With his arm in a sling most of the 2007 season while recovering from surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder, Thomas Neal's professional career was going nowhere.

The former Poway High star played in just 10 games that season at baseball's lowest level ---- the Arizona Rookie League.

Now, more than a year removed from the hospital, doctor's appointments and tireless rehab, Neal is making big-time noise.

Playing at San Jose of the California League, Neal was hitting .340 after 102 games ---- fourth in the league.

He's sixth in the league in hits (128), fourth in runs scored (81), first in doubles (36), eighth in home runs (17), seventh in RBIs (69), fifth in on-base percentage (.425) and fourth in slugging percentage (.593).

Baseball America named him to its midseason all-star team, a group that included Tommy Hanson, Brian Matusz, Jake Fox and Mat Latos ---- all of whom have been promoted to the big leagues.

"Thomas has opened some eyes in the organization," said Dick Tidrow, vice president of player personnel for the Giants. "He's having a great season, no question."

A 37th-round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants in 2005 out of Poway, Neal played a year at Riverside City College and signed with the Giants before the 2006 draft.

"Junior college was the way to go for me," Neal said. "It really helped me mature.

"Poway has a great program, but JC ball was another level up. I had a lot of options after my year at Riverside. I could go back for a second year ---- I had a lot of four-year college offers ---- or I could sign with the Giants. I was determined to play pro ball, and the Giants were offering me that opportunity.

"After playing a year at Riverside, the transition to pro ball was easy."

At Poway, Neal had to make the transition from shortstop to the outfield to accommodate Jarend Jones.

Now Neal is an athletic right fielder with range to cover the gaps and a strong arm.

He made the California League All-Star team and was a starter on the team that beat the Carolina League 2-1 at Lake Elsinore in June.

And while his statistics say he deserves a bump to Double-A Connecticut, Neal is determined not to let anything distract him this season.

"Last year (when he hit .276 with 15 home runs and 81 RBIs at Low-A Augusta), I was just trying to get into rhythm of playing every day," Neal said. "Now, I'm more mature.

"I'm taking everything one at-bat at a time, trying to never waste an at-bat. I'm looking for pitches to hit.

"As for moving up, I try not to read too much into things I can't control. After sitting out that 2007 season, I just want to play another full season and put up numbers. So far things have fallen in place."

Padres notes

n Josh Geer allowed one unearned run and two hits over six innings against Albuquerque in his first start with Triple-A Portland since he was sent down by the Padres.

n Cesar Ramos, who was 8-4 with a 4.20 ERA in 20 starts for Portland, is fighting his way back from a shoulder ailment. Wednesday, in a rehab appearance, he threw four shutout innings for Lake Elsinore against Stockton.

n Double-A San Antonio right-hander Ernesto Frieri allowed just one run on three hits over seven innings Thursday to improve to 9-7. He threw 89 pitches ---- 62 strikes

n Outfielders Sawyer Carroll and Brad Chalk have pushed their averages over the .300 mark at Lake Elsinore. Third baseman James Darnell, who struggled after he was promoted from Fort Wayne, is also batting over .300.

n Single-A Fort Wayne right-hander Erik Davis, a 13th-round draft pick out of Stanford in 2008, improved to 11-5 ---- the first 11-game winner in the organization ---- after a solid 6 2/3 innings Wednesday against Lansing.

n Fort Wayne's Simon Castro was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week after going 1-0 over 10 innings. In two starts, he allowed one run, walked one and struck out 15. In his last 15 innings, Castro has allowed just one earned run on six hits, walked and struck out 22. The 6-foot-5 right-hander from the Dominican Republic is 7-4 with a 3.40 ERA. In 108 2/3 innings, he has walked 30 with 125 strikeouts.

n Fort Wayne improved to 76-34 ---- the best record in baseball. The Tin Caps are 31-9 in the second half.

Around the bases

n The Cardinals promoted Xavier Scruggs (Poway/UNLV) from Short Season-A Batavia to Single-A Quad Cities of the Midwest League. In his first four games, he had three home runs and 10 RBIs, including five- and four-RBI games.

n Jesse Orosco Jr. (Poway) was released by the Diamondbacks after one appearance, but signed with the Padres. He was sent to the Arizona Rookie League and is scoreless in his first two appearances.

n In his last four outings, left-hander Gavin Brooks (Rancho Buena Vista/UCLA) has allowed just one hit and no runs over 7 2/3 innings with three walks and eight strikeouts for Staten Island in the Yankees system.

n Left-hander Troy Cate (Fallbrook), who was pitching for the independent Long Island Ducks, signed with Toronto and pitched one game for Double-A New Hampshire. The Blue Jays released him and he re-signed with the Ducks.

n Andres Esquibel (Vista) threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout Thursday for Short Season Everett, a Mariners' affiliate, in a win over Boise. Esquibel walked two and struck out three.

n Scott Schneider (Torrey Pines/Saint Mary's) threw 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball Wednesday for Batavia. Pitching in the Cardinals chain, over his last five outings covering 16 2/3 innings he has allowed just nine hits, no runs, hasn't walked a batter and posted 23 strikeouts.

n Paul Oseguera (La Costa Canyon/UCLA) allowed just one run on four hits Thursday for the Single-A San Jose Giants. He didn't walk a batter and fanned five, but lost to Visalia. In his last two appearances, Oseguera has allowed just one run on five hits with no walks and 14 strikeouts in 16 innings.

n Kurt Wideman (Fallbrook/Pacific) has hit in eight of his last 10 games in the Arizona Rookie League after signing as free agent with the Padres.

Contact staff writer John Maffei at 760-740-3547. The minor-league report and the Tracking Local Players chart runs each Sunday through the end of the minor-league regular season.