PADRE UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Staton Tries to Prove Himself

Dave Staton once was considered the heir apparent to Jack Clark. He was the Padres’ most powerful home-run hitter in the minor league system.

That changed Dec. 5, 1990, when the Padres acquired first baseman Fred McGriff. Staton had an unsuccessful experiment playing third base in triple-A Las Vegas, suffered a broken nose in a brawl and finished the year with back surgery. Staton finished with 22 homers and 74 RBIs. The Padres invited him to spring training, and the looming question is what happens from here?

“All I want is a chance,” Staton said.