05/27/2002 5:44 pm ET
Young Garciaparra learning the way Nomar's brother establishing himself as a Mariner
By Jim Street / MLB.com
Michael Garciaparra, Seattle's first pick (36th overall) in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, hopes to follow big brother Nomar's path to the Major Leagues. (Lenny Ignelzi/AP)
SEATTLE -- There is no way of knowing yet just how quickly Michael Robert Garciaparra will climb the Mariners' minor league ladder and reach his ultimate goal of playing in the Major Leagues.
But the 19-year-old shortstop has more going for him than being superstar Nomar's younger brother.
"He's quiet and has a good head on his shoulders," said Nomar Garciaparra during his recent visit to Seattle with the Red Sox. "He is not one who expects to be (in the Majors) next year. He is worried less about progressing than he is just learning the game."
Class is in session in Peoria, Ariz., where Garciaparra is learning all about being a professional baseball player.
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He has been in Arizona virtually every day since he signed with the Mariners last fall -- many weeks after being Seattle's first pick (36th overall), which came in the supplemental round of the First-Year Player Draft last June. Garciaparra, as it turned out, was the compensation for the Mariners losing Alex Rodriguez to the Texas Rangers.
Garciaparra came close to accepting a scholarship offer to play soccer at the University of Tennessee, but much to the Mariners' satisfaction, decided instead to play baseball for a living and participated in the Mariners' Arizona Instructional League.
"I have no regrets," he said of his decision. "I am being paid to do something I love to do."
Benny Looper, the Mariners Vice President of Player Development, said Garciaparra is progressing well. "He is still young and immature physically, but he is a lot stronger now than he was when we drafted him, his feet are quicker and he has better arm strength," Looper said.
The organization hasn't decided yet exactly where Garciaparra will wind up after completing the extended Spring Training program. He might stay in Peoria and play for the Rookie League team when it starts playing in mid-June, or he might be assigned to the Everett AquaSox, who also begin their short season in June, and will be stocked primarily with players who will be selected in the upcoming draft.
"One of the most important decisions we have to make is where to assign him," Looper said. "We want him to be able to compete at the level we put him."
"[Nomar] calls a lot to check up on me and the best advice he gives me is to stay positive. There are a lot more downs than ups in this game, but as long as I keep my head up and learn something every day, I'm making progress."-- Michael Garciaparra
It is always better to start low and move up than to start high, struggle and have to be dropped a level.
It also is important to develop a positive attitude and keep it through good times and bad.
"That is what my brother keeps telling me," young Garciaparra said. "He calls a lot to check up on me and the best advice he gives me is to stay positive. There are a lot more downs than ups in this game, but as long as I keep my head up and learn something every day, I'm making progress."
Big brother is watching. And helping.
"There is a lot of pressure on him because he is my younger brother and that isn't fair," Nomar said. "We are different people and different players and he shouldn't be compared to me. I tell him to be himself and develop along the way at his own pace. He is a lot further along than I was in my first year of college (Georgia Tech)."
And at least Michael doesn't have any homework.
"All I have to worry about are putting on a uniform and swinging the bat," he said.
And taking it one step at a time.
"I don't have a timetable," he said. "I will just see where my ability takes me."
Jim Street covers the Mariners for MLB.com and can be reached at mlbjstreet@aol.com. This story was not subject to the approval of MLB or its clubs.
