THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 27, 1996 TAG: 9603270551
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Prior to his mid-July promotion to the Norfolk Tides, Jay Payton ripped Double-A pitching at a .345 clip on his way to winning last year's Eastern League MVP award.
But somewhere along the way, he also ripped the medial collateral ligament in his throwing arm.
``I covered it up pretty good for the better part of the season,'' said Payton, unwinding at the New York Mets' Florida minor-league facility. ``Then I pretty much hit a wall, physically and mentally.''
The batting average dipped to .240 at the Triple-A level and the power surge he'd had at Binghamton - 14 home runs in 85 games - dissipated to just four in 50 games with the Tides.
An MRI at the end of the season showed why. The ligament in his right elbow needed reconstructive surgery. On Sept. 22, New York Mets team physicians David Altchek and David Dines removed a ligament from Payton's right wrist and used it to repair the elbow.
Were Payton a pitcher, he'd still be shelved.
But as a position player, the 23-year-old outfielder has been able to return to action this spring. He will likely be in the Tides' starting lineup when they open the season at Harbor Park on April 4.
And he hopes to return to what had been the fast track to the major leagues.
A 1994 first-round pick after earning both athletic and academic All-American honors at Georgia Tech, Payton hit .365 at Class A Pittsfield to lead the New York-Penn League in his first year of pro ball.
When he led the Eastern League in hitting last year, Payton won his second consecutive Doubleday Award, given to the top player of each of the Mets' minor-league franchises.
``If his talent is refined, he might be the best young hitter in Norfolk ever,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``And I'm talking about guys like Gregg Jeffries and Kevin Mitchell.''
Power/utility man Butch Huskey, who is on the verge of chiseling out a starting position with the Mets this spring, won the award four times over a seven-year period, including sharing the award last year in Norfolk with pitcher Jason Isringhausen.
But only one player, Gregg Jefferies, has won the award in three consecutive years (1985-87), giving Payton a goal for the season, as long as the elbow is healthy.
His arm began to bother him last year in spring training. Payton played through the pain, but in the back of his mind he knew something was wrong.
``The coaches knew it was hurting me,'' Payton said. ``But I wanted to play because you don't move up in an organization by sitting on the bench. And for the extent of the injury, I threw surprisingly well.
``I worried more and more about the elbow as the season went on and I got off my weight-training regimen.''
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Payton regularly lifts two or three times a week. But to spare the elbow, Payton stopped lifting at midseason.
``I should have kept doing some weight training for my legs, but I didn't,'' said Payton, who stole a combined 54 bases last year with Binghamton and Norfolk.
By the time Payton flew to New York at the conclusion of the season, he was ``prepared for the worst. But I didn't know I'd need Tommy John surgery.''
Payton's elbow responded well to the surgery until about a week ago when he awoke with inflamation and stiffness. For the past week, he's been used as a designated hitter in spring training games and inter-squad scrimmages.
``He'll start a throwing program (today),'' said Tides manager Bobby Valentine, ``but we're not going to rush it.''
Fortuitous scheduling has the Tides opening with eight games against American League farm teams - Toledo (Detroit Tigers) and Columbus (New York Yankees) - allowing the Tides to employ the designated hitter.
``But since the National League doesn't have the DH, I've got to get back in the field eventually,'' Payton said. ``In three or four weeks I hope to be playing in the field every day.
``It will probably take a lot of the season before I feel I can cut loose on throws. But I've got to do it.
``A lot of things can happen during the course of a season. People get traded, injured. Positions in the organization open up in front of you.
``I just want to get off to a quick start and prove I can hit big-league pitching. I've found out that quick starts pretty much carry over for the entire season.''
Notes: Late Monday night, the Mets optioned catcher Alberto Castillo, first baseman Roberto Petagine and shortstop Luis Rivera to Norfolk. They also optioned catcher Charlie Greene to Binghamton and placed relief pitcher Paul Byrd on the 15-day disabled list. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
L. TODD SPENCER/The Virginian-Pilot
Outfielder Jay Payton ripped Double-A pitching at a .345 clip on his
way to winning last year's Eastern League MVP award.
by CNB