PEORIA, Ariz. -- A veteran of 10 Major League seasons, with stops in Milwaukee, Toronto, Chicago (Cubs) and St. Louis along the way, Carlos Villanueva has had more teammates than he can count. But only one rates so highly with the new Padres pitcher that he continues to carry lessons learned from that particular teammate wherever he goes.
"Trevor Hoffman," Villanueva said on Tuesday morning, "changed my career."
Villanueva, 32, who signed a one-year deal with San Diego in January, played with Hoffman during the legendary closer's final two seasons in the big leagues in 2009 and '10 with the Brewers.