Baseball: Gillaspie making minor adjustments

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Conor Gillaspie shot to the major leagues faster than any other draft pick in San Francisco Giants history.

The former Millard North standout capped an All-America season at Wichita State last spring and was selected by the Giants with the No. 37 pick in the 2008 draft. Ninety-six days later, he took a lead off first base in his major league debut.

Now, though, he's playing for the Giants' Class A affiliate in San Jose. The team still has big plans for him: He's rated the No. 7 prospect in the Giants organization by Baseball America, which also projects him as San Francisco's starter at third base in 2012.

But for Gillaspie, who turns 22 Saturday, memories of eight games in The Show have been overshadowed by the realities of punishing road trips and the lessons learned in his first full season as a pro on one of the most prospect-rich teams in the minor leagues.

“The Giants told me I was going to the big leagues to try and learn some stuff and see how things are done,” Gillaspie said. “I learned the way they do things. How to act. How the older guys do it. How to handle the press. But it's good to be back here with guys my own age.”

“Here” is the California League, where prospects play in sun-baked locales like Modesto, Adelanto and Bakersfield. Although it's Class A, players could find themselves in the major leagues sooner rather than later. Five of the Giants' top seven prospects began this season in San Jose. Gillaspie's teammates include former Florida State catcher and 2008 draftee Buster Posey, who earned a $6.2 million signing bonus. Top pitching prospects Tim Alderson and Madison Bumgarner both began the year in San Jose before earning quick promotions to Class AA Connecticut.

“A lot of us were highly touted guys, and we're all learning together,” Gillaspie said. “It's helpful when you have guys around the same age who understand what you're going through.”

The most difficult part of adjusting to professional baseball is often what happens off the field — being away from home for extended periods of time, the punishing travel and keeping focus over a long season.

“I don't think people appreciate the grind it is being a professional player,” San Jose manager Andy Skeels said. “You're here every day. Sometimes you have to travel for six hours after a game, and get up and do it again the next day. These kids have to be really tough to play this game and play it at a high level.”

After a slow start, Gillaspie showed the ability to hit to all fields that made him an All-American at Wichita State. The left-handed hitter batted .291 with a .398 on-base percentage in June to help lift the Giants to first place in the California League Northern Division. For the season he's batting .276 with 35 RBIs in 81 games.

For Gillaspie to return full-time to the major leagues, coaches say he will need to work on his defense at third base. His defense was a point of emphasis during spring training, where he was the youngest person on the Giants' 40-man roster. He has a team-high 19 errors this season.

“He's had to make some adjustments in his play defensively,” Skeels said. “His footwork has gotten a lot better, and his pre-pitch preparation has gotten better. At the pro level, and the major league level, everybody's a step quicker and a bit stronger, so you have to prepare and keep up. Again, he's no different than any other young player. There's a lot to learn out here. He has been improving steadily since he's been here.”

For now, Gillaspie is working hard each day to adjust to the rigors of the season. He's an avid hunter and fisherman, but finding time on the ponds near San Jose has been rare. Seventeen-game road trips will do that.

Less than a year removed from the big leagues, he is learning and adjusting to life as a pro.

“Getting called up was pretty much a surprise,” Gillaspie said. “Last year was a good year for the drafted guys in this organization. This year is a whole different story. You just have to play hard every day and see what happens.

“I don't even think about last year. But I'm thankful for the opportunities I've gotten.”

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