Spring Sod Poodle Preview by Amarillo Magazine

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SPRING SOD POODLES PREVIEW

t last, it’s arrived. What we’ve all been waiting for. For years, we’ve been gazing in the direction of downtown, dreaming of a new ballpark. In idle moments, we’ve found ourselves yearning to hear the crack of a bat, to smell the freshly cut grass, the feel the rumbling cheers of hometown fans. This month, all that wishing will finally come to fruition. We’ve got our very own, brand-new ballpark in the center of our city. From a distance, the lights of Hodgetown light up the night sky. Seen from the windows of downtown

skyscrapers, the grass looks so green you’d think they shipped it in from Ireland. On the streets surrounding the ballpark, new businesses are springing to life. We’ve got a new logo, a new mascot, and a stable of newly minted West Texans who’ve been rubbing pine tar onto their bats, rosining up their pitching hands, itching to charge the field and remind Amarillo that we are, deep down, a baseball town. Over the next few pages, we’ll give you the low-down on all things Sod Poodle: the coolest upcoming events, a peek into the stadium, even an introduction to that lovable new mascot. Let’s play ball. SPRING SOD POODLES PREVIEW • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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SOD POODLES

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THE SOD POODLES, IN A NUTSHELL By Jonathan Baker

y now, you’ve seen the logo, you’ve argued with your friends about the name, you’ve purchased your T-shirt and put the bumper sticker on your car. You think you’ve got it all down. But just to make sure you’re an expert on your new hometown team, here’s a lightning-fast overview of the Sod Poodles and their season. The Amarillo Sod Poodles, or the “Soddies” as they’re already affectionately known, is the brand-spanking-new double-A team in the San Diego Padres organization. Their colors are red-white-and-blue – like the State of Texas – with a little Amarillo yellow thrown in for good luck. You’ll also see a darker shade of blue, known as “Route 66 Retro Blue,” added to bring home more local flair. The logo features three prairie dogs – or “Sod Poodles” – poking their heads up from their holes, sporting cowboy hats and looks of determination. Team General Manager Tony Ensor says he and his team went through eight iterations before they got the logo just right. The team settled on the name after Prairie Dogs was by far the most popular submission during last year’s name-the-team contest. Ensor and his staff wanted to honor the idea, but Abilene already had a team called the Prairie Dogs. (The club was disbanded in 2012.) Inspiration struck when Shane Philipps, the team’s PR manager and director of baseball operations, found an article saying that pioneers had once referred to prairie dogs as “sod poodles.” The moment he uttered those two words, says Ensor, a charge went through the room. “Did you feel that?” Ensor asked Philipps, and the younger man said he did. The rest is Amarillo baseball history. On April 8, the Amarillo Sod Poodles will take the field for the first time, to do battle with the Midland RockHounds. And our fair city on the plains will never be the same. Here’s to many, many years of wonderful summertime memories.

Character, Inc., a highly regarded company that has crafted costumes for Disney, among others. “We went through different permutations of it,” says Ensor. “Just tweaked here and there. We had a vision of what we wanted him to be. He’s just perfect. I literally could not have asked for him to be any better.” Ruckus was designed from the Sod Poodles logo, and his cowboy hat and Texas-flag belt buckle show his Texas pride. His fur looks remarkably real in person, and he wears the biggest pair of cowboy boots you’ll find this side of Canyon’s Tex Randall statue.

Hodgetown: Amarillo’s New Home for Baseball

Meet Ruckus, the Sod Poodle’s New Mascot

GM Tony Ensor says that, in all his years in baseball, he’s never seen a finer or more meticulously crafted mascot. Ruckus was created by Custom

