Thwaits assigned to Tri-City Dust Devils

Texas Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman stood at the plate for an exhibition at-bat.

San Diego Padres draftee Nick Thwaits was on the mound.

"That was probably my coolest experience so far," said Thwaits, a 2018 Fort Recovery graduate. "I got to face my first big league hitter."

Now that he's graduated from high school, Thwaits hopes to get a passing grade in his first minor league assignment with the Padres.

A year after having been selected by the organization in the 15th round (441st pick) of the Major League Baseball Draft, Thwaits has been assigned to the Tri-City Dust Devils of Pasco, Washington.

The two-time Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year will make his first minor league appearance on 2019 on Friday when Tri-City hosts the Everett AquaSox at Gesa Stadium,

He was one of 26 players (including 13 pitchers) in the San Diego organization to be assigned to Tri-City, the short-season Class A affiliate of the Northwest League. In a few weeks, the team is expected to receive additional players from the 2019 draft, which was held June 3-5.

In July 2018, Thwaits made his pro debut in the Arizona Rookie League, throwing two scoreless and hitless innings for the AZL Padres 1, striking out three and walking one in a 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants Black. In 26 innings last summer, Thwaits made five starts, allowing 18 hits and seven earned runs (2.42 ERA) while striking out 35 and walking 11.

Thwaits spent the 2019 preseason at extended spring training in Peoria, Arizona, home of the Padres' spring training facility. Players in extended spring training spend a couple months going through workout programs, rehabilitation sessions and simulated games before learning their assignment.

"It's competitive every single day, the same thing," said Thwaits, who focused on developing a change-up while in Arizona. "But you've got to take the opportunity and try to make the most of it. I wasn't perfect, but I was bringing everything I had each time I went out there. I believe I got a lot better from it."

Tri-City is a member of the Northwest League North Division. Also in the division are the AquaSox (Seattle Mariners affiliate), Spokane Indians (Texas Rangers) and Vancouver Canadiens (Toronto Blue Jays). The Northwest League South Division features the Boise Hawks (Colorado Rockies), Eugene Emeraids (Chicago Cubs), Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks) and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (San Francisco Giants).

The league plays a 76-game schedule split in half, with the first half ending on July 22 and the second half finishing on Sept. 2. The winners of each 38-game half in both divisions qualify for the league playoffs.

Several of San Diego's top draft picks have come through Tri-City, including ESPN's top-ranked prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. (2016), who is currently shining at shortstop for the Padres.

More than 86,000 people visited the Dust Devils' home in 2018, according to the club's website. Last year, the Dust Devils had four sellouts, eight games with more than 3,000 fans, and broke a record for single game attendance with 3,830 fans on June 22, 2018.

"I'm really happy to be here," Thwaits said. "My first outing is on Friday, and I can't wait to get started."