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This time last season, Scott Podsednik was still trying to prove he belonged in the Milwaukee Brewers' lineup.
Now, he'll be sticking around for a while.
The Brewers extended Podsednik's contract for two years Wednesday, locking in the outfielder through the 2006 season and giving him a shot of confidence in his second year in the major leagues.
``It's a warm feeling knowing that a team wants you around for a few more years,''
Podsednik said. ``It's something that you always think about coming up through
the minor leagues.''
The 28-year-old spent nine seasons in the minor leagues before he permanently joined Milwaukee's lineup May 13 last year. He quickly established himself on the struggling team.
Podsednik batted .314 with nine home runs, 58 RBIs, 43 stolen bases and 100 runs scored.
He became just the fourth rookie to hit .300, steal 40 bases and score 100 runs, joining Jimmy Barrett (1900), Shoeless Joe Jackson (1911) and Ichiro Suzuki (2001). And he finished second to Florida pitcher Dontrelle Willis for the NL Rookie of the Year award.
``It all has happened real quick,'' Podsednik said. ``Last March, I was battling for a spot with this club. Four to five months later, they're talking about Rookie of the Year. Four to five months later, I'm signing a three-year extension.''
And there is no sign he's in for a sophomore slump. Podsednik was batting .291 with three home runs and eight RBIs before Wednesday's game against Cincinnati. He leads the team in runs (22), hits (32) and stolen bases (14).
``I'm confident in his ability. He's started off well,'' general manager Doug Melvin said. ``He continues to work hard at it.''
Melvin said negotiations between the team and Podsednik began during spring training. Podsednik joins three other Brewers players with multiyear deals: outfielder Geoff Jenkins, signed through 2007 with an option for 2008; infielder Keith Ginter, through 2006; and infielder Wes Helms, through 2005.
Melvin said the contracts allow for some financial certainty as the Brewers look to fill holes in a lineup that is playing around .500 this season.
They also make an important statement to Milwaukee fans, who have long grumbled the team doesn't have enough money or clout to re-sign its top players, he said.
``This shows the fans that we are going to keep our good players,'' Melvin said.
Podsednik wants the challenge of improving a team that hasn't had a winning season in more than decade, he said.
``You have guys that want to go to teams that have had winning seasons in the past, but I look at it as an opportunity to improve,'' he said.
And he's excited about what he's seen so far this season, especially from those signed to stick around for years to come.
``I think when
I talk about those four to five players, it's a solid core of players last year
and that we're going to have around for a few more years now,'' he said. ``I
think that's a real good start and a real good core to build a ballclub around.''
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