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PHOTO BY SHAIE WILLIAMS

The team will play at Hodgetown, Amarillo’s new $46-million ballpark, named for local philanthropist Jerry Hodge. The Amarillo businessman was one of the driving forces in bringing affiliate baseball back to the Yellow City, so it’s only fitting that the stadium bears his name. The “town” in the name is a reference to prairie dog towns, and it also calls forth Amarillo’s sense of community and small-town values. Aside from baseball, the venue will also feature concerts, high school and college games, and special events. More than that, Hodgetown will serve as a pulsing heart, giving life to downtown Amarillo. The ballpark seats more than 7,000 people, and the architects took care to ensure that there won’t be a bad seat in the house. As Ensor is fond of saying, in most ballparks you can hear the pop of the mitt – but at Hodgetown, you’ll be able to hear the ball whizzing through the air. The stadium will have drink-rails throughout, and a patio in right field to accommodate groups of up to 140 people. The left-field concourse features a bar with banks of TVs, and another group space down the left field line accommodates up to 232 fans. The park also boasts four suites with room for up to 25 people apiece, as well as two spacious luxury suites.

What’s in Store for Baseball Fans this Season?

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE AMARILLO SOD POODLES

During this, its inaugural season, the Sod Poodles will offer an amazing variety of events, focusing not just on Amarillo, but on the entire Texas Panhandle. Fans will be treated to 18 fireworks shows over the course of the six-month season, as well as 17 fan giveaway nights and numerous promotional nights throughout the Sod Poodles’ 70-game home schedule. The giveaways, in particular, have drawn excitement from local fans – and for good reason. “We’re giving away stuff that costs $15, $20 apiece, for free,” says Sod Poodles GM Tony Ensor. And these are hats, jerseys and bobbleheads that Amarillo kids will be able to cherish throughout their lives, as they recall the inaugural season of their hometown team. “There’s only one first season,” notes Ensor. Everything will kick off, of course, with an Opening Night Extravaganza on April 8, which sold out in a matter of hours. The Sod Poodles will host their home opener at Hodgetown on Monday, April 8, against the Midland RockHounds (Oakland Athletics’ double-A team). First pitch for the home opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The Opening Night blowout will include a commemorative-ticket giveaway to the first 1,000 fans in attendance, and the first-ever post-game fireworks show. These first home games will also introduce local fans to several daily promotions, including $2 Tuesdays (starting April 9), Wiener Wednesdays (starting April 10), Thirsty Thursdays (beginning April 11), Friday Night Fireworks (starting April 12), Spectacular Saturdays (commencing April 13), and Sunday Fundays (starting April 14). Hometown Hero Mondays, where local first responders and law enforcement will be honored, will debut on May 3.

Another exciting feature this season: themed nights! The Sod Poodles will host its first themed event during the third homestand, on “May the Fourth,” when the Sod Poodles will host “Star Wars” Night – featuring a post-game fireworks show from a galaxy far, far away. This inaugural season will feature two additional theme nights: Super Hero Night on Aug. 3 following the contest, and World of Wizards Night (honoring a certain young English wizard), which features the season’s largest postgame fireworks show to end the regular season, on Aug. 31. In July, as the dog days of summer set in, head down to Hodgetown for a massive Independence Day Celebration with the Sod Poodles. On Thursday, July 4, the team will showcase America’s pastime and feature a spectacular patriotic-themed post-game fireworks spree. And, about those fan giveaway nights: Hodgetown will host 17 of them, beginning with the first homestand. Here’s just a few of the awesome planned giveaways: team posters on April 14, Sod Poodles “Friends” shirts on May 5, cooler drawstring bags on May 26, replica jerseys on June 16, stadium replicas on Aug. 4, and Sod Poodles hoodies on Sept. 1. All giveaway nights will be limited to the first 1,000 fans in attendance. Additional family-friendly events will include Bark in the Park on May 15 and Aug. 14, when fans can bring their pooches to the ballpark. PBS character Daniel Tiger will appear at the game on May 24, and two educational STEM day games for school-group field trip days will be held on May 22 and Aug. 28. Group hospitality options, including left and right field group picnic patios throughout the home season, are also available. For more information on booking your group outing, contact groups@sodpoodles.com or by phone at 803-7762. Single game tickets for all 70 home games are on sale now. We’ll see you at the ballpark! And, let’s go Sod Poodles!

