Padres Press Clips Saturday, February 27, 2016 Article Source Author Page Padres advisor Nomo excited to learn, teach UT San Diego Lin 2 Ex-Padres outfielder Almonte suspended 80 games UT San Diego Lin 4 Roster rankings: No. 26 Brett Wallace UT San Diego Sanders 6 Breaking down the Padres’ 2016 Top 30 Prospects MLB.com Rosenbaum 7 Bethancourt hopes to reach potential in SD MLB.com Brock 10 Noonan hopes to stick with hometown team MLB.com Brock 12 San Diego Buzz: Padres preach optimism at camp FOXSports.com Burns 14 Inaugural Tony Gwynn Classic draws impressive 8-team field Associated Press AP 15 1 Padres advisor Nomo excited to learn, teach Japanese great now in Padres front office By Dennis Lin | 10:26 a.m. Feb. 26, 2016 | Updated, 10:36 a.m. PEORIA, ARIZ. — Two decades ago, Hideo Nomo became the first Japanese player to permanently relocate to the majors. "Nomomania" swept baseball as the then-Dodgers right- hander proved an instant hit, earning both an All-Star berth and the 1995 National League Rookie of the Year Award. His success spawned a wave of fellow countrymen who established their own careers stateside. In addition to learning the inner workings of a major league front office and sharing his own extensive knowledge, Nomo is hoping to continue what he started. The Padres are his new allegiance; the club recently hired the 47-year-old as an advisor for baseball operations. Nomo is in uniform this spring, already delving into the various facets of player development and baseball operations. "I want to learn about the team, what kind of team we have, what kind of players we have," Nomo said through the translation of Acey Kohrogi, the Padres' advisor for Pacific Rim operations. "I’m hoping through my experiences I can pass some of that information on to some of the players here." Few Japanese baseball icons carry more weight back home than Nomo, who was the Japan Hall of Fame's youngest-ever inductee in 2014. "Japan and Asia, I’m hoping to increase the Padres’ presence in those areas, so maybe we can all be at Petco Park with more Asian fans in the stands," he said. "...I’m hoping good players come to the Padres and, (for) Asian fans in Asia and the United States, hoping that they can all be happy that good players come to the Padres." In recent months, the Padres have been aggressive about augmenting their visibility across the Pacific. Kohrogi was hired by second-year General Manager A.J. Preller, as was another former Dodgers pitcher, Takashi Saito, now a baseball-operations intern. Logan White, director of player personnel and ex-Dodgers executive, was key in both hires. Members of the front office, joined by pitchers Brandon Maurer and Colin Rea, took a goodwill trip to Japan in November. In early February, the Padres hosted the Hokkaido 2 Nippon Ham Fighters' spring training here at the Peoria Sports Complex. Satoshi Nakajima, a former catcher for the Ham Fighters, is a guest instructor in San Diego's camp. The Padres have scouted Ham Fighters right-hander Shohei Ohtani, considered the best young pitcher in Japan. The hope is, additions such as Nomo will forge a strong bridge to San Diego. The last player from Japan to wear a Padres uniform was second baseman Tadahito Iguchi in 2008. (Future Hall of Fame outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who is represented by San Diego-based agent John Boggs, expressed some interest in the Padres last offseason before signing with the Marlins.) "I think in Major League Baseball in general, there already are good international players coming through, so it’s natural that the Padres have an international presence and get players from international sources," Nomo said. "My feeling is that all the good players from around the world come here, including good staff from around the world. To win a world championship is something I’d really like to see." "I’ve gotten to know him over the last year," Preller said of Nomo. "I value his opinions and takes. He’s obviously had some tremendous experiences. I think both on and off the field, he’ll be helping out pitchers and players, taking on new challenges, trying new things we’re always talking to our minor leaguers about." One of those new things could be the forkball, a relative of the split-fingered fastball and Nomo's signature during his playing career. "If somebody asks me to show them the forkball, how to throw the forkball, I would definitely like to work with that," Nomo said. "I think it all depends on the individual, so if the pitchers want to learn about it, I’ll be happy to help teach it." With the Padres, Nomo has joined a group of baseball-operations