

David Pauley RHP

Brian Whitaker RHP

Bullpen

Jason Wiedmeyer LHP

Justin Craker LHP

Nate Sevier RHP

Rene Miniel RHP

Dale Thayer RHP

Mike Wodnicki RHP

Anasazi Guthrie RHP

Catchers (3)

Andres Pagan C

Mike Richardson

Luke Carlin

Infielders (4)

Michael Johnson 1B

Rob Watson 2B

Luis Cruz SS

Kervin Jacobo 3B

Outfielders (3)

Marcus Nettles LF

Kennard Jones LF

Casey Baker RF

Utility (3)

Paul McAnulty

Brian Burgamy

Eddie Serrano