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SPRING SOD POODLES PREVIEW Your Go-To Guide to the Coolest Sod Poodle Events

Welcome to Amarillo Magazine’s handy rundown of the myriad special events in store for fans at Hodgetown! First off, there will be 17 fireworks shows throughout the season, including: Holiday Fireworks Shows:

Opening Night Celebration – April 8 Independence Day Celebration – July 4

Friday Night Music-Themed Fireworks Shows:

Special Theme Fireworks Shows:

“Star Wars” Night – May 4 Super Hero Night – Aug. 3 World of Wizards Night – Aug. 31

The season will feature 17 giveaway nights, where the first 1,000 fans will receive cool promotional stuff:

Commemorative tickets – April 8 Magnet calendars – April 11-13 Team posters – April 14 Sod Poodles “Friends” T-shirts – May 5 Grill aprons – May 25 Cooler drawstring bags – May 26 Replica jerseys – June 16 Garden gnomes – June 30 Astronaut Mascot bobble heads – July 6 Mascot bobble heads – July 21 Stadium replicas – Aug. 4 Tony Gwynn bobble heads – Aug. 17 Trucker hats – Aug. 18 Sod Poodles hoodies – Sept. 1

There will also be 17 entertainer and community nights, featuring:

Bark in the Park – May 15 STEM Day Game – May 22 Daniel Tiger Appearance – May 24 Bark in the Park – Aug. 14 STEM Day Game – Aug. 28

And there will, of course, be promotions for every day of the week. If the Sod Poodles are in town, you’ll be treated to one of these special nights:

Hometown Hero Mondays – seven total dates $2 Tuesdays – nine total dates Wiener Wednesdays – eight total dates Thirsty Thursday – 10 total dates Friday Night Fireworks – 11 total dates Spectacular Saturdays – 11 total dates Sunday Funday – 10 total dates

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IMAGES COURTESY OF THE AMARILLO SOD POODLES

“School’s Out for Summer” – May 24 “Songs about Amarillo” – June 28 “Christmas in July” – July 19

Look Like an Old-School Fan on Your First Visit to the Ballpark: We answer the questions you’re embarrassed to ask.

Q: OK, so we’re a double-A team for the Padres. What does that even mean? A: Each of the 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams has its own network (often called a farm system) of lower teams, which they use to train soon-to-be major leaguers, scout promising youngsters, and allow injured players to rehabilitate before returning to the show. Every Major League team has one triple-A team, one double-A team, and a few lower teams (single-A is broken up into advanced and low leagues, plus rookie leagues, and some others.) For example, the San Diego Padres’ farm system has eight teams across the U.S. and the Dominican Republic (a country which has produced a staggering number of baseball legends). The Padres’ triple-A team is the El Paso Chihuahuas. And Amarillo is now home to its double-A team. Q: So, these guys aren’t Major Leaguers. What’s the big deal? A: It’s extremely rare for a player to go directly from college to the major leagues. This ain’t the NBA. Learning to hit a curveball or a 99-mile-anhour fastball takes years of practice (heck, even Michael Jordan couldn’t do it consistently, during his brief foray into baseball). So on any given day at Hodgetown, you’re watching elite players who are only two steps removed from the highest level of ball in the world. We’ll have oncoming superstars and rehabbing future hall-of-famers playing in our park. If that isn’t enough, there will also be hot dogs and plenty of sunshine. What else could you ask for? Q: Who are the San Diego Padres, and why should I care? They’re in California! And this is Texas! A: Well, first off, San Diego is one of the dreamiest cities in the Union – and now we all have a reason to visit! Secondly, the San Diego Padres are actually one of the coolest teams in the National League. Sod Poodles GM Tony Ensor, who certainly knows his baseball, believes the Padres are setting themselves up for a golden age. And speaking of golden ages, we’re now living in a one for scrappy teams like the Padres. In each of the past four years, teams that were once considered hard-luck underdogs have won the World Series: The Boston Red Sox, the Houston Astros, the Chicago Cubs and the Kansas City Royals.

