San Diego Padres pitcher Mat Latos inspiring in debut

Mat Latos, the San Diego Padres‘ top pitching prospect, made his debut against the Colorado Rockies yesterday, and the reviews are in: two thumbs up. Regular Minor League Report writer Chris Hadorn and I made the short trek to PETCO Park. We walked away slightly tanner, slightly sweatier and slightly more than impressed.

Latos’ line wasn’t terribly impressive: four innings, three hits, two runs (both earned), one walk and four K’s. Everything else is.

The 21-year-old stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 225 pounds. His heater hums in there at 94 to 96 mph, with a little late movement. He hit 98 a couple of times and also dialed it back to 91 or 92 on occasion.

He relied on his fastball a lot (51 of his 75 pitches), especially in the first couple of innings. It’s his best pitch and sets up a developing changeup, so that wasn’t surprising. We didn’t notice him toss a curve until late in the second inning.

Chris informed me that Latos actually ditched a knuckle change in favor of one with a more traditional grip. The hurler has made long strides with that offering as well as his attitude.

Latos threw 25 pitches in the first inning. He would’ve escaped earlier had Adrian Gonzalez, Luis Rodriguez and Will Venable communicated a little better on a foul pop off the bat of Todd Helton down the first base line.

The sun wreaked havoc on the pair of infielders giving chase; that ball is Venable’s if he makes an aggressive play right away. He has the angle, but he seemed to hesitate because Gold Glover and team icon A-Gon was in pursuit.

The fashion foul pas led to a good six or seven more pitches before Helton drew a free pass. Latos didn’t give in to the veteran, who had plenty to handle as he fouled off a handful of fastballs. The kid was a little nervous, but he wasn’t afraid.

You can check out Latos working out some of his pregame jitters in Chris’ footage of the mad Friar’s warmup tosses.

Jake Peavy speak softly, carry big club and say fellow Padres pitcher Mat Latos is "a hunter"

Colorado didn’t get much good wood on the ball. Latos’ first run allowed came with one out, when catcher Jose Lobaton sailed a throw past third baseman Chase Headley on a stolen base attempt by Carlos Gonzalez.

Gonzalez had reached on a bunt single, and Jason Marquis gave himself up to advance the young outfielder. Seth Smith followed Gonzalez’s scramble to the plate with a solid single on the floor to right.

In the fourth inning, Ian Stewart made Latos pay for delivering a meaty fastball, but that at-bat was a battle, too.

The important thing to take from this outing: Latos looked like he belongs. He believes hitters should adjust to him. He attacks his way, and he doesn’t like to nibble.

Last week in a radio interview, Jake Peavy referred to Latos as “a hunter,” a kid who falls on the right side of the hunter-hunted fence. Oh, and the freshly initiated’s epidermis has been the canvas for 10 inkings.

As I noted in my most recent venture on the silver screen, Latos (pronounced Lay-tohs - I stand corrected) won’t have much of a fantasy impact this year. If you have a K/9 or similar category, he should assist you.

The Fathers are keeping a close watch on Latos’ innings total. He won’t go much more than 100 this year. He pitched a mere 56 1/3 in 2007 and 56 last year. The lanky righty is up to 76 1/3 between the minors and the bigs.

Keeper leaguers shouldn’t have hesitated, though. I scooped him up in my NL league. Use him for another six starts or so, and then it’s time to move on.

For the Pads, a sign it’s moving - slowly - in the right direction.