Chris Haft - MLB.com
Adam Cowart's a little different. That's just fine with the Giants.
Cowart isn't in Major League camp, but he received a taste of it Wednesday by pitching a shutout inning in an intrasquad game. He ended his outing by striking out Dan Ortmeier, the Giants' projected Opening Day first baseman.
Ortmeier probably hasn't seen too many pitchers such as Cowart. Neither has anybody else. The right-hander pitches from the stretch position with a wide-legged stance and barely moves his front (left) foot as he begins his motion. Moreover, Cowart throws from a sidearm angle.
"He's deceptive because of his delivery, and his arm angle creates good movement on the ball," director of player personnel Bobby Evans said. Cowart followed a spectacular professional debut in 2006 with short-season Salem-Keizer (10-1, 1.08 ERA) by posting a 14-7 mark with a 2.39 ERA for low-Class A Augusta. He finished last year by winning two of three postseason decisions and recording a 1.62 ERA for California League champion San Jose -- with whom he'll probably begin this season.
At 24, Cowart is past the stage where he can be considered a top prospect, despite his impressive statistics. Although he possesses excellent control of his fastball, he lacks overpowering velocity. Nevertheless, pitchers with his command and an unusual motion often reach the Majors as relievers, which could be his future.
Following an example: Emmanuel Burriss, one of the Giants' top infield prospects, was inspired by one of the game's best: Second baseman Roberto Alomar, a career .300 hitter, 12-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner. Watching Alomar at his peak, when he hit .480 in the 1993 World Series, Burriss, then 8 years old, made a firm decision. "That's when I decided I wanted to be a Major League ballplayer," Burriss said. A non-roster invitee to Spring Training, Burriss now shares a clubhouse with another of his favorites, shortstop Omar Vizquel, who teamed with Alomar from 1999-2001 in Cleveland. "When they played together, I was in heaven," Burriss said.
Getting attention Non-roster first baseman Brett Harper is a long shot to make the Opening Day roster, but he has made an impression. Giants manager Bruce Bochy compared Harper to Ryan Klesko, citing the all-or-nothing left-handed swing both demonstrate. The 26-year-old Harper, who has not played above Class AA in seven Minor League seasons, went 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the Giants' 12-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs in Thursday's Cactus League opener.
Keep an eye on: It's said that switch-hitting catchers have the shortest path to the Majors. If that's the case, Pablo Sandoval shouldn't be too far off from San Francisco. The 21-year-old rose to Class A San Jose last year and hit .287 with 11 homers after homering seven times in four previous professional seasons. Sandoval divided his time almost equally between catching and playing first base last year, but he has focused on working behind the plate this spring.
They're No. 1: Last year's top pick, right-hander Madison Bumgarner, has reported to Minor League camp. The 18-year-old, selected 10th overall out of South Caldwell (N.C.) High School, figures to begin the season at low-Class A Augusta.
Class of '07: Second baseman Nick Noonan and shortstop Charlie Culberson, also 2007 draftees, excelled defensively during an intrasquad game Thursday that concluded the Giants' Minor League minicamp. Regular full-squad workouts opened Friday.
What they're saying: "It makes you work harder and shows you how things can be." -- Burriss, on the thrill of his first Major League camp.
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