Giants Prospect Posey on Fast Track

Buster Posey thought California's spring weather would be warmer.

The chilly nights are the lone complaint -- make that a polite observation -- from Posey, who has only further strengthened his reputation as the San Francisco Giants' prized catching prospect during the opening month of the minor-league baseball season.

Posey, who won last year's Golden Spikes Award as the country's top amateur player before the Giants drafted him fifth overall out of Florida State, is off to a solid start at advanced Single-A San Jose of the California League. Posey, 22, is batting .316 with five home runs and 21 RBI for the Giants (15-10), who were blanked 2-0 by visiting Modesto Monday night.

The consensus is Posey, who received a team record $6.2 million bonus, is on a fast path to The Show. Posey attended the Giants' major league spring training camp, where he hit .300 (9-for-30) with two home runs, seven RBI and a .533 slugging percentage. It was initially believed Posey would be shipped to minor-league camp in early March, but the Giants waited until only three games remained on their Cactus League schedule to reassign him.

The Posey Watch is ticking, but Posey doesn't spend his time worrying about decisions he can't control.

"You can't start thinking about what's next," Posey told FanHouse, before chuckling, "It's top secret."

In other words, Posey, like any minor leaguer, is on a need-to-know basis. What Posey does know is the Giants want him to continue to learn the nuances of baseball's most demanding position. That includes refining his defensive skills, learning how to call pitches and coping with long, sunny days and seemingly endless, 60-degree nights. San Jose opened its season with 21 consecutive games -- 10 home games, 11 road games -- over as many days before its first break last Friday.

"That was a little bit of a challenge because in college you have built-in days off each week," Posey said. "But physically I feel pretty good. I think the biggest challenge has been mentally, not giving up at-bats, coming to the park each day and pushing to improve and not taking the day off. That is a big challenge at this level."

Naturally, Posey has been up to the challenge, at any level. He won every major college Player of the Year award in 2008 at FSU after leading the country in batting average (.463), RBI (93), slugging percentage (.879) and on-base percentage (.566). He also had 26 home runs in just 68 games played as the Seminoles advanced to the College World Series for the first time since 2000.

While Posey has limited professional experience, having played in only 15 career games entering 2009, he certainly has made a favorable impression.

"We think a lot of Buster," Giants manager Bruce Bochy, a former big-league catcher, told MLB.com during spring training. "He's a talented player. We wanted him to get the experience of playing with these (major league) guys and also get a look at him."

Brian Harper, the Giants' roving catching instructor, has said that most proficient catchers play at least 200 to 300 games in the minor leagues before they're ready for The Show. Since Bengie Molina, the Giants' big-league starting catcher, will become eligible for free agency after this season, Posey understands his timetable could be accelerated. Posey, who played at three different minor-league levels and in the Hawaii Winter Baseball League last year, embraced his spring-training stint as a non-roster invitee.

"That was a great opportunity and a great experience, especially from a physical standpoint to learn how to catch those guys," Posey said. "It gave me a chance to see and get a feel for the speed of the game. I felt like I learned a lot and made the adjustment pretty well. Each step is a natural progression; there are better players at every level."

San Jose is certainly a galaxy of shining stars. The roster features six former first-round selections, including Posey. The regular starting lineup in the infield, cha-ching, is worth about $10.5 million in signing bonuses alone. The organization's reigning Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Madison Bumgarner, and last season's California League ERA champion, Tim Alderson, lead a deep and talented pitching staff.

Handling that staff is key to Posey's development. Although Posey didn't call pitches at FSU, he's confident and comfortable with the process. Since written scouting reports are not kept at the minor-league level, Posey relies on his instincts, focuses on his pitchers' strengths and watches for batters' weaknesses.

"I think sometimes there's too much emphasis on the science of pitch calling, but I also understand its importance because it's all about getting on the same page with your pitcher," Posey said. "I want to make sure my guys are thinking along the same lines I am. It's more of a challenge but I feel like I am taking to it pretty naturally."

Atlanta Braves catcher David Ross, who trained with Posey during the off-season in Tallahassee, is not surprised by Posey's early success. Ross, 32, in his seventh big-league season, says Posey will get better and better working with pitchers as he gains experience.

"Calling pitches is one of those things, almost like golf, where it takes awhile to learn the greens and how to read a putt -- you just don't walk up and bang it in," Ross said Monday night after the Braves' 6-4 home defeat to the New York Mets.

"It's a lot of give and take, but as you progress in the minors, your margin of error is smaller. At the major-league level, sometimes the hardest part is taking your scouting report and making it work for your pitcher. For me, a lot of it is reading a hitter's swing as you are catching the ball.

"I think Buster is going to be a major-leaguer for a long time. He is a front-line guy with a lot of tools. Plus, he works his tail off."

That's not a surprise.

Posey earned All-American honors as a shortstop his freshman year at FSU and also pitched. He moved to catcher because Seminoles coach Mike Martin wanted a leader behind the plate. But even Martin admitted he thought Posey would "walk like a duck" the first time he put the catcher's gear on. Nope, not a quack was quacked. Posey started two years and wrapped up his junior season as arguably the most decorated player ever to come out of FSU. Posey's success continued in the classroom as he was named CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic Player of the Year last year.

Posey, who married his high school sweetheart, Kristin, in their hometown of Leesburg, Ga, in January, keeps close tabs on his Southern roots. Brother Jack plays first base and pitches at FSU; little sis Samantha starts at shortstop for the Gulf Coast Community College (Panama City, Fla.) softball team that on Sunday earned a berth into the national tournament; and youngest sibling Less is an accomplished youth baseball player as well.

Posey, meanwhile, has hunkered down for his first full professional season. He says it's all about working hard, trying to be consistent -- and dressing warmly for night games.

"I am going out there trying to improve each day and make the most of my opportunities," Posey said.