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Q: If I see a Sod Poodle, is it safe to approach him? A: Sod Poodles are friendly creatures, when they aren’t putting the hurt on other Texas League teams. With that said, if you see one of the players out in the wild, be respectful. Say a quick hello, maybe get an autograph, thank them for making our town cooler, and be on your way. Now, a few don’ts: DON’T hang out all day, trying to tell them what an awesome shortstop you were in ninth grade. DON’T interrupt them when they’re eating dinner with their family. And finally, DON’T ask them, “When are you going pro?” Sod Poodles are already professionals. In fact, they’re playing near the highest level of professional baseball in the known universe. Q: How many games do they play? Where should I sit? What should I eat!? A: OK, first of all, breathe. The Sod Poodles will play 70 games every year in Amarillo (out of their 140 games total). So if you don’t get the exact experience you expected, just go back tomorrow. And there won’t be any bad seats in Hodgetown. But, traditionally, the seats closest to home plate are considered the best in the park. After that, seats down the first and third base lines are always a good choice. Some folks like the outfield stands, where there’s often a more festive atmosphere, and the chances of catching a homerun are higher. We won’t tell you what to eat. But you should eat a hot dog. And possibly some nachos.

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northwest Texas Healthcare System. The system shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 191389-1313 3/19

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SPOTLIGHT: THE NEW AJ SWOPE PLAZA

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AJ’s awe-inspiring qualities. The stage reflects his role in changing the landscape of our local music scene, as AJ made it his mission to help local musicians work together instead of against each other. The Walk of Fame reflects his desire to befriend everyone he came in contact with and to celebrate their life stories. And the First Responders Memorial reflects not just AJ’s sentiment, but our entire community’s desire to honor our local heroes.” Once built, the plaza will be given to the citizens of Amarillo, as a city park. In this way, the performance space can be reserved by anyone, just like the stages in other city parks. Reeves says he’d love to see live drama on the stage, “plays written by local writers, Shakespeare, you name it. In this way, we can celebrate and cultivate the Amarillo arts scene in the way the Community Market promotes locally grown foods.” Craig Vaughn, program director at 105.7 KPUR, The Armadillo, has taken on the Texas Panhandle Walk of Fame as his own project. “We want to have six walls with different categories,” explains Vaughn. Potential categories include sports, the arts, agriculture, valor, community, and the sciences. “We have astronauts, inventors, actors, actresses, Olympic medalists, Medal of Honor recipients …” Through the Walk of Fame, Vaughn hopes “people discover the greatness that has come from this area. I hope people realize that a lot of these people got that way because of the influences of growing up here. The spirit for life that growing up in this area gives you. To create, to invent, to be heroic, to not give up, and to be humble. I want to bring out some of the people that history forgot and show them off to the world. I really hope it inspires people for generations to come.” Ultimately, this Plaza will mean a great deal to Amarillo, and especially to Wendi Swope. “This community wrapped its arms around our family after the devastating loss of AJ,” she says. “Now, once again, our neighbors are showing their love and support. I just want to say thank you to everyone who helped us survive the last few years and for believing in our vision for AJ Swope Plaza.”

