Kazmar makes most of chance

When he was asked to report to the manager's office Monday night, Sean Kazmar figured it was no big deal.

The 24-year-old shortstop had just finished playing a typical game for Double-A San Antonio, and he had no reason to expect something extraordinary to happen. He guessed Missions manager Bill Masse just wanted to discuss the game.

"I don't remember the next five minutes," Kazmar said.

Masse informed Kazmar he was being promoted to the San Diego Padres and he needed to catch a flight.

"It was definitely a huge surprise," said Kazmar, a 2002 graduate of Las Vegas High who played at the College of Southern Nevada from 2003 to 2004. "At the most, I was hoping for a September call-up, and I wasn't even sure that would happen."

Kazmar was in the Padres' dugout Tuesday and made his major league debut Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park.

In his first plate appearance, Kazmar lined the first pitch from Brewers left-hander CC Sabathia for a single to left field.

"I think everyone I had talked to said Sabathia was going to throw me a first-pitch fastball," Kazmar said. "I was up thinking about it all night, and I kept envisioning that first-pitch fastball coming in. I was looking for it, and I got it. There's no feeling like it."

CSN coach Tim Chambers drove to San Diego to see Kazmar, the first former Coyotes player to reach the majors.

"When they announced his name, my hair started standing up," Chambers said. "I did make the comment that he's the best player I ever coached."

Kazmar played on the Coyotes' junior college national championship team in 2003 and was a fifth-round pick by San Diego in 2004.

"The Padres feel like he's their shortstop of the future," Chambers said.

Khalil Greene, San Diego's regular shortstop, probably is out for the rest of the season with a broken hand. Luis Rodriguez has played shortstop for the Padres since Greene's injury, and Kazmar said he will be used as a utility infielder.

Kazmar hit .264 with three home runs and 39 RBIs for San Antonio. He fought through an early season slump, hitting .198 over his first 48 games and hitting .314 over his last 63. He led Texas League shortstops with a .964 fielding percentage.

He said he found his swing by working with San Antonio hitting coach Terry Kennedy, who managed the Las Vegas 51s in 2004.

"The last few years have kind of been up and down, to be honest," Kazmar said. "I didn't let it get to me. I kept my head up and kept playing hard."

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.