When they emigrated from Hungary decades ago, Jedd Gyorko's great-grandparents couldn't have imagined that their surname would be mentioned - and butchered - by so many people.
"It happens all the time," Gyorko said.
It won't be long before Gyorko (pronounced JER-ko) is a household name - in Tucson at least.
The Padres' superprospect is slated to start the season with the Triple-A Tucson Padres when they open their season Thursday night against Fresno at Kino Stadium. San Diego has every reason to be high on Gyorko, a native West Virginian and natural third baseman.
He was a star in 2011, amassing 192 hits - most in all of minor-league baseball - in stops at Single-A Lake Elsinore (Calif.) and Double-A San Antonio. The big club thought enough of Gyorko to keep him on the roster the entire spring; he'll start the season at Triple-A until a spot opens in San Diego.
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Gyorko is one of four newcomers who could start the 2012 season at Triple-A:
The future star
• Name: Yasmani Grandal
• How he got here: The catcher was acquired from Cincinnati along with first baseman Yonder Alonso and pitchers Edinson Volquez and Brad Boxberger for Padres ace Mat Latos during the offseason. A switch hitter who played collegiately at Miami (Fla.), Grandal projects as one of San Diego's future stars: He hit 14 home runs and had 68 RBIs in stops at three minor-league levels a year ago.
• Spring stats: Grandal hit .353 with two homers and 11 RBIs before being sent to the Padres' minor-league camp last week.
• Projected call-up date: 2013, unless San Diego catcher Nick Hundley - an ex-Arizona Wildcat with a long injury history - gets hurt.
The veteran
• Name: Jeff Suppan
• How he got here: The pitcher, 37, signed with the Padres in February. The 2006 NLCS Most Valuable Player spent last year in the Royals organization, posting an 11-8 record and a 4.78 ERA at Triple-A Omaha.
• Spring stats: Suppan appeared in three games, posting a 5.87 ERA, before being shelved with a triceps strain in his right (throwing) arm.
• Projected call-up date: 2012. A healthy Suppan could find his way into the back end of San Diego's rotation or as a spot-starter if he's needed.
The local
• Name: Cory Burns
• How he got here: The Padres acquired the relief pitcher, a former Arizona Wildcats standout, in an offseason trade with the Cleveland Indians. The right-hander was a Double-A All-Star in 2011, registering 35 saves and posting a 2.11 ERA.
• Spring stats: Burns posted a 5.40 ERA in five games with the Padres. He registered a perfect inning, and a save, in a win over the Rockies in Tucson 10 days ago.
• Projected call-up date: 2013. San Diego management loves Burns' sidearming style and strikeout-to-walk ratio - last year, it was a 70-to-15 - but the Padres must find a spot in their bullpen for him.
FUTURE FRIARS?
The San Diego Padres' minor-league system has been ranked among the best in baseball. Here's a look at the club's top 10 minor-leaguers, according to MLB.com:
Name Likely level in 2012
1. 1B Yonder Alonso San Diego
2. P Casey Kelly Triple-A Tucson
3. OF Rymer Liriano Double-A San Antonio
4. C Yasmani Grandal Triple-A Tucson
5. 3B Jedd Gyorko Triple-A Tucson
6. 2B Cory Spangenberg Single-A Lake Elsinore
7. P Robbie Erlin Double-A San Antonio or Triple-A Tucson
8. P Joe Weiland Double-A San Antonio or Triple-A Tucson
9. P Keyvius Sampson Double-A San Antonio
10. C Austin Hedges Single-A Fort Wayne
