PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Gwynn Getting Some Competition for the Title From an Old Friend

ATLANTA — Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn has been in plenty of batting races in his 10-year career, winning four batting titles and hitting above .300 in each of his full seasons in the major leagues.

It should be no surprise that he finds himself in another batting race this season, but there’s a unique twist this year. The man he’s trailing is former roommate John Kruk of the Philadelphia Phillies, who is batting .372 to Gwynn’s .351.

Can Gwynn possibly expect Kruk to remain among the leaders?

“I don’t see any reason why he can’t win it,” Gwynn said. “I’ve said all along he was a great hitter, and now he’s proving it. The big thing for him is just to keep his concentration on the game and not worry about anything else.

“Really, there’s no reason he should even have to think about the race until September.”

Gwynn said he plans to offer some advice to Kruk the next time he sees him, probably next month at the All-Star break.

“I’ll tell him not to worry about what people will say if he starts to struggle. You know what they’ll say. They’ll bring up his weight, just like they do with me.

“Believe me, he’ll be fine. I really think he’ll be there at the end.

“I just hope I’m there with him.”

*

Gwynn, who has struck out only five times this season, is on a pace to strike out a career-low 13 times this season. The fewest times he has struck out in a season was 19 last year, and that was with missing 28 games because of injuries.

“I just hate strikeouts, there’s nothing that bothers me more,” Gwynn said.

Gwynn went what is believed to be a career-high 122 at-bats and 137 plate appearances between strikeouts when he struck out April 30 against Montreal reliever Jeff Fassero and Wednesday when he struck out against Houston starter Dwayne Henry.

“I can’t think of a time when I’ve gone a whole month without striking out,” Gwynn said.

The five who have struck out Gwynn this season:

1. Tom Candiotti, Dodgers, April 9: Knuckleball.

2. Pete Harnisch, Houston, April 17: High fastball.

3. Ken Hill, Montreal, April 30: Inside fastball.

4. Jeff Fassero, Montreal, April 30: Forkball.

5. Dwayne Henry, Houