DENVER -- The Padres' pitching staff features six rookies and two more who are nearing a return from the disabled list. On the 40-man roster, there are 11 pitchers 25 years old or younger.
No wonder A.J. Ellis -- a 37-year-old catcher in his 16th professional season -- is going by "Dad" for his Players' Weekend nickname.
"Everybody here has learned a lot from him," said Austin Hedges, the Padres' starting catcher, who is younger than Ellis by nearly a dozen years.