Decker's long journey reaches its goal

After 761 minor league games and 2,929 plate appearances in seven seasons in the Padres minor league system, Cody Decker reached the Major Leagues Monday night.

It has been a long journey since the now 27-year-old Decker was drafted in the 22nd round out of UCLA in 2009. He was not your prototypical draft pick. The right-handed hitting infielder was 5-foot-11 and 225 poouds.

As a senior, Decker led the Pac-10 in home runs and was an all-conference selection. But there was the rub. He was a senior. Most legitimate college prospects come out after their junior seasons.

I remember asking a member of the Padres front office about Decker in the days after he was draft. "We like the bat," was the…