PADRES QUICK TO DRAFT FLEET-FOOTED FRYER.

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

As he prepared for his senior season at New Mexico Highlands University, Brian Fryer was not sure if professional baseball was in his future.

Even halfway through the season, no scouts were showing up at the Division II school in Las Vegas, N.M.

`We were a little worried,' NMHU coach Steve Jones said. `Scouts knew of him and had been in contact, but I guess it was tough to cover where we are.'

But when Fryer began setting school records and putting his name among the nation's statistical leaders, some new faces arrived at the ballpark.

"About three-quarters of the way through the season, the scouts started to see the kind of numbers I was putting up and they came out to look for themselves,' Fryer said. `They took a lot of videotape, and it kind of went from there."

Fryer was picked in the 20th round of the amateur draft earlier this month by the San Diego Padres and was sent to play this summer in Eugene, where the Emeralds open their home schedule at 7:05 p.m. today against Tri-City.

"I always wanted to play pro baseball, that's what I was striving for," said Fryer, whose dad was drafted as a pitcher by the Cincinnati Reds. "I tried not to worry about that stuff when I was playing and just help my team win, and it worked out for the best."

The Cowboys finished 30-26, and Fryer's statistics became impossible for scouts to ignore.

As a senior, he had 103 hits in 209 at-bats for a .493 batting average that ranked fourth in Division II. His average was a single-season school record, as were his nine home runs and 71 RBIs.

"It was a pretty awesome season, by far the best I've done," Fryer said. He also led his team with 62 runs scored, 166 total bases, eight triples and 34 stolen bases in 56 games. He was named a Division II first-team all-West Region selection.

`I projected him as a draftable guy going into his senior year, but I did not expect the numbers he put up,' Jones said. `When the scouts started paying attention was when he really turned it on.'

Fryer was the first player from NMHU selected in the draft since 1999.

`That will help us tremendously because one thing a lot of kids ask is, `How many guys have you had drafted?' ' Jones said. `We haven't had a lot of draftable guys. We've had some good college baseball players and couple who went to play in independent leagues.'

The draft culminated a four-year rise for Fryer after he graduated from Buena Vista High School in Ventura, Calif., in 2000.

He played varsity all four years and was the Channel League most valuable player as a senior.

"I got a few looks from the Braves and Cardinals in high school, but nothing heavy," Fryer said. "I was a guy that could develop into something so I did not get a whole lot of looks, but there were some."

Fryer stayed in his hometown to play two seasons at Ventura Community College. An opposing coach told Jones about Fryer, who did not have any Division I offers.

Fryer batted .383 with nine home runs and 49 RBIs as a junior for NMHU, then blossomed into a pro prospect as a senior.

"The coaching helped me the most with my hitting," Fryer said. "Being able to hit the ball the other way and into the gaps. But my best quality is speed. I like to steal bases and I like to run. A normal base hit I can turn into a double, so that is what got me here."

Fryer said he has been timed running 60 meters in 6.5 seconds. He stole 50 bases in two years at NMHU, including 34 on 40 attempts as a senior.

"Stealing bases is about getting a good jump, reading the pitcher, and definitely the count plays a big part," Fryer said. "The biggest thing is to be aggressive, don't sit back and wait for a 1-1 count. I try to be as aggressive as I can."

Jones said San Diego scout Jake Wilson told him Fryer was the fastest player the Padres had at one workout, and an Arizona Diamondbacks scout had similar comments.

`He's a five-tool guy, and his running speed is obviously very good,' Jones said. `That correlates to good defensive ability too.'

In addition to speed, versatility could also help Fryer rise through the Padres' organization. He played second base and shortstop in college before moving to the outfield. He is listed as an infielder on the Ems roster and started at second base in his debut Friday, but played center field on Sunday.

"I started in college as a shortstop, but I had a few throwing errors, I would say," Fryer said. "Then my coach moved me to center field full-time last year. I've played in the outfield for a year and they know I can play second base or shortstop, so I guess that is to my advantage."