Pasco: One step closer

One step closer

The Phillies add former Land O'Lakes star Brad Baisley to their 40-man roster.

By GREG AUMAN

LAND O'LAKES -- It wasn't the fabled call to the big leagues, but it was a step in the right direction for Brad Baisley.

The former Land O'Lakes standout was added to the Philadelphia Phillies' 40-man major-league roster last week, a move that he had anticipated and welcomed as a vote of confidence in his future.

"This was something I was hoping for," said Baisley, a 6-foot-9 right-handed pitcher who was selected by the Phillies in the second round of the 1998 draft. "I thought I had a pretty good chance, but it's still a good thing to hear."

Had the Phillies not added Baisley to their roster, they risked losing him in next month's Rule 5 draft, which allows other teams to acquire players who have spent four seasons in the minors without being protected on the 40-man roster.

It does not mean, however, that he'll be playing in the majors next year because the teams have 25-man rosters in the regular season. Mike Arbuckle, the Phillies' assistant general manager for scouting and development, said the team has been pleased with Baisley's progress.

"We feel he's a solid pitching prospect," Arbuckle said. "He's moving along right on course."

Baisley, who turned 22 in August, has moved up one rung in the Phillies' minor-league ladder in each of his four seasons. He split this year between the Florida State League and Class AA Eastern League, where he posted a 1.54 ERA in the postseason for the Reading (Pa.) Phillies.

Tabbed by Baseball America as Philadelphia's No. 3 prospect before the season, Baisley will attend major-league spring training in Clearwater for the first time next year, which will afford him an opportunity to further impress the brass.

"I'm satisfied with where I am. I felt like I held my own," said Baisley, who was promoted to Reading after going 2-4 with a 3.78 ERA in 11 starts in Clearwater. "It's definitely a big difference (at Class AA). It's much more pitching instead of just throwing."

Facing more-experienced batters taught Baisley to be less reliant on his fastball -- after giving up four home runs at Clearwater, he gave up 14 in 12 appearances in Reading, where he finished 5-4 with a 6.50 ERA.

In addition to a two-seam fastball, curveball and change-up, he has added a slider and is working out in Largo three days a week with a personal trainer.

What Baisley was most pleased with about this year was the absence of injuries. He missed two months in 2000 with a strained right elbow, which is now back at full strength. The Phillies have shown a willingness to put young pitchers in key roles, but what Baisley needs most is experience.

Phillies pitching coach Vern Ruhle said in August that he likes to see prospects get 120 minor-league starts before reaching the majors. Baisley has 64.

"More than anything, he needs to get innings. He needs to get the ball every fifth day," said Gorman Heimueller, his pitching coach at Reading. "He made some big improvements in the second half last year and he's going to continue to make big strides."

With last week's news, Baisley has extra motivation for this offseason. He'll go into the spring expecting to start 2002 at Reading, but knowing a strong showing in Clearwater could speed his ascent to Class AAA and beyond.

"I'm really anxious for next spring," Baisley said. "It's definitely a relief. Everybody's goal is to be on a 40-man roster. Spring training is a big step up from minor-league camp, where you have 200 guys running around. I want to take care of my body better, work on staying healthy and then the rest will take care of itself."