Rowland, other big leaguers winter at CCSN

Friday, Jan. 13, 2006 | 8:45 a.m.

Rob Miech

Aaron Rowand File Philadelphia Phillies center fielder

Aaron Rowand's professional baseball career hit a dogleg the day before Thanksgiving when the Las Vegas resident made his way to Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson for a round with family members.

Rowand's cell phone beeped. It was Community College of Southern Nevada coach Tim Chambers with news that Rowand, an outfielder who had just helped the Chicago White Sox win a World Series championship, had been traded to Philadelphia.

Playing golf became challenging.

"My mind was in other places," said Rowand, who along with Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Reed Johnson and other major leaguers have worked out with Chambers and the Coyotes during the past several off-seasons.

At first, Rowand, a friend of Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher who wears an Urlacher jersey in his down time, was shocked and disappointed by news of the trade.

"Then the more you think about it, you realize you're going to a good situation with a good bunch of guys in Philadelphia, and it makes it easier to stomach," he said.

Rowand, 28, spoke with Phillies general manager Pat Gillick and manager Charlie Manuel earlier this week.

"They're excited to have me," Rowand said. "That definitely makes it easier, when you leave a place where you grew up playing baseball. They needed a center fielder, and I fit the bill for them. I'll just go out there and try to add a little extra."

That's what he and others have been doing at CCSN.

Former Green Valley High player Chad Hermansen, dogged by a shoulder problem last season, has been participating in the workouts at CCSN and hopes to land a spring training invitation from a major league team.

Other major leaguers have also dropped by to work out with the Coyotes.

"Sometimes, I think, guys at our level think they have it figured out," Chambers said. "When they see the amount of time and effort the big league guys put in, when nobody's watching, it shows them how hard you have to work if you want to make it."

Hermansen agrees.

"You know they're watching," he said of the Coyotes. "Seeing how we approach things, how we're hitting. We come out and have fun. At the same time, we're serious about what we're trying to accomplish."

Not so long ago, when Rowand and Johnson were at Cal State Fullerton, that's what guys like Mark Kotsay and Jeremy Giambi did for them.

"They practiced with us and always gave us tips," Rowand said. "You had it done for you, so it's only natural for you to give a little back to some of the guys here. They listen and try to apply it the best they can."

Rowand moved to Las Vegas with his wife, the former Marianne Griffin who attended Bishop Gorman High, six years ago. He and Kevin Eberwein, a minor league friend who played at Green Valley High and UNLV took part in off-season workouts at UNLV when Rod Soesbe coached the Rebels.

A year later, the atmosphere changed when Jim Schlossnagle took over as Rebels coach.

"He didn't take kindly to having the pro guys out there," Rowand said. "He felt more like it got in the way. The last thing we want, out here in programs we don't belong to, is to get in the way."

Ryan Hankins, another former Rebel, knew Chambers and arranged a meeting, and Rowand and Chambers became quick friends. At a recent Coyotes baseball camp, Rowand spent at least five minutes with each of the more than 60 kids who attended.

"He has always made it real comfortable for us," Rowand said of Chambers. "These facilities, in my opinion, are better than UNLV's, the cages and everything else. The field is definitely better. You can't beat this."

The Coyotes know the feeling.

Rob Miech can be reached at 259-4087 or at miech@lasvegassun.com.