DENVER -- It's not often that a pitching prospect is tasked with a Coors Field debut. For most, the challenge of a first big league start is daunting enough -- without factoring the sport's most hitter-friendly environment into the equation.
In the eyes of the Padres, Eric Lauer isn't most starting pitchers.
Faced with an opening in its starting rotation on Tuesday, the San Diego front office mulled the pros and cons of calling up Lauer. Yes, the 22-year-old left-hander had earned the opportunity with an impressive Spring Training followed by three solid starts for Triple-A El Paso.