Thwaits signs with Padres

It took a while for the San Diego Padres and Nick Thwaits to get down to brass tacks.

But once the ball got rolling, it didn't take long for a deal to be made.
  The Padres and the Fort Recovery graduate and standout pitcher agreed to terms over the Independence Day holiday. Thwaits left early this morning for the Padres' complex in Peoria, Arizona, for his physical and his assignment to the minor leagues.

"It was a surreal feeling," said Thwaits via telephone on Wednesday before he got ready for an early-morning flight. "Every kid dreams about playing professional baseball. Now, I'm given a chance to chase that dream. Hopefully, one day I can make it to the major leagues. It's a thrill and I will always remember that."

The Padres selected Thwaits in the 15th round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft (441st pick) on June 6. Players had until this Friday to either sign with the team or go back into the draft pool.

"We had to wait a while for the deal to be made because the first-rounder (the Padres' first-round draft choice, Ryan Weathers, who eventually signed for just over $5.2 million), was holding out," said Thwaits. "I had to wait until he was signed until I was made an offer by the team. Our deal only took two days."

The deal included a signing bonus of $450,000, which is money that is in line for a fourth-round selection, although teams that have money remaining in their bonus pool can offer more to lower-round picks.

Thwaits was ready to pitch for Kent State if a major league deal couldn't be reached. He spent time this summer pitching for the Midland Redskins, a top national 18U team that has had many players drafted from its ranks, including Celina's Seth Lonsway, who was a 19th round pick by Cincinnati last season before going to Ohio State.

"I threw 13 innings with Midland," said Thwaits. "I was just hanging out until we found out what was going on with the Padres. Had there been no deal, I would have stayed down in Cincinnati (where Midland is based), finished out the summer and gone on to college."

Thwaits likely will begin his pro career with either one of the two Padres' teams that play in the Arizona Rookie League, which began its season in June. Next season, Thwaits could play for the Padres' Class-A affiliate in Fort Wayne.