Storm roster nearly final

By: ED WEHDE - Staff Writer | Friday, April 1, 2005 4:03 AM PST ∞

PEORIA, Ariz. ---- The Padres announced the initial roster for the Storm on Thursday, and while there will be some tinkering before Thursday's opener against Rancho Cucamonga, the team is 95 percent set, according to Padres farm director Tye Waller.

"I think we have a solid group, and I think they'll work hard," Storm manager Rick Renteria said. "I think our offense will be balanced throughout the lineup, and I think our pitching should be solid."

Waller expects Lake Elsinore's opening-day roster to be finalized early next week. The Padres' must establish their big-league roster by their opener Monday, and the affiliates' squads should be set shortly thereafter.

Fans can get a preview of both the Storm and its parent club when the Padres play an exhibition at 2 p.m. Saturday at The Diamond.

Of the 25 players on the initial Storm roster, six are among the organization's top 30 prospects as ranked by Baseball America. Four of those six are pitchers.

George Kottaras, who is ranked No. 3, and left-handed pitcher Sean Thompson, who is ranked No. 8, are the top prospects headed for The Diamond.

Kottaras, a 20th-round pick in the 2002 first-year player draft, spent last season with San Diego's Low Class-A team in Fort Wayne (Ind.), but played in only 78 games because he also played on the Greek Olympic team.

The left-handed hitter batted .310 with seven home runs and 46 RBIs in 271 at-bats for the Wizards last season. With 51 walks, he had an impressive .415 on-base percentage.

"Kottaras has a very good swing, and he's going to come (to Lake Elsinore) to continue to develop as a catcher," Renteria said.

Thompson was a fifth-round pick in 2002 and is on the Padres' 40-man roster.

In three minor league seasons, he has compiled a 20-10 record with a 3.07 ERA and struck out 323 batters and walked 134 in 284 1/3 innings.

At Fort Wayne last season, Thompson went 9-6 with a 3.10 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 27 starts.

Fellow left-handers Chris Tierney and Arturo Lopez and righties Edgar Huerta and Javier Martinez will round out the starting rotation, giving Renteria the option to alternate left-handers and right-handers.

The ninth inning will belong to Leo Rosales, who won the Midwest League's Rolaids Relief Man award with a 6-1 record, 1.70 ERA and 26 saves at Fort Wayne last season.

Storm fans will recognize some familiar faces at The Diamond. Twelve players on this year's initial roster spent at least part of last season in Lake Elsinore.

While they might not recognize the face, fans will certainly recognize the name of one player. Fernando Valenzuela Jr., son of the former Dodgers and Padres pitcher, will start the season with the Storm. The first baseman will split time with a holdover from last season, Michael Johnson.

Ed Wehde can be reached at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2633 or ewehde@californian.com