Nady is Padres' X factor

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Friday, February 25, 2005 9:55 PM PST ∞

PEORIA, Ariz. ---- From one day to the next in spring training, it's tough to know what spot X will mark. One morning, the Padres' Xavier Nady might be fielding ground balls at third base and testing his throwing arm. The following afternoon, Nady could be catching those same throws across the diamond at first base. On still another day, he might be seen shagging flies at any of the three outfield positions.

Sure, his head occasionally spins, but Nady is hardly complaining. Playing defensive roulette is part of his preparation for his job as the Padres' super sub in 2005, this after a season spent yo-yoing between the bushes and the big leagues.

"It's a new chapter in my career," Nady said. "I'm excited, whether I come off the bench or get a few starts here and there. It should be fun."

Nady's role for this year came into shape during the latter stages of last season. The Padres have always highly valued Nady, 25, their second-round pick in the 2000 draft and their Opening Day right fielder in '03. But after he terrorized Pacific Coast League pitchers by batting .330 with 22 home runs for Triple-A Portland, the parent club realized it had to create a permanent roster spot for him.

General manager Kevin Towers quickly put the wheels in motion, unloading Terrence Long, the team's best bench player in 2004, to Kansas City in the first trade of the baseball offseason. Meanwhile, Nady, who bounced around the outfield and also played some first for the Beavers, was sent to the Arizona instructional league to relearn third base, his college position at Cal.

"I was taking hundreds of grounders a day," he said. "I started getting that old feel back and becoming more comfortable."

By increasing Nady's versatility, the Padres hope to maximize his number of plate appearances, thus allowing him to reach the hitting potential that made him a two-time All-American for the Golden Bears and the MVP of the California League in 2001.

"He has to realize, more than anything, that he has the ability to play here," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's all between the ears at this point. He has to realize how good he can be."

Realizing he's on the team is a good start. Nady has run out of minor-league options, which means the Padres can't send him down without the risk ---- more like a certainty with a player as talented as Nady ---- of losing him through waivers. So Nady can approach spring training with a relaxed confidence rather than the tension of knowing a roster spot rides on every at-bat.

"It takes a lot of pressure off," Nady said. "I felt last year that I had to do everything to make the team. This year I feel I belong here. I have a whole different attitude, just walking around."

Not that he's leaving anything to chance. Besides his stint in the instructional league, Nady worked tirelessly on his hitting this winter and reported to camp several days early. To continue the refinement, Padres hitting coach Dave Magadan has adopted Nady as his pet project of the spring.

"I think it's pretty common knowledge that he tends to get a little loopy with his swing, long and loopy, and becomes susceptible to pitches up and out of the strike zone," Magadan said. "When he gets too loopy, he has to cheat a little bit, and when you cheat you tend to chase pitches. But it's not anything that can't be corrected with a lot of hard work. With playing time and confidence, the sky is the limit."

Magadan recommended that Nady lower his hands in his batting stance to make his swing more compact, and he's also encouraging his pupil to slow his tempo in the box to avoid a problematic high leg kick. Nady has been a willing student.

"Maybe in the past I created some bad habits," said Nady, who hit .247 in 77 major-league at-bats last year. "I'm trying to work on it every day and hopefully eliminate some of the things that got me into trouble."

Contact staff writer Brian Hiro at b_hiro@hotmail.com.