The biggest bruise to the 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers was supposed to be the
blessing of a lifetime for Xavier Paul.
When Manny Ramirez was slapped with a 50-game suspension for suspected
steroid abuse last spring, Paul earned his first promotion to the big leagues
after a torrid start with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.
Turns out, his stay in the show was little more than a cup of coffee.
|
Up next
Season opener: Thursday, Albuquerque at Oklahoma City,
6:05 p.m.
Radio: KNML-AM (610)
Home opener: Monday vs. New Orleans, 6:35 p.m. at
Isotopes Park
|
Paul appeared in just 14 games before a bacterial skin infection --
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA -- sent him to the
disabled list. In rehab he broke an ankle, ending his season.
Less than a year later the Slidell, La., product is back in the minors.
He'll start the 2010 campaign in the outfield for the Isotopes.
Albuquerque opens its season Thursday night at Oklahoma City.
"Being here is not exactly where I wanted to be to start the year,
but I'm going to make the most of it," Paul said during Tuesday's media
day workout at Isotopes Park. "I really enjoy it here. The fans are similar
to L.A., and if you're going to play minor league ball anywhere, it might as
well be here."
Paul was reportedly one of the last players sent down as the Dodgers broke
camp last week. Manager Joe Torre has said he expects Paul to be a factor in
the Los Angeles outfield before too long.
For now, the wait is on.
Paul said he'll spend that time improving on some of the finer points of
the game -- like staying patient at the plate and giving Dodger scouts fewer
opportunities to discredit his bloated offensive stats because he plays in
the rarefied air of Albuquerque.
He began last season hitting .408 (31-for-76) in April. He finished at
.328 with two homers and 16 RBI in 31 games for the Isotopes.
"This is a hitter's park, but it's not really like that for me,"
Paul said. "I'm not a guy that hits the ball in the air a lot. My swing
doesn't create much lift, so you see a lot of the balls I hit stay on the
ground. You don't need a hitter's park to hit ground balls."
Paul, 25, spent most of the offseason working out on his own. He played a
few weeks in an instructional league in Arizona last October, but he opted
not to take part in winter ball.
He said he's at 195 pounds, close to his usual playing weight of 200. His
strength never waned despite the bout with MRSA, an infection that can cause
serious long-term health issues if not treated.
"The main goal was to come into (spring training) showing the
organization I was healthy and had the ability to play in the big
leagues," he said. "I think the reason I'm here right now is they
have a really crowded outfield and they wanted me to get at-bats every day.
Up there I might only get a pinch hit every few games. I'd rather play every
day, and if it means staying here for a while I'm OK with it."
'Topes manager Tim Wallach said he expects several players to make the
jump to the big club at some point this season. Paul is certainly one of them
now as a member of the Dodgers' 40-man roster.
"It just comes down to what they need up there," Wallach said.
"I would expect Xavier to be one of those guys they'd be looking at
if something happens injury-wise in the outfield."
"I got a chance to be up there last year, and it was great,"
Paul said. "I'm a young guy with some options left. If I can get the job
done here I know I'll get another chance."
Up next
Season opener: Thursday, Albuquerque at Oklahoma City, 6:05 p.m. Radio:
KNML-AM (610)
Home opener: Monday vs. New Orleans, 6:35 p.m. at Isotopes Park
|
