Buschmann Standing Out Early

No pitcher in the system thus far has impressed as much as righty Matt Buschmann.

In Double-A San Antonio, Buschmann has tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing two hits, an unearned run, and a walk.

And, oh yeah, he’s struck out ten.

Buschmann is a sinker-slider pitcher who looked like a back-of-the-rotation prospect entering 2009.

Then, the righty got pounded for a 6.18 ERA in Triple-A and was moved from Portland’s rotation to San Antonio’s bullpen.

A 26-year-old reliever in Double-A wouldn’t normally excite much interest, but given that it’s Buschmann’s first real experience in the role (save 13 appearances at the end of last year), it’s possible the Padres have something of an Andrew Bailey situation here.

That doesn’t mean that Buschmann is going to take over for Heath Bell in two months and win NL Rookie of the Year, but Bailey’s 2009 is a great example of the wonders the transition has been known to work.

The Padres already have a very deep young crop of relievers all through the system. With eye-opening results like this, it looks like they may have found one more.