Padilla, MVP of Puerto Rico Winter League

MLB.com posted the following article on former Senators outfielder Jorge Padilla trying to make the 'bigs' with the Nationals.

Photos: Will Bentzel/MLB.com

Here's Jorge Padilla's stat line through 11 years of service since being drafted in the third round by the Phillies in 1998: 1,070 Minor League games, zero Major League at-bats.

But lately, Padilla -- currently a Minor League outfielder for the Nationals -- has shown he's at least capable of getting a shot at the big leagues.

In his last three years in the Minor Leagues -- during which he played for the Mets, Royals and Nationals, respectively -- Padilla has batted a cumulative .308 with 31 home runs and 162 RBIs. That includes a stellar 2008, when, through 81 games for Triple-A Columbus, the 29-year-old right-handed hitter batted .312 with four home runs, 25 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

Then, while playing for the Lobos de Arecibo, Padilla was named Most Valuable Player of the Puerto Rico Winter League, where he hit for a .317 batting average with a league-leading 10 home runs and 44 RBIs in 38 games.

"I'm really proud of myself, and it's a good feeling [to win MVP]," said Padilla, whose team lost to the Leones de Ponce in the championship series, 4-1. "I was just thinking real calm. I was just taking it at-bat by at-bat, pitch by pitch. I was just really focused on waiting for the ball and just trying to hit the ball the other way and react to whatever pitch was [inside]. "It was just something that clicked really quick, and I was real consistent throughout the whole season."

With his regular-season and winter-ball success in 2008, Padilla has further staked his claim to get a crack at a Major League roster.

But he likely won't get that in Washington, D.C.

The Nationals are currently loaded with outfielders in newly acquired Josh Willingham, Elijah Dukes, Lastings Milledge, Willy Mo Pena, Austin Kearns and Willie Harris. All of those, except Harris, are righty bats just like Padilla.

"I want to be there, and I think I'm ready," Padilla said. "I don't think I'm ready, I'm ready to play in the big leagues, as a matter of fact. All the tools are there, and all I'm waiting for is just to get a chance somehow."

Padilla said his agent, Paul Kinzer, was in negotiations with the Nationals about a trade earlier in the offseason, but doesn't know the developments of what came out of it.

For now, Padilla -- who is on Puerto Rico's provisional roster for the World Baseball Classic -- can only focus on his production on the field.

"I'm just trying to stay focused, trying to get better with my baseball skills, and I wasn't paying attention to [the possible trade]," said Padilla, whose agent could not be reached for comment.
"There are more organizations out there. Something's got to be done. Now I'm in Washington, and I have no control over that. I just have to keep playing baseball."

Source: Padilla seeks chance in bigs with Nats