Prieto, now a Salt Lake Stingers outfielder, opened the year with New Orleans, but his hitting slumped and he was released. Prieto then played well in 63 games for Oaxaca of the Mexican League before finishing up with Chico of the Independent Western League.

That's a lot of bus time.

"It was definitely a hard place to play every day," Prieto says of his experience in Mexico. "There are some bad areas. But you know, after playing Winter Ball there for five seasons, I saw what Mexico was about and I've come to love Mexico."

Now in his 13th professional season, the 32-year-old Prieto, signed by the Los Angeles Angels in December as a free agent and sent to the Stingers, has not become a cynical veteran looking to cash in on one more season.

In fact, the personable and confident center fielder can't

escape his belief that some Major League team can use a defensive specialist who can steal an occasional base and fill in with some late-inning defense.

"You don't want to be in Triple-A for your entire career," said Prieto, who was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the University of Nevada (Reno) in 1993. "I'm not content. I strive every day to get to the big leagues. I know what it takes to play every day and the mental strain it takes. Opportunity is what I need now."

Prieto's manager, Dino Ebel, whose baseball career finished short of the majors, sees in Prieto a player who prepares himself every day for his chance.

"It just depends on who is watching from the stands on any given night," Ebel said. "I'm really shocked this guy hasn't gotten big-league time yet."

Now, 25 games into the 2005 PCL season, Salt Lake (16-13) leads the Pacific North Division, and Prieto has been effective in the lead-off role. The left-handed batter is hitting only .279, but more importantly, he also has a sparkling .422 on-base percentage with 19 walks and 10 stolen bases.

Prieto wasted little time displaying his lead-off hitter's attitude. In the season-opening win over Tucson, he walked four times and was hit by a pitch.

"I feel like I'm ready now to play in the Major Leagues," he said. "There have been times in my career when I felt I was ready, and it didn't happen. It's frustrating and can get unbearable at times. But you have to remember why you play - the love of the game, the smell of the grass and the smell of the leather. You have to remember why you started playing in the first place."

Prieto plays the piano to ease the grind and toil of a long summer. But he can't escape the siren's call.

His love of baseball has created an intriguing itinerary. Since he left the Padres' organization and was signed by the Dodgers in 2000 he has been loaned to the Mexico City Red Devils and granted free agency three months later, signed by the Houston Astros, released by the Astros, signed by Oaxaca, signed by Chico, signed by the Oakland Athletics, granted free agency, signed by the St. Louis Cardinals, granted free agency, and signed by the Angels last December.

Prieto also married Kara Fotia in January of 2002.

"She knows the deal and is real good about it," Prieto said.

Recently, one of several major league scouts who attend Stinger games compared Prieto to undersized St. Louis shortstop David Eckstein, a key member of the Angels' 2002 championship team.

Eckstein brings intangibles such as heart and drive. The scout said that had an injury not given Eckstein his break, he would have "had his 10 spring training at bats and been sent to Triple-A where he would have been known as a battling, determined player but with Triple-A talent."

So, Prieto, who once played on the same Las Vegas team with his brother Rick, sees what can happen with a kind break or two.

"I told him the way you go about the game should get [you] a good opportunity," Ebel said. "He's just a positive guy who loves coming to work and putting on the uniform, trying to impress some guy who needs what he has."

Prieto is also aware that, Triple-A or not, there are countless fans who eagerly would trade places.

"I'm just happy to keep putting the uniform on," Prieto said. "I'm happy to be here and trying to get to the big leagues. I don't take any of this stuff for granted. It's still fun. If it wasn't, I'd been out a long time ago.

"You've got to learn to be positive. If you don't, you'll drown in your sorrow all day long. And that won't help anybody. It will bring the team down. I'm happy that I get to be on this earth and enjoy life."

While Prieto has shown to be just what the Stingers need at the plate, his defensive work in center also has been important. Last season, Salt Lake center fielders struggled in Franklin Covey's spacious outfield.

Several times already this season, the stylish fielder has glided to the wall and robbed the opposition of extra bases.

"I've always taken pride in my defense," he said. "When you're young, you work at things you are good at. I remember my dad, when I was 8 or 9, taking the [pitching] machine and shooting balls up as high as he could. I was running all over the field trying to catch them."

martyr@sltrib.com

Wednesday's scheduled PCL baseball game between the Salt Lake Stingers and Omaha Royals was postponed due to rain. The game has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader beginning 5:30 p.m. Friday at Franklin Covey Field.

It is the third consecutive Stingers' game postponed by inclement weather. Today's scheduled doubleheader is set for 5:30 p.m.