Former Bradford native Ben Copeland is slated to report next
week to the San Francisco Giants’ Minor League spring training camp
in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Copeland, a 2002 graduate of Bradford Area High School and
former University of Pittsburgh centerfielder, was the 132nd pick
in the 2005 amateur baseball draft.ðð

The young outfielder made his professional start late in the
summer of 2005 with the Giants’ Class A short-season affiliate
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.ð In 121 at-bats (29 games), he compiled 25
runs, 37 hits, five doubles, four triples, four home runs, 23 RBIs
and two stolen bases. He finished his short season with a .306
batting average.ð

That was good enough to earn Copeland the #9 Top Prospect honors
in the Northwest League as reported last October in Baseball
America.

Recently, that same publication ranked him as the Giants’ #23
overall organizational prospect. Scout.com has him ranked as the
Giants’ 17th overall prospect.

As Copeland prepares for his first full season with the Giants,
The Era contacted him to get his impressions of pro ball versus
college ball and to understand how he has been preparing himself
for his first full season as a professional baseball player.

It was the every day game schedule that Copeland had to adjust
to in the minors as opposed to college.

“In college, the season lasted from mid-February until mid-May,”
he noted.ð “You might play four days a week. There (Salem-Keizer)
we played seven days a week with an off day coming about once every
two weeks. I thought I was well prepared and had a good idea of
what I was getting into, but the long season eventually took its
toll. But still, I learned something new every day.”

One of the things Copeland learned is that “the Minor Leagues
are all about player development – becoming a better hitter,
fielder, and also learning how to win. Much emphasis in the minors
is put on manufacturing runs, mastering detail and executing the
little things. They want winners in the Major Leagues – and you
learn how to win in the minor leagues.”

When asked what he’s worked on in his off-season, he remarked,
“I’ve paid a lot more attention to detail, strike zone recognition,
offensive and defensive footwork, throwing accuracy and getting
better pitches to hit. Physically, I’ve worked on my flexibility,
endurance and strength.”

Copeland will receive his 2006 team assignment while at spring
training in Scottsdale. He is likely to report to either low Class
A in Augusta, Ga., or high Class A in San Jose, Calif.

“The way I look at it, I still have a lot to learn and plenty of
room for improvement,” said Copeland. “I’ve got a good three or
four years before I reach my peak as a player. I just plan to enjoy
every day.”