PEORIA, Ariz. —
Luis Patino turned 20 in October.
On Tuesday, the Padres’ No. 2 pitching prospect was provided a tangible reminder he has some growing to do.
“It was different pitching here … against big-league guys,” Patino said. “Pitching in Double-A or High-A is different. You need to throw more strikes (in the majors). But I learned.”
The reality wasn’t anything Patino and the Padres were not aware of. He is in his first big-league camp and the plan has always been for the hard-throwing right-hander to begin the season in the minor leagues.