Former East High pitcher signs with Padres

His contract is a standard first-year player contract of seven years, and Nading said no money has been talked about yet. He will be playing for the AZL Padres in a Phoenix-based rookie league.

"It's a chance to play professional baseball and work my way up," Nading said.

Nading, a 6-foot-6 right-hander, won four straight American Legion state titles as a first baseman and pitcher for East from 2003 to 2006. He was named the Legion tournament MVP in 2005 and 2006.

In 2006, the Detroit Tigers drafted Nading in the 36th round, but Nading chose to redshirt at Oregon State instead.

In 2007, Nading transferred to University of Nevada Las Vegas, where he pitched primarily out of the bullpen. He graduated in 2010 with a degree in psychology.

Nading pitched three seasons in the Alaska Baseball League -- two seasons for the Anchorage Bucs and the recently concluded season for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots.

Nading didn't find much success in college. In 2010, he had an 8.89 ERA and an 0-2 record in 12 appearances for UNLV. His shot at professional baseball came along in part because he was able to strike up a friendship with Padres manager Bud Black during his time at Oregon State. Nading's catcher at Oregon State was dating Black's daughter at the time and introduced Black and Nading.

Nading said he and Black sat down this summer and talked about pitching mechanics and what it would take to play Major League Baseball.

"He told me my ability is major-league quality," Nading said.

For the past two weeks, Nading has been in Phoenix going through a series of workouts with the Padres. Now that he has signed a contract, Nading said he's at the same level he would have been had he signed with either the Tigers or the Rangers.

"It's more rewarding now, having to come here on my own, knowing it wasn't a for-sure deal," he said.

Nading said his size and his 94 mph fastball classify him as a power pitcher, but just barely.

"The new 85 is like 90. If you're not throwing 95, you're not a power pitcher anymore," he said.

Nading said he plans to work on his ability to throw strikes with movement. He joined his team for the first time Wednesday night.

"It's a lifelong dream, for sure," he said.

Find Jeremy Peters online at adn.com/contact/jpeters or call 257-4335.