PROVIDED IMAGE

ith all this talk of baseball, it’s easy to forget that there are other big things happening in the area around Hodgetown. Perhaps the coolest initiative is the AJ Swope Plaza, an amphitheater in the works at Eighth Avenue and Lincoln Street, just southeast of the new ballpark. The amphitheater will honor the memory of beloved Amarillo singer-songwriter AJ Swope, who was tragically killed in a car crash in 2013. The project is being put together, through a remarkable act of love and will, by a group of devoted locals including, AJ’s good friend Wes Reeves and the wife AJ left behind, Wendi Swope. The plan calls for an amphitheater with grassy terraces, which will accommodate up to 300 people. Around this performance space, a series of walls will bear the names of notable Texas Panhandle residents. A Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial is also planned, which will list the names of law enforcement and emergency personnel who have died in the line of duty. Reeves says he expects the amphitheater will bring numerous benefits to Amarillo. “First, we’re sorely lacking in greenspace downtown. We also lack any type of outdoor performance stage downtown. It may not be apparent at first why this is a problem, until you look at how downtowns redevelop. In order to bring retail and service businesses back into the central business district, we need permanent residents. These residents will be loft or apartment dwellers, and they’re going to need greenspace. They’ll want entertainment venues close by, as much as they’ll want amenities such as grocery stores and dry cleaners. More than that, adds Reeves, “There’s another, more far-reaching benefit of AJ Swope Plaza, and that’s having a place where the community can come together and celebrate who we are as a distinct culture on the Great Plains. The Walk of Fame and First Responders Memorial will unite us around a common history and inspire a sense of purpose. At a time when so much divides us, we want to provide a space where we can all be in agreement.” Wendi Swope agrees. “AJ Swope Plaza will truly be a place for remembrance, reflection and celebration, not only for the Amarillo community, but for our neighbors across the region. Here in the Texas Panhandle, we support our own. The Plaza will allow us to pay tribute to our fallen first responders while lifting up those who have made their mark in this world.” “Even if my friend’s name weren’t attached to this plaza, this is something I would want to see happen,” explains Reeves. “But having AJ’s name on it means the world to me. He was more than just a friend. He embodied hope and optimism about our future. He was always excited about building and creating. It hurt so badly to have that taken from us, suddenly and senselessly. None of us was able to say goodbye to him. It’s like he just vanished. Having this beautiful plaza so close to where I live and work will provide me and those who loved AJ a place to reconnect and reignite some of that fire that AJ carried with him. It won’t make up for what happened, but I believe it’s a step in making things better.” Wendi, too, believes this Plaza will help AJ’s friends and family “continue to heal,” while also serving to carry on her late husband’s legacy. “Since the day we lost AJ, our family and a large number of people across the Panhandle have had a desire to honor him in a way that reflected his dynamic spirit.” Swope says the Plaza “embodies so many of

We are thrilled to welcome the Sod Poodles to Amarillo!

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SO MANY THINGS HAD TO GO RIGHT - AND DID By Jon Mark Beilue

ometimes things do fall into place and fate smiles upon us. On occasion, good fortune pats us on the shoulders and squeezes the back of our necks. Beginning April 8, a new era is ushered into Amarillo. It is baseball, yes, minor league-affiliated baseball for the first time in 37 years, and that is certainly front and center. But it’s more than that. It’s also a sparkling new $46-million stadium in the heart of revitalized downtown Amarillo, and it’s the centerpiece of a cando spirit that shows this city can overcome long odds and even its own naysayers in expanding its horizons to what fun and the future can hold. And who’d a-thunk it, but a Sod Poodle shall lead us. Frankly, as a native of the Texas Panhandle and a resident of Amarillo in the last dreary vestiges of affiliated minor league baseball in the early 1980s, I never thought I’d see the day. Not like this. Nearly 40 years ago, minor league baseball had mostly a blue-collar following of old men and a sprinkling of disinterested fans in largely vacant ballparks. As times changed, minor league baseball became almost back alley. The Gold Sox left after the 1982 season, leaving behind aging Potter County Memorial Stadium that was between the feed lots and the fairgrounds in east Amarillo. When they left, few noticed and fewer cared. The tide on the sport turned about five years later. The movie, “Bull Durham,” romanticized minor league baseball. Owners soon marketed the entertainment experience over the game. Money was sunk into facilities. Families brought their kids. It became big business. Amarillo, though, was the uninvited kid peering through the window to watch the party. There was college summer baseball that tried to fill the void for several years starting in 1989. Then the independent baseball came in 1994. The Dillas were a great success for many of those early years, a flagship franchise in the Texas-Louisiana League. Amarillo averaged more than 3,400 fans in the remodeled dump, showing the city could support the sport. But independent baseball is still mostly mom-andpop, and it eventually waned into the Sox, the Thunderheads and whatever else would show up on a given summer. But for more than 10 years now, the city of Amarillo and supporters planned for downtown revitalization, and with that had to be an anchor. The idea? A stadium, or in the beginning, a multi-purpose event venue. It was thought to be a brilliant piece of financing to get it built just off Buchanan Street. City taxpayers would not pay for the cost. It would come out of the hotel occupancy taxes with travelers footing the bill. But still, as usual, vocal pockets whined. It was a conspiracy. It was a waste. It was a white elephant. Hey, it’s Amarillo, we’re not supposed to

