Stults likes life on farm but seeks greener pasture

Immediately after his first month in the major leagues ended in September, Eric Stults left the Los Angeles Dodgers and reported to the farm.

The 51s left-hander took the winter off from playing baseball. He had an offseason job on his father's farm in Argos, Ind., harvesting beans and corn and raising pigs.

"I enjoy farming. I grew up doing it," Stults said.

In his sixth year in the Dodgers' farm system, Stults is on the verge of a full-time breakthrough to the big leagues.

His work on the mound has improved dramatically over the past year, even if that was not apparent Saturday night as he was rocked for seven runs in 2 1/3 innings in Las Vegas' 15-1 loss to Tacoma at Cashman Field.

Stults was 2-0 with a 2.91 ERA in his first four starts, prompting 51s pitching coach Ken Howell to say Stults might be too good for Triple A.

"For me, he's at that point where he needs to be in the big leagues with somebody," Howell said. "He's just in a holding pattern right now. This guy can pitch in the big leagues."

Stults, 27, showed his potential last season. In his first start for the Dodgers on Sept. 10 at Shea Stadium, he beat the New York Mets by allowing one run in six innings.

"Nobody dreams of being in the minor leagues their whole career," he said. "It was a sense of relief that hard work does pay off.

"I'll never forget getting called up, but what made it more special was I got to pitch in some games that mattered."

Stults appeared in six games and went 1-0 with a 5.60 ERA to help Los Angeles reach the National League playoffs.

But in an organization loaded with pitching talent, Stults was sent back to Las Vegas, where he was 10-11 with a 4.23 ERA in 26 starts last season.

"Unfortunately, sometimes it's frustrating for us younger guys," Stults said. "We kind of have to wait our turn."

Howell compares the 6-foot-3-inch Stults to Mets veteran lefty Tom Glavine because of his calm demeanor and command of his pitches.

Stults throws a fastball in the low 90s and mixes in a curveball, changeup and slider, and he can use any pitch when behind in the count.

"The biggest thing with him is he changes speeds well. His fastball command is a lot better, and he's always around the plate," Howell said. "I think he's just matured now."

Stults admits he has dealt with some "growing pains" in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League -- and Saturday's rough outing was another example -- but he said he also has learned to adjust and become more of a thinker than a thrower.

Another adjustment he has made is moving his family from its offseason home in Middlebury, Ind., a town of about 2,000, to Las Vegas for the baseball season.

Stults and his wife, Stephanie, have been married five years and have a 15-month-old daughter, Madeline.

"I get to see them every homestand, but some of the long road trips are tough," he said, allowing that life on an Indiana farm is much simpler.

"Especially having a daughter," he said, "I feel like I miss out on some things."