MINOR LEAGUES: Speedy Guzman is on fast track to big leagues

By: JOHN MAFFEI - Staff Writer | Saturday, August 14, 2004 10:54 PM PDT ∞

The Padres have a definite need for speed in center field and at the top of their lineup.

The man who could provide that spark is Portland outfielder Freddy Guzman. Padres general manager Kevin Towers has hinted the 23-year-old native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, could join the big club as early as Monday.

Last year, Guzman stole 49 bases and scored 64 runs in 70 games with Lake Elsinore. He jumped to Double-A Mobile, where he stole 38 bases and scored 30 runs in 46 games. And in two games at Triple-A Portland, he stole three bases and scored a run.

That's 90 steals ---- tops in minor-league baseball ---- and 95 runs in 118 games.

This season, he had 17 steals and scored 21 runs at Mobile and has 45 steals and 46 runs in 63 games at Portland.

His minor-league stolen-base success rate is 83 percent (250 of 301), and he's at 86 percent this season (62 of 72).

Certainly, he's a minor-league phenom. But can he do it at the big-league level?

Lake Elsinore manager Rick Renteria and Storm batting coach Mike Davis, both of whom played in the big leagues, answered with an emphatic, "Yes." Renteria coached Guzman at Lake Elsinore last season. Davis was with the swift, switch-hitting center fielder at Mobile.

"I played a long time in the big leagues with guys like Rickey Henderson," said Davis, a veteran of 10 seasons with the Athletics and Dodgers. "And I'm telling you, Freddy Guzman can impact a game offensively like Rickey. But Freddy can impact a game defensively, too."

Renteria, who played 184 big-league games with the Pirates, Mariners and Marlins, thinks Guzman is as good as they come.

"The kid can run, but he's also at full speed in one step," Renteria said. "That's what separates him for other fast guys. He steals off the best catchers, and pitchers who get the ball to the plate quickly.

"He gets great reads on the bases and in the field. This kid can flat play center field. He covers the outfield from gap to gap like no other player I've seen. He's not just a good center fielder. He's a great center fielder."

But can he hit big-league pitching? In 1,418 minor-league at-bats, Guzman has batted .271.

"I think he can," Renteria said. "You only need to see him for a few days to see that. If he hits the ball on the ground, he'll hit. He beats out two-hoppers to shortstop. And he's so fast that infielders make errors rushing plays or throws.

"I think he's exactly what the Padres are looking for."

Impressive debuts

> Right-hander Paul Jacinto, who starred at La Costa Canyon High, is making the most of an opportunity after signing late with the Quebec Capitales of the independent Northeast League. Jacinto is 4-0 with an 0.79 ERA and is averaging better than eight innings in his four starts. Jacinto was 3-9 with a 5.55 ERA last season at Brigham Young but was 3-1 with three saves after moving to the bullpen and was named to the All-Mountain West Conference team. He was 10-5 as a junior at BYU.

> Left-hander Brian Mazone, the former San Dieguito High great, threw eight shutout innings in his Double-A debut with the Norwich Navigators, the Giants' club in the Eastern League. He allowed three hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out eight. The Giants signed Mazone after he went 9-2 with the independent Joliet Jackhammers.

Circling the bases

> RHP Dennis Tankersley was hit by a line drive in the left (nonpitching) forearm last week and was removed from the game with a severe bruise. Tankersley, who is 5-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 17 starts, missed one start. Portland's other starters ---- Brian Sweeney (9-3, 3.39 ERA), Tim Stauffer (6-1, 3.69 ERA), Justin Germano (6-4, 3.82 ERA) and Chris Oxspring (5-4, 3.87 ERA) ---- remained hot. Oxspring, however, is in Greece with the Australian Olympic team.

> IF Jake Gautreau, who was traded for Brad Fullmer before the deal was nullified by a Fullmer injury, has missed 20 games at Portland because of an sprained left ankle. Gautreau was the Padres' No. 1 pick in 2001.

> OF/1B Xavier Nady had a home run and five RBIs on Friday as Portland beat Salt Lake to move back into first place in the Pacific Coast League's West Division. It was Portland's eighth straight win at home, a franchise record.

> RHP Antonio Osuna was scheduled to throw two innings Saturday on a rehab assignment at Lake Elsinore. He is supposed to throw back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday. The Padres will evaluate him after that.

> RHP Marty McLeary, who came to the Padres in a minor-league deal with the Marlins in April, was named the Pacific Coast League pitcher of the month for July. In his past 13 outings, he is 1-0 with 10 saves and a 1.42 ERA.

> Lake Elsinore 1B Michael Johnson, who missed 50 games with a dislocated kneecap, returned to action Thursday.

> Single-A Fort Wayne RHP Travis Chick, the player acquired from Florida in the deal that sent RHP Ismael Valdez to the Marlins, threw seven shutout innings against West Michigan on Thursday, striking out 10. He's 1-0 with a 3.71 ERA in three starts. He has 20 strikeouts and five walks in 17 innings.

Contact staff writer John Maffei at (760) 740-3547 or jmaffei@nctimes.com.