Minor leaguers get taste of big time

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

There is nothing like playing in a big league spring training game for minor league veterans who have yet to make a major league team's 40-man roster.

DeRenne

"Although I wasn't there in big league camp the whole spring training, at least the time that I did spend over there, I think I made a good impression," DeRenne said. "At least I hope they know who I am. You never know (what could happen)."

Teams routinely pull players from minor league camps to play in spring games when there are shortages because of split-squad games or injuries.

DeRenne, an infielder with Triple-A Tucson, has played in the minors with a number of current major leaguers, but he still gets star-struck. A few weeks ago, when the Diamondbacks played the Chicago Cubs, he found himself standing next to Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. And in the Arizona clubhouse were Shawn Green, Troy Glaus and Craig Counsell.

"It's kind of intimidating to me, but once you get talking to these guys, you find out they're really laid-back," DeRenne said. "Some guys are not nice, but those three guys were nice. When they found out I was from Hawai'i, they started asking me about Hawai'i, so it was kind of a nice ice-breaker for me."

DeRenne was a 12th-round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves in the 2000 draft out of the University of Arizona, where he was an All-America shortstop. He moved to the Diamondbacks' organization last year.

Chad Santos, who is with Triple-A Omaha, played in some spring games with the parent club Kansas City Royals. He hit a home run in a game against the Seattle Mariners. He said the big leaguers did not seem different than the minor leaguers.

"It was fun," said Santos, picked in the 22nd round out of Saint Louis School in 1999. "They're just players, too. It was cool."

Santos said he will be splitting time at first base and DH with Ken Harvey at Omaha. Harvey, a fifth-round selection out of Nebraska, already has spent three seasons with the Royals.

"I noticed that it doesn't matter what round you get drafted," Santos said. "Once you get higher up, nobody really cares about that. I gave myself six years. It's taking a little longer, but I think I'm going on the right path. I'm moving up every year."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.