EL PASO, Texas — When Alan Zinter accepted the Padres' hitting-coach job in November, his thoughts quickly turned to a personal connection. Since 2014, the organization's Triple-A affiliate has played its home games in El Paso, where Zinter grew up and was named Hanks High School Outstanding Athlete of the Year in 1986. He was drafted by the Padres in the 23rd round that summer but didn't sign, instead going on to star at the University of Arizona.
When Zinter did enter professional baseball, three years later as the New York Mets' first-rounder, it was the realization of a lifelong dream.