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have anything nice. But supporters survived a non-binding referendum on the stadium, and a former city council stepped aside for a silent majority that was tired of being silent and watching a city’s future hijacked. If the stadium were to be built, though, it needed a big-time tenant, not another fly-by-night league. There’s only 32 Major League teams with minor league affiliates. Drilling it down further, there was only eight Double A teams in the Texas League. There would be no expansion. But then fate gave Amarillo a wink and a nod. Call it Minor League Musical Chairs by the Elmore Sports Group and its franchises. San Antonio went to Triple A, taking the place of Colorado Springs. They created a Texas League vacancy. Amarillo had the location and the pending new stadium. But ticklish negotiations and promise of corporate backing needed to convince owner D.G. Elmore. Alex Fairly, Jerry Hodge and Bill Gilliland helped bring it home in June 2017. And so here we are, the home opener just days away. So many things had to go right, and darned if they nearly all did. Season ticket packages are virtually sold out for a stadium designed by the country’s premier stadium architects. San Diego, with baseball’s most talented farm teams, will stock Amarillo with future Big League talent. All of it, under the name of Sod Poodles, a mascot so bad it’s great. It’s a brand that has merchandise in all 50 states. And the heart of it will beat in downtown Amarillo. There will be 10 home dates in April to dodge cold weather, but eventually the warm summer evenings will arrive. School will be out and downtown will come alive with foot traffic, restaurants and bars welcoming fans. Some will leave in the fifth inning, not knowing the score, but saying they had a great time and they will return. Some will be the diehards. But all will say they had fun and that it has added immensely to the quality of life in this city. There will be synergy. And it will be about time. Enjoy it, Amarillo. The city deserves this. Nice things can happen here.

Jon Mark Beilue is a former columnist of the Amarillo Globe-News. For the record, he’s always liked the name of Sod Poodles.

od S e h e t llo! m o c ri el a w m o e t town A k i l uld down o w We odles to Po

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2019 PROJECTED TEAM ROSTER

Projected Players: Elliott Ashbeck-RHP Michel Baez-RHP Matthew Batten – IF David Bednar-RHP Allen Cordoba-SS Nate Easley – OF Dietrich Enns-LHP Michael Gettys – OF Chris Huffman-RHP Nick Margevicius-LHP Owen Miller-2B Adrian Morejon-LHP Edward Olivares-CF Jorge Ona-RF Hudson Potts-3B Travis Radke-LHP Buddy Reed-LF Gerardo Reyes-RHP Webster Rivas – C Anderlin Rodriguez-1B Jesse Scholtens-RHP Luis Torrens-C Peter Van Gansen – UTIL T.J. Weir-RHP Eric Yardley-RHP Roster was submitted as a projection as of March 26, 2019; this is not an official team roster.

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IMAGES COURTESY OF THE AMARILLO SOD POODLES

Team Coaching Staff: Phillip Wellman, Manager Jimmy Jones, Pitching Coach Raul Padron, Hitting Coach Freddy Flores, Fielding Coach Nick Coberly and Drew Garner, Athletic Trainers Drew Heithoff, Strength Coach

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PHOTO BY K.C. ALFRED, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

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MAKING PROGRESS

Pitcher Brad Wieck recovering from cancer surgery By Kevin Charity

hen Brad Wieck made his big league debut last September, he looked ready to find a permanent home in the San Diego Padres’ bullpen. The southpaw from Amarillo looked sharp in a brief stint, compiling a 1.29 ERA in five relief appearances. Then he had an unexpected setback in his health. Wieck, a product of San Jacinto Christian Academy, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in January after reporting discomfort while working out in San Diego. Soon after, he underwent surgery, but was able to avoid more aggressive treatment options like radiation or chemotherapy. So far, his health has moved in a positive direction. “[Everything] feels good,” said Wieck after a workout at the Padres’ spring training complex in Peoria, Arizona, this past March. “My arm feels strong, my body feels strong, [the] ball is coming out well, location is there, so I am feeling good right now.” While Wieck’s initial diagnosis was certainly frightening, it appears the worst of it is behind him.

