PITCHER FINDING NICHE IN PCL.

Byline: CHRIS COCOLES The Minors

A scout once said of then-JetHawks pitcher Brian Sweeney: ``Good kid, not a major-league prospect.'' Five years later, he has yet to be called up by the Seattle Mariners, but he's getting more difficult to ignore.

His latest quality outing at Triple-A Tacoma (Wash.) was Wednesday's seven-inning, one-run winning decision to beat Fresno. In his past 10 starts, the right-hander has allowed two earned runs of fewer.

Sweeney (4-0, 2.78 ERA) has made 18 appearances (11 starts), with one complete-game shutout and two saves. Versatility should give him the opportunity to prove that scout wrong.

``Anything we've asked, he's done for us,'' former JetHawks pitching coach Jim Slaton, now at Tacoma, told the Tacoma News Tribune. ``He's the type of guy like (Seattle reliever) Ryan Franklin.''

Like Franklin, the 28-year-old Sweeney never will light up any radar guns. But Franklin has found his niche. Sweeney has found his in the offensive-minded Pacific Coast League.

``You have to work deep into the count in this league, because there are so many good hitters,'' Sweeney said. ``When you're throwing 100 pitches, you hope to get through nine innings.''

Sweeney is seventh in the PCL in ERA. Rainiers teammate Ken Cloude, a member of the first JetHawks' team in 1996, is atop the league with a 2.33 ERA.

--Broken bat breaks Peoria's heart: Single-A Quad City (Iowa) right fielder Jason Kubel isn't a feared a power hitter. The Highland High of Palmdale graduate had just one homer entering Thursday's home game against the Peoria (Ill.) Chiefs.

But Kubel proved that he can get enough of a ball to hit it out of the park. Even with a broken bat. In the bottom of the fifth inning after a homer by teammate Michael Sandoval, Kubel provided the decisive margin in the 2-1 victory with an unlikely solo shot of his own.

``I heard my bat break when I hit it,'' Kubel told the Quad City Times. ``I was just hoping to get something over the outfielder's head, but I guess I got enough of it.''

Kubel, who hit .330 with 30 RBI last season in rookie ball, has been up to the task while playing an entire season in Single-A. He was hitting .290 with 23 RBI and the two home runs.

--Check swings: Montreal Expos' 2001 first-round pick Josh Karp (UCLA) returned to the Double-A Harrisburg (Pa.) Senators pitching rotation Tuesday against Erie. Karp had been on the disabled list since May 22 with tendinitis in his right shoulder. ...

Another local playing at Harrisburg, first baseman Terrmel Sledge (Kennedy/CSUN), had broken into the Eastern League's batting top 10. His .320 average ranked seventh. ...

Former Paraclete of Lancaster and Highland of Palmdale standout pitcher Matt Parris won his first start with the Detroit Tigers' Gulf Coast League rookie team in Lakeland, Fla., after he didn't pitch at all in 2001 when he was on the suspended list. ...

Adam Berry (UCLA) failed his physical with the Texas Rangers, who voided their contract with the outfielder. Berry underwent shoulder surgery last week and his baseball future is uncertain. ...

Another ex-Bruin, pitcher Rob Henkel, was promoted from Single-A Jupiter, where he was a Florida State League all-star, to Double-A Portland (Maine).

DODGERS

MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT

Top catching prospect Koyie Hill is slowly coming around in a disappointing season offensively at Double-A Jacksonville. After leapfrogging high Single-A coming off a .301, seven-homer, 79-RBI year at low Single-A, Hill was at just .259 at the midway point. But last week he went on an 8-for-20 hot streak in six games, capped by a three-run homer to beat Carolina 3-0. ``I don't think the first half of the season is indicative of what kind of hitter I am,'' he told the Florida Times-Union. ... Triple-A Las Vegas second baseman Joe Thurston was leading the Pacific Coast League in hits with 110. He was batting .332 with six homers and 28 RBI. ... Rookie Great Falls' Jonathan Figueroa was named Pioneer League pitcher of the week after striking out 11 and not allowing an earned run in eight innings. ... Left-hander David Cuen started his season in the rookie Gulf Coast League in Vero Beach, Fla., with 11 shutout innings.

SPOTLIGHT

Joel Guzman

rookie Vero Beach shortstop

The Dodgers love the long-range potential of this 17-year-old Dominican, whose $2.25 million signing bonus was the largest ever given to one of his countrymen. He's making his pro debut this summer.

ANGELS

MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT

Triple-A Salt Lake is soaring toward a Pacific Coast League Central Division title. A four-game sweep of second-place Iowa last week pushed the Stingers eight games ahead of the Cubs. Salt Lake kept rolling despite losing its top pitcher, John Lackey, who was called up by the Angels to start the second game of a doubleheader at Texas last Monday. ... Pitcher Leonardo D'Amico, a 20-year-old Venezuelan who had a combined 1-9 record since 2000, won his first two starts for rookie Provo (Utah). ... One of the organization's most impressive 2002 draft picks so far has been Provo outfielder Michael Perdomo, the 564th overall selection from Broward (Fla.) Community College. He was 13 for his first 40 (.325) with two homers and nine RBI.

SPOTLIGHT

Johan Santana

Single-A Cedar Rapids (Iowa) pitcher

He reminds the Angels of rising big-league star Ramon Ortiz. Santana has struggled at times in his first full pro season but has a respectable 6-6 record in the Midwest League.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, box

Photo:

(1) Joel Guzman

(2) SUPPAN

(3) ROBERTS

(4) CONINE

Box: BASEBALL WATCH (see text)