As a baseball prospect, your winter months are just as important as the time you spend playing the game during the summer.

At the pace San Diego Padres prospect Tagg Bozied has been playing for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, it appears he does not want winter to end.

The 23-year-old leads the league with 11 homers, 38 RBI and 18 extra-base hits, and he was tied for first with 24 runs scored through Nov. 14. His .281 batting average after 37 games was seven points higher than what he recorded in his first two seasons in the minor leagues.

Bozied's path through the minors has been different than most and even demonstrated savy and intelligence on his part. He was twice drafted by the Minnesota Twins (1997 and 2000), but was never able to reach an agreement and ultimately sat out the entire summer of 2000 before returning to college. He re-entered the major league draft in 2001 and was plucked by the Padres in the third round.

Bozied, who has Scott Boras as his agent, and San Diego had yet to reach an agreement when the former standout at San Francisco University opted to play in the independent Northern League while waiting for a deal to be completed.

"I told Scott that I didn't want to sit out another year," Bozied said. "It really made sense for me. I was playing in my hometown (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) and in a really good league while everything was being worked out."

This past season, Bozied hit .298 with 23 doubles, 15 homers and 60 RBI in 71 games at Class A Lake Elsinore in the California League to earn a promotion to Double-A. There, he hit just .111 in his first 15 games with Mobile.

"I noticed a big difference between Single-A and Double-A," Bozied explained. "I went from the California League, which is a hitter's league, to the Southern League (more known for its pitching). It took me a while to catch up."

He hit just .214 in Double-A, but connected for nine homers and 32 RBI in 60 games. Over his final 11 games, Bozied batted .350 with four home runs and 11 RBI. Needless to say, his hot stretch in late August and early September followed him to Arizona.

"The experience in Double-A helped me prepare for what I'm gonna face here," Bozied said. "It's been a nice change of pace from the season."

"I wanted to become more of a consistent hitter (in the AFL). In Mobile, I had peaks and valleys. I wanted to refine my approach."

While in the Northern League, Bozied played mostly third base as well as some outfield. With the Padres already housing third baseman Sean Burroughs and Xavier Nady in the farm system, Bozied was moved to first base. He committed 15 errors in 58 games at the hot corner in the Northern League and 18 this past season, but admits he wasn't drafted because of his defense.

"I know my job is to hit," Bozied added. "I've played a lot more third base in my life, although I always seem to hit better when I'm at first."

The Arizona Fall League wraps up its regular season on Nov. 21 with the championship game two days later. After that, the next time he'll visit Arizona will be to impress the Padres once again, this time in spring training.

Team notes
Grand Canyon: Outfielder Gabe Gross (Blue Jays) hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the Rafters over Peoria, 2-1, on Nov. 15. The next night, second baseman Brian Hitchcox (Phillies) capped a five-run 10th inning with a two-run triple as Grand Canyon outlasted the Javelinas, 7-2. Outfielder Todd Linden (Giants) tied the score at 2-2 leading off the ninth with his third homer of the season. He later drew an intentional walk in the 10th to load the base with one out before first baseman Shawn Fagan (Blue Jays) snapped the tie on a fielder's choice. ... Left-hander Jung Bong (Braves) spun a total of 10 scoreless innings in two starts this past week. The Korean native combined with three relievers for a 5-0 shutout of Mesa on November 12, allowing three hits and striking out six over six frames for the win. He then yielded a hit and struck out two over four innings on Nov. 17. Overall, Bong is 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA in eight appearances, including five starts. ... Southpaw Scott Wiggins (Blue Jays) has not allowed an earned run in eight consecutive games between Oct. 29 and Nov. 16 (3 W, 2 SV, 11.1 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 10 SO). The other half of the New York Yankees' trade for Raul Mondesi, Wiggins is currently second in the league in both wins and saves with five apiece.

Maryvale: First baseman Corey Hart (Brewers) singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to help the Saguaros edge Grand Canyon, 5-4, on Nov. 14. Hart, who finished the game 3-for-4, drove home third baseman Drew Henson (Yankees), who tied the score directly before with an RBI single. Left-hander Eric Dubose (Orioles) struck out a pair and walked one in two hitless innings for the win. He has not allowed an earned run in eight consecutive games between Oct. 29 and Nov. 17. ... Outfielder So Taguchi (Cardinals) has collected just one hit in his last 11 at-bats. Despite the slump, the Japanese native ranks sixth in the league with a .324 average and fifth with a .408 on-base percentage.

Mesa: Right-hander Chad Qualls (Astros) snapped a three-game losing streak with five scoreless innings in a 6-2 win at Peoria on Nov. 17. A second-round pick in the 2000 draft, he allowed a pair of hits and struck out six without yielding a walk to earn his second victory of the fall. ... Left-handed pitcher Tim Kalita (Tigers) earned his fourth straight win on November 13, a 8-2 decision over Maryvale. Over his 13 appearances this fall, the Notre Dame alum has struck out 20 batters and walked just four in 23 1/3 innings. ... First baseman Ryan Gripp (Cubs) went 2-for-3 with a grand slam in a 5-0 win against Scottsdale on Nov. 15. It was just the fourth extra-base hit in 17 games for the 24-year-old, who is batting just .226 through Monday.

Peoria: Due to a muscle pull in his right side, third baseman Mark Teixeira (Rangers) was recently removed from the Arizona Fall League. One of the loop's top hitters, the 21-year-old finished with a .333 average with seven home runs and 23 RBI in 27 games. ... Left-hander Josh Stewart (White Sox) threw five hitless innings in a 2-1 no-decision at Grand Canyon on Nov. 15. The Kentucky native has been one of the top starting pitchers this fall, posting the league's second-lowest ERA (0.81) and holding opponents to a .193 batting average through Nov. 18. ... Left-handers Mario Ramos (Rangers) and Mike Bynum (Padres) both had a strong outing this past week. Ramos threw five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out five, for the win in a 7-1 decision against Phoenix on Nov. 13. Bynum yielded three hits and fanned three without allowing a walk over five scoreless frames in a 7-2 no-decision against Grand Canyon on Nov. 16.

Phoenix: Third baseman Adam Morrissey (Athletics) reached base safely by a hit or walk in 23 consecutive games between Oct. 6 and Nov. 13 (32-80, 5 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 4 SB). The 21-year-old also hit .484 with two homers and six RBI in 10 games between Oct. 31 and Nov. 13, and is currently second in the league in batting with a .369 average. ... Outfielder Eric Crozier (Indians) went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI to help the Desert Dogs win their third straight game and 11th of their last 13, 7-1 over Maryvale on Nov. 16. The next night, Brandon Phillips (Indians) and Morrissey both singled home a run in the sixth inning to help Phoenix nip Scottsdale, 8-7. Over their last 14 contests, the Desert Dogs have outscored their opponents 69-35.

Scottsdale: Right-hander Bobby Jenks (Angels) continued his excellent pitching with six scoreless innings in a 2-0 no-decision against Mesa on Nov. 16. With the win, the Scorpions clinched the Eastern Division Championship and a spot in the championship game vs. Peoria on Nov. 23. Through Monday, Jenks leads the league in strikeouts with 54 and owns the third-best ERA (1.08). ... Outfielder Stephen Smitherman (Reds) went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI in an 8-7 loss at Phoenix on Nov. 17. Smitherman, who had a 151 hits and 99 RBI in 128 games in the Class A California League this past season, has a .351 average through Monday. ... Third baseman Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox) did not commit an error in 22 consecutive games between Oct. 15 and Nov. 16.