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“I just went back to San Diego this week and had another scan and the scan was good,” Wieck said. “There were no changes. We got that out of my body and we are ready to rock-n-roll.” In an “up-down” bullpen session on March 16, Wieck threw 20 pitches, sat down, then threw another 15 to simulate the workload of a multi-inning reliever. Later that week, Wieck threw his first live bullpen, as he got closer to game action. “His up-down side went really well,” said Padres’ manager Andy Green. “ The next step is facing hitters in more of a controlled environment, rather than a Cactus League setting. If he checks that box, I don’t think we are going to hesitate to put him in a Cactus League setting. “When camp started, I didn’t expect him to pitch at all in the Cactus League and it looks like he might have a chance in the last few days to get out there. If we feel like that is not best for him, then he won’t press it and we will give him time to continue to rehab. But if he comes back, feels good and [is] ready to go, is strong

and healthy and the arm looks good, then we will definitely get him into a game.” Wieck comes into 2019 looking to build on what may have been his finest professional season. The 6-foot-9 lefty appeared in 27 games for the Double-A San Antonio Missions and had a sparkling 1.93 ERA while averaging nearly 13 strikeouts per nine innings last year. Wieck also chipped in with 10 saves. His Texas League dominance ultimately earned him a promotion to Triple-A El Paso, where he had struggled to adjust to the elevation and advanced hitters during a nine-game run in 2017. “[The elevation] does creep up into your head a little bit,” said Wieck. “Like you have to be finer because the elevation plays a big factor in that league. I still just attack people with my best stuff. “A couple of years ago I went to El Paso and I had a real bad experience up there. I got my teeth kicked down my throat and last year I got the opportunity to go back and I had something to prove and I felt I did a pretty good job on proving what I had to.” Wieck did more than just prove he could hang in Triple-A; he dominated. Wieck struck out 34 batters in 18.1 innings, while pitching to a 3.44 ERA that was inflated due to some bad luck with batted balls in play. In his brief stay in San Diego, Wieck did not walk a batter in seven innings and added 10 strikeouts for good measure. Many young pitchers tend to try and get more fine as they move closer to the big leagues, but Wieck’s command seemed to get better on the game’s biggest stage. “I had to be more aggressive in the strike zone and the hitters at the big league level are definitely more aggressive in the strike zone, so balls will get put in play more,” Wieck said. “The main thing is to attack hitters with your best stuff.” Wieck’s arsenal of fastball and slider (with the occasional change-up) has been equally effective against righties and lefties alike throughout his time in the upper levels of the minors. As Major League Baseball prepares to require relievers to face at least three batters beginning in 2020, Wieck’s balanced success creates even more opportunity. “I’ve never been a left-handed specialist; I like facing lefties and righties,” Wieck said. “It doesn’t make a difference to me. So for this rule to come into play where you have to face three people, I think that it definitely helps my cause because you just won’t have your lefty-lefty matchup anymore, unless it is at the end of the inning. I like the rule – it’s going to speed up the game and it just helps my cause.” While Wieck’s tenure as a big league pitcher has been temporarily been placed on hold, his journey to San Diego gives him motivation to continue to progress through the setback. “Getting to the big leagues was the experience of a lifetime,” Wieck said. “It’s something that we as baseball players dream about our whole lives, so for me personally, it took 26 years to reach my dream and it was unbelievable. All of September was just an amazing experience and I can’t wait to experience that again.” For now, Wieck will continue to make progress on his rehab, in order to be ready to make a return to the mound, even if his original goal of establishing himself as a major leaguer has been delayed. “I definitely wanted to break with the team – that was my goal this off-season,” Wieck said. “That’s just not realistic right now, so we’re just going to get healthy and continue the process, start facing hitters and getting back into game mode. “For me, keep doing what I have been doing is the biggest thing.” Kevin Charity writes about the San Diego Padres minor leagues for MadfFriars.com and Fox Sports SanDiego.com. and you can follow him @madfriars.com.

