Memorable debut for Cabrera

SAN DIEGO _ Had it not been for the Rule 5 draft, the 2009 season for Everth Cabrera would begin Thursday night with high Class A Modesto. Instead it started one night earlier, three levels higher and with more of the improbable-dream happenings that have been Cabrera’s companion since his unexpected departure from the Rockies organization.

The 22-year-old switch-hitting shortstop made his major league debut Wednesday night for the San Diego Padres. Batting eighth in a 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cabrera grounded out to second base the first time he came to the plate, against starter Chad Billingsley, walked and scored the Padres’ final run the second time and made solid and ecstatic contact the third time. Cabrera drove a 2-1 fastball from Cory Wade into the gap in left-center at Petco Park for an opposite-field double.

“I was happy because when I hit it, I know it’s a double,” Cabrera said, smiling. “I think triple but no chance.”

Cabrera has the speed to think triple on any ball hit to the gap, particularly at vast Petco Park. Padres general manager Kevin Towers said Cabrera, who led all of professional baseball last year with 73 stolen bases (in 89 attempts) brings a much-needed dynamic to the Padres, who last year ranked last in the National League with 36 stolen bases. Every other team in the league stole at least 57 bases a year ago; the Padres only attempted 53 steals.

“What he does on the basepaths, we haven’t had that type of player since Alan Wiggins,” Towers said. “A legit threat on the basepaths.”

Cabrera, who is from Nandaime, Nicaragua, hit .284 at low Class A Asheville last year with six homers and 38 RBI in 121 games. He played 84 games at second base, and it was late in the season before he played shortstop, where he appeared in 34 games. The Rockies were happy to see Cabrera do well at shortstop, since the versatility increased his value, but reasonably certain he was so far from the major leagues that if left off the 40-man roster, no team would take him in the Rule 5 draft.

The Padres thought otherwise. Asked if thought he might be taken in the Rule 5 draft, Cabrera said, “Never.”

One of his best friends at Asheville last year was pitcher Jhoulys Chacin, who was promoted to Modesto in late June and who will start tonight for Double-A Tulsa. That was where Cabrera had set his sights for 2009, before the Rule 5 draft gave his career a booster-rocket ride into the stratosphere.

“I think Tulsa,” he said. “But now I’m in the big leagues.”

“Tough kid,” Towers said. “You would never know he was in A ball, the way he carries himself over there. Very confident. We’re going to play him. We’re not going to protect him like you usually would a Rule 5 (pick). We think we can run him out there a couple days at short; he’s not going to hurt us.”

Cabrera had four assists and four putouts against the Dodgers. After Rafael Furcal opened the game with a double, Cabrera fielded grounders hit by Orlando Hudson and Manny Ramirez. Asked if getting action that quickly enabled him to settle in and feel comfortable, Cabrera said he was comfortable when he took the field.

And why not, given his mind set when he was playing for the Tourists last season, honing his skills in games against the likes of the Hickory Crawdads, Savannah Sand Gnats and Augusta Greenjackets in the South Atlantic League. When he watched big league games, Cabrera said he pictured himself there and doing what those players did.

“He’s got plenty of arm for short,” Towers said. “Very instinctual player. The bat’s going to be a while (coming). He’ll hold his own. He’s very disciplined at the plate. He doesn’t swing at a lot of bad pitches. Now he doesn’t make a lot of hard contact. He gets jammed a lot. He’s probably not going to hit for a high average this year. But he’ll draw some walks. He’s got a pretty good idea of the strike zone.”

The Padres, in a salary-dumping mode in the offseason, traded shortstop Kahlil Greene to St. Louis for pitcher Mark Worrell. They don’t have a shortstop coming in their system, and Luis Rodriguez, who started the first two games of the season at that shortstop, is a 28-year-old journeyman the Padres claimed off waviers from the Twins after the 2007 season and who was in his eighth season in the minors when he made his major league debut in May 2005. Hence, Cabrera is the right place at the right time.

“He’s got a chance to be a solid everyday shortstop,” Towers said. “Great makeup. He kind of reminds me of a blend between a Rafael Furcal and Quilvio Veras, who we had here.”

Asheville manager Joe Mikulik raved about Cabrera, not simply for his speed at the top of the Tourists’ lineup or his solid defense but because he’s one of those players who somehow found a way to win. In spring training with the Padres, a contrary trait seemed to be true; Cabrera had some rough edges in the field but not anymore.

“We feel he’s made a lot of improvement since the first day of spring training just in the way you have to move your feet differently as a shortstop as opposed to a second baseman,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “You can’t lay back. We saw him lay back a little bit early, but, man, he’s made an adjustment there.

“He’s got the all-around game to play the position. He’s got the arm. He’s got the range. He’s got the hands. He’s really a conscientious worker. He’s thirsty for knowledge.”