Sweeney a step closer to major leagues

Mark Sweeney hasn’t been in pro baseball very long but he has already made a name for himself.

Sweeney, who will begin only his third full pro season this year, has been placed on the California Angels’ 40-man roster and will go to spring training with the Angels. The full squad reports on Feb. 23 in Tempe, Ariz.

Sweeney, 24, is a former University of Maine standout who played center field and was a first team All-American.

Sweeney, who just returned from playing in the Mexican League, hit a combined .356 between Palm Springs (Class A California League) and Midland (AA Texas League) last season.

Jeff Parker, California’s assistant director of scouting and minor league operations, said the Angels think Sweeney is a major league prospect, which is why they protected him by putting him on the 40-man roster.

“He’s shown he can play at every level so far and he’s put up impressive numbers. He is very consistent and he gets key hits. He’s also a pretty selective hitter. He walks more than he strikes out and that’s the sign of a mature hitter,” Parker said.

“I was hoping to get this chance but I never expected it,” Sweeney said. “There are a lot of talented players at this level.”

Sweeney explained that under major league guidelines, if California didn’t protect him or protected him on its AAA roster, another team could have purchased him for $50,000.

“It’s a good feeling,” said Sweeney, who was a ninth-round pick of the Angels in 1991. “You don’t really know how they feel about you but this shows that I’m in their plans.”

Sweeney hit .355 at Palm Springs with 18 doubles, 3 homers, 47 RBIs and 41 runs scored. He also walked 42 times and fanned only 29 times in 245 at-bats. He was a Southern Division All-Star. He was promoted to Midland where he hit .356 with 4 homers, 32 RBIs, 13 doubles, 41 runs, 27 walks and only 22 strikeouts in 188 at-bats.

Sweeney, who has played mostly right field, was sent to the Instructional League in Arizona and to Mexico by the Angels to learn how to play first base. He was his team’s leading hitter in Mexico at .298 during the regular season.

“In the situation I’m in now, playing experience is much more important than rest,” said Sweeney, a Holliston, Mass. native who is taking a much-deserved break at his parents’ home. “I had the chance to see different pitching. The league in Mexico featured had a lot of off-speed and junkball pitchers and that teaches you patience. And I got some experience at first base. There’s no substitute for playing experience.”

Sweeney said learning to play first base will make him a more valuable commodity to the Angels because it will increase his versatility.

“But I’ve still got a lot of work to do at first base,” he added.

He is taking a realistic approach to spring training. He would love to stay up with the Angels but he knows he could very well wind up with AAA Vancouver.