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HUDSON POTTS READY TO IMPRESS 2016 First-round pick will help lead Padres offense By Ben Davey

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“We are really pleased with the way he goes about his work,” said Padres Manager Andy Green. “Obviously the power is impressive. We will put him in a position to be impactful for us because we really like him.” For some, the signing of Machado could be a crushing blow, but Potts, who grew up in a military family where sudden change was an everyday part of life, has taken the news in stride. “Manny Machado is one of the best players in baseball. Who wouldn’t want him on your team?” said Potts during a break at the Padres spring training complex in Peoria, Arizona. “The coaches have really helped me concentrate on improving as a player, and if I continue to get better, good things will happen.” Potts has reason to be optimistic; since he has been drafted, he has put himself in a position to become a major league player either in San Diego or somewhere else. “My goal is to make the big leagues, but If I go to Amarillo, it would be great. It is close to where I grew up in Texas, and more of my family and friends will be able to come.” If Potts can continue his ascent through the minor league system, he should be one of the key cogs in the Sod Poodles’ inaugural season. Ben Davey writes about the San Diego Padres minor league system for MadFriars.com and Fox Sports San Diego and you can follow him @madfriars.com.

PHOTO BY MIKE WILSON

ith affiliated baseball and the Double-A Texas League returning to Amarillo after a 36-year absence, 2019 is guaranteed be a memorable season in the Panhandle. Once you get past all the “firsts” though, the sport is only as good as the product on the field. For newly-christened Sod Poodles fans, the San Diego Padres’ consensus top farm system, that means there will be quality baseball throughout the summer. Several of the Padres’ top prospects are ticketed to begin the year in Double-A. The pitching staff should be loaded with top prospects Adrian Morejon and Michel Baez while Texas native and 2016 first-round pick, Hudson Potts, will help lead the offense. Potts was just 17 when the Padres selected him out of Southlake Carroll High School, making him the youngest player selected on day one of the draft. Then known as Hudson Sanchez, he was listed as 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds. Three years later, having adopted his stepfather’s last name, he stands 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. Even though he is an imposing figure in the batter’s box, the organization still believes he maintains the athleticism to play multiple positions. He and catcher Austin Allen are the only two Padres minor leaguers to hit 20 home runs each of the past two years. Potts’ combination of bat-speed and power make him one of the better infield prospects in the system. “The best part of Potts’s game is how he has continued to evolve as a hitter,” said Padres Senior Director of Player Development Sam Geaney. “To be playing as well as Potts has been playing, as young as he is, it is really impressive.” His game caught the attention of Baseball America’s Kyle Glaser, who stated in a chat for the magazine in March, “Potts would be the guy in the system that can make the biggest impact long-term. He has made some impressive strides at third, and the power is real.” When asked what he thinks of all the attention paid to him in the offseason, Potts, 20, smiled and replied, “I don’t pay much attention to the media. Good or bad, I can only try and get better every day.” As one of the youngest players in the High-A California League last year, Potts hit 35 doubles and 17 home runs for a .281/.350/.498 slash line, earning spots on both the mid- and post-season All-Star teams. “I think his whole game was really impressive, both offensively and defensively,” said his manager, Edwin Rodriguez, now the manager of the Padres’ Triple-A club in El Paso. “Defensively [at third base], he could make the backhanders, slow rollers and turn double-plays. “Offensively, you could see him getting better and better as the season went on. He was turning on the 95- to 97-mile-per-hour fastball and had power to the opposite field.” After the Padres promoted Potts to their then-Double-A affiliate in San Antonio in early August, Potts struggled offensively in limited plate appearances. Still, the Padres liked enough of what they saw to send him to the prestigious Arizona Fall League, and then invited him to big league camp this spring. Potts has looked good in his first exposure with the major league club. A booming home run he hit off Texas Rangers pitcher Zach McAllister that cleared the 20-foot batters’ eye 410 feet away in straight-away center was one of the club’s early spring highlights. Potts was projected to be San Diego’s future third baseman until the team signed free agent All-Star Manny Machado. Since then, the Padres have moved him around to explore his versatility at second base.

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