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Cesar Carrillo named no. 2 Padres prospect by Baseball America

February 21, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Coming off a year in which he was limited to 10 starts in the San Diego Padres minor league system due to injury, Portland Beavers right-handed pitcher Cesar Carrillo maintained his status as one of the top players in the Padres system after being named the organization's No. 2 prospect by Baseball America in its annual team-by-team listing of up-and-coming talent.

Carrillo (kuh-REE-oh), 22, was the top-rated prospect in the Padres system going into the 2006 season. The second-year professional began the season with Class AA Mobile and was promoted to Portland in May. After a stint on the disabled list, he made his Triple-A debut with the Beavers on June 6 at Tucson, but he missed the remainder of the season with a strained right forearm.

A first-round selection (18th overall) of the Padres in the 2005 draft, Carrillo is one of just nine players from that season's first-round class to advance as high as the Triple-A level going into the 2007 campaign.

Carrillo, a Chicago native, turned in a standout college career at the University of Miami (FL) before beginning his professional career with Class A Lake Elsinore in 2005. In two seasons with the Padres organization, Carrillo is 6-5 with a 4.10 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 109.2 innings pitched over 22 appearances (all starts).

Another Beavers pitcher, right-hander Jared Wells, made Baseball America's top 10 for the Padres organization, coming in at No. 9.

Like Carrillo, Wells made his Triple-A debut with the Beavers in 2006, going 2-9 with a 7.27 ERA in 15 starts with Portland after beginning the season at Mobile. A native of Freeport, Texas, Wells entered the 2006 season as the Padres' No. 7 prospect.

A 31st-round draft choice of the Padres in 2002, Wells has a career 31-38 record with a 4.10 ERA over 94 appearances (93 starts) in four professional seasons. After going a combined 13-8 with a 3.68 ERA between Lake Elsinore and Mobile in 2005, Wells was named the Padres Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Portland catcher Luke Carlin, a 26-year-old who batted .266 in 73 games during his Triple-A debut season with the Beavers in 2006, was singled out as the "Best Defensive Catcher" in the Padres system in Baseball America's expanded "Best Tools" portion of its scouting report.

Wells was selected as the publication's choice for "Best Slider."

Under the guidance of new manager Rick Renteria, the Beavers open the 2007 season at Fresno on Thursday, April 5. Portland opens its home campaign Friday, April 13, when it plays host to the Grizzlies at PGE Park. A variety of ticket packages for the season are currently available by calling (503) 553-5555 or by logging on at www.portlandbeavers.com.

PADRES 2007 TOP 10 PROSPECTS (According to Baseball America)

1. Cedric Hunter, of

2. Cesar Carrillo, rhp

3. Mark Antonelli, 3b

4. Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3b

5. Will Venable, of

6. Chase Headley, 3b

7. Chad Huffman, of

8. Nick Hundley, c

9. Jared Wells, rhp

10. Cesar Ramos, lhp

PREVIOUS PADRES TOP PROSPECTS (According to Baseball America)

2000 - Sean Burroughs, 3b

2001 - Sean Burroughs, 3b

2002 - Sean Burroughs, 3b

2003 - Xavier Nady, of

2004 - Josh Barfield, 2b

2005 - Josh Barfield, 2b

2006 - Cesar Carrillo, rhp

*Each of the previous top prospects played for the Beavers



Pacific Coast League Stories from February 21, 2007


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