Burroughs on fast track with Padres

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, April 10, 2001 | 10:18 a.m.

Sean Burroughs made his long-awaited debut at Cashman Field on Monday night.

Unfortunately, it was in the visiting team's dugout.

The former Little League World Series star who is rated the No. 1 prospect in the San Diego Padres' organization by Baseball America, Burroughs likely would have been the marquee name for Las Vegas this year if the organization hadn't switch affiliations from the Padres to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Instead, he finds himself playing third base for the Portland Beavers.

But those who showed up to watch the MVP of last year's Futures Game in Atlanta play in Portland's 5-4 victory -- including his father, former American League MVP Jeff Burroughs -- went away disappointed.

That's because Burroughs, who went 5-for-5 in a 6-5 loss at Tucson on Sunday afternoon, got the day off.

But those who make it out to Cashman Field for the final three games of the series may find it well worth the wait.

The Padres expect the 20-year-old to eventually challenge for Gold Gloves and batting titles. Baseball America rated Burroughs the best hitter for average and best defensive infielder in its "Best Tools" survey.

And Burroughs also recently got a glowing endorsement from eight-time batting champ and future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.

"When a guy gets drafted and takes his first batting practice with us, most guys are trying to show how much pop they've got," Gwynn told the San Diego Union-Tribune recently. "The first two balls Sean hit were two line drives over shortstop, into left-center. He just moved the ball around, under control, not in awe, just doing his thing, doing it the way he's always done.

"I just think he's going to be a real solid player for us. When that's going to be, I don't know. I don't know what's in the cards, because we've got a good third baseman (Phil Nevin) right now. But (Burroughs is) on the fast track. Next year, he'll be fighting somebody."

Burroughs said he is not losing any sleep about when he gets to the big leagues.

"Right now I just go out there and play every day and hope for the best," he said. "I'm not in any hurry to rush along. I'm just going out there and playing hard and improving and having a good time. Hopefully, I can eventually get up there and help the team."

In the meantime, Burroughs finds himself facing the prospect of spending most of the year in Portland.

"Until I got to spring training, I thought I was going to Vegas," Burroughs said. "Then somebody said, 'No, Portland.' I really wasn't up to date on that (affiliation switch) kind of stuff. It would have been nice to play here because it would be easy for my friends and family to come here from Southern California to see me play."

Depending on how well Burroughs gets out of the gate this season, those friends and family could have a much shorter drive to watch Sean play.

To San Diego.

Second baseman Trent Durrington, starting in place of the injured Andy Stankiewicz, who was put on the seven-day disabled list with a pulled hamstring, hit a home run and had two hits for Las Vegas in the loss.