Padres prospects eased in at minicamp

SAN DIEGO -- If the 16 Padres prospects who arrived Wednesday for the team's minicamp were expecting a drill-heavy schedule for their time in San Diego, they probably were a little surprised at what awaited them.
"[It's] getting to know these guys, build trust and built relationships," said Padres manager Andy Green. "We want them, when they roll into [Spring Training] to know who [bench coach] Mark McGwire is, know who I am, know who [hitting coach] Alan Zinter is, to know our trainers and how things work so they don't come in the first day saying, 'Where am I, what do I do?'
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"... We are trying to remove as many impediments as possible from their path to being great contributors this year."
The minicamp started late Wednesday afternoon at San Diego State University, as Petco Park's playing surface is currently being used for two Supercross events this month. The workouts are not open to the public. The minicamp concludes Friday.
The 16 players include outfielders Travis Jankowski, Manuel Margot, Jabari Blash and Hunter Renfroe; catchers Austin Hedges and Christian Bethancourt; infielders Jose Rondon, Carlos Asuaje and Jose Pirela; and pitchers Colin Rea, Luis Perdomo, Blake Smith, Josh Martin, Jose Torres, Cesar Vargas and Jon Edwards.

Margot is the Padres' top prospect according to MLBPipeline. Other top prospects include Renfroe (No. 2), Rea (No. 4), Rondon (No. 5), Jankowski (No. 7), Perdomo (No. 9), Asuaje (No. 20), Blash (No. 23) and Torres (No. 24).
Of big importance to Green and his new staff is setting eyes on many of the new players the organization has acquired this winter.
This is the organization's first chance to set eyes on newcomers to the team's 40-man roster -- Margot, Blash, Pirela, Bethancourt, Asuaje, Perdomo, Smith, Martin, Torres and Vargas.
"We're trying to get to know these guys,'' Green said. "It's not to get them to show up and blow it out or have a miraculous batting practice or wow us with their tools.
"It's, let's get together, spend some time together, get to know each other so that when you arrive in a month, with 60-something guys show[ing] up, the coaching staff can't slow down. Here, there's no real agenda."

Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in Arizona on Feb. 18. The team's position players report on Feb. 23. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 24.
Many of the players who assembled Wednesday had never met one another. This minicamp wasn't just for them to meet the coaches and staff, but to meet each other -- future teammates in many cases.
"I'm familiar with a few of them," said Blash, scanning the room. "But before long, we'll be like family."