MIAMI – Back in 1998, when the Padres were destined to go to a World Series, Khalil Greene was choosing shortstop over a big payoff from the St. Louis Cardinals.
“The Cardinals told me that if Khalil would have agreed to switch to catcher, they would have drafted him in the first three rounds and paid him $250,000,” said Brooks Cary, who coached Greene at Key West High. “Khalil said no thanks, if I can't play shortstop in the big leagues, I don't want to play in the big leagues.”
Greene went on to Clemson, starting out as a third baseman before moving to shortstop.
Greene had excelled as a shortstop for Key West, a regular powerhouse in Florida's baseball tournaments. But he was no stranger to catcher, a position he had played in Little League. Padres scouting director Bill Gayton believed Greene could be a terrific catcher, but chose him 13th overall in the 2002 draft as a shortstop.
“I roomed with Cal Ripken Jr. in the minors,” Cary said of the former Orioles star. “When Khalil was in high school, I told Baseball America that Khalil was better than Cal was at 19. Cal called me up and said, 'What are you doing to me?' I said, 'Hey, he is better than you were.' ”
Cary said those skeptical about Greene's ability to stay at shortstop underestimated his intangibles.
“He has the strongest will of anybody I've seen,” Cary said.
Brazelton due
Dewon Brazelton is 0-15 with an 8.22 ERA away from home, the first pitcher to lose that many on the road without a victory since Kent Peterson lost his first 18 for the Cincinnati Reds (1947-49).
Today could be Brazelton's breakthrough. The last time he started against the Florida Marlins, while pitching for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Mike Lowell's two-out double ended the bid.
Notes
Greene hit two home runs over the left-field scoreboard Tuesday; yesterday, the Floridian hit a double high off the left-field wall.
Manager Bruce Bochy said catcher Doug Mirabelli will make his second start today.
Catcher Mike Piazza isn't known as a good thrower, but he nabbed Dan Uggla trying to steal second base, and could have had another baserunner had second baseman Josh Barfield not lost control of the ball.
Tom Krasovic: (619) 293-2207; tom.krasovic@uniontrib.com
