Gonzalez finally getting his chance with Stars

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, June 25, 1998 | 10:39 a.m.

The way catcher Jimmy Gonzalez played in Spring Training, he figured he deserved a chance to play at the triple-A level this year.

As it turned out, he was right. It just took the San Diego Padres a couple of extra months to figure out a way to bring him to Las Vegas.

A 25-year-old from Hartford, Conn., Gonzalez spent the first seven years of his professional career in the Houston Astros' organization, playing for the team that drafted him.

And after signing with the Padres as a free-agent in the off-season, the 6-3, 235-pounder who had spent most of the 1997 season in double-A thought he might have played his way one step closer to the big leagues.

"I thought it was my best spring training ever," he said. "But things happen, and they don't always work your way. But I kept my head up and kept working."

As it turned out, his spring performance did catch the eye of at least one member of the San Diego coaching staff, Stars' manager Jerry Royster.

"I thought he did as good a job as anyone in Spring Training," Royster said. "I knew he was capable of doing a good job here."

Nevertheless, Gonzalez found himself a victim of the numbers game, with the Stars opting to keep veterans Mandy Romero and Creighton Gubanich.

Even worse, with hot prospect Ben Davis sharing backstop duties at double-A Mobile, Gonzalez knew his chances to impress would be limited.

But when Padres catcher Greg Myers went on the disabled list in early June, the club called Romero up to the majors. That gave Gonzalez the opportunity to try his hand at triple-A for the first time.

And so far, the transition has been relatively painless, according to his new manager.

"His defense is outstanding," Royster said. "He blocks the ball well, he calls a good baseball game and he's been easy to work with."

More surprisingly, Gonzalez has displayed considerable power in his eight games with Las Vegas, blasting a pair of home runs, including one off all-time major league saves leader Lee Smith last week.

"Defense has always been my strong point," admitted Gonzalez, who also has seven RBIs with the Stars. "Hitting has been something I've had the most problems with. I just have to stay consistent. There are days where everything is perfect, and a couple of days later, you can get out of it."

"He's proving to be a capable power guy," Royster said. "His power is being seen daily."

Now, with Romero traded to Boston, Gonzalez could get a prolonged chance to show the Stars he belongs at this level.

And if his early success here is any indication of his future potential, another exceptional spring training next year could be all it takes for him to earn the final step up baseball's ladder.