advisors that includes Moises Alou, Mark Loretta and another former pitcher, Trevor Hoffman. Asked which was better, his forkball or Hoffman's change-up, Nomo cracked a grin. The question needed no translation. "Of course, Hoffman's changeup," he said. 3 Ex-Padres outfielder Almonte suspended 80 games Cleveland's Abraham Almonte banned for 80 games; Indians adding Will Venable By Dennis Lin | 1:49 p.m. Feb. 26, 2016 | Updated, 1:51 p.m. PEORIA, ARIZ. — Former Padres outfielder Abraham Almonte, now with the Cleveland Indians, has received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball's drug policy. The suspension, which will be effective at the start of the regular season, was announced Friday afternoon, just hours after news emerged that another ex-Padres outfielder, Will Venable, would join the Indians. In their lone trade at the July 31 deadline last year, the Padres sent Almonte, then a reserve outfielder, to Cleveland in exchange for left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski. Until Friday, the deal had looked like a win for the Indians; Almonte hit .264 with five home runs and six steals in 51 games for the Indians, while Rzepczynski posted a 7.36 ERA in 27 appearances and was traded again, to Oakland, in December. Venable, the longtime Padres outfielder who was dealt to Texas in August, has signed a minor league deal with an invitation to the Indians' spring camp. Capable of playing all three outfield spots, he presumably will help replace some of the production that will be lost during Almonte's suspension. "We were disappointed to learn of the suspension of Abraham Almonte for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," the Indians said in a statement. "We fully support Major League Baseball's policy and its efforts to eliminate performance-enhancing drugs from our game. Per the protocol outlined by Major League Baseball's Collective Bargaining Agreement, we will not comment further on the circumstances surrounding this announcement." Almonte, 26, and right-hander Stephen Kohlscheen were traded by the Seattle Mariners to San Diego for outfielder Chris Denorfia in 2014. In parts of two seasons with the Padres, Almonte hit .243 with two home runs over 63 games. Before his suspension, he had been expected to start in center field for the Indians. 4 Venable, 33, became a free agent for the first time after last season. The Padres' seventh-round draft pick in 2005, he batted .258 with six home runs last season before being traded to the Rangers, for whom he hit just .182 in 37 games. Late in his breakout 2013 season -- he finished with 22 home runs and 22 steals -- Venable signed a two-year, $8.5 million extension with the Padres. Speaking with the Union-Tribune last July, Venable indicated he would be open to returning to San Diego regardless of whether he was traded or not. But, during the offseason, the Padres chose to replace departed left fielder Justin Upton with a group of less expensive players. Meanwhile, Venable found himself among a tier of veteran free agents faced with a slow-moving market and lagging demand for their services. In the Indians' camp, at least, he will get an opportunity to re-establish his value. Baumann still limited Padres right-handers Fernando Rodney and Kevin Quackenbush, both returning from hamstring injuries, threw off the mound for the first time this spring on Friday. Another reliever, lefty Buddy Baumann, remained limited during the Padres' third day of full workouts. Baumann, a career minor leaguer who signed his first big-league deal in December, has been dealing with lower back tightness. "Buddy Baumann's not moving as quickly with his lower back issue as we hoped he would," Padres manager Andy Green said. "It's taking a little bit longer. Not sure what the plan is for him as far as getting him ready to throw. We're definitely taking a step back and waiting, not trying to push his progression too quickly." Finley in camp Former Padres center fielder Steve Finley is in camp as a special instructor for player development, a role he will continue to serve in during the regular season. Finley, 50, was a member of the FOX Sports San Diego broadcast team last year. 5 Roster rankings: No. 26 Brett Wallace Sizing up the players on the Padres’ 40-man roster By Jeff Sanders | 8 a.m. Feb. 26, 2016 No. 26 Brett Wallace Position: First baseman 2016 Opening Day age: 29 Contract status: Signed a $1 million major league deal over the offseason; arbitration-eligible in 2017. Key stats: .302 avg., .374 OBP, .521 SLG, 5 HRs, 16 RBIs, 14 runs, 0 SBs, 31 Ks, 10 BBs, 107 plate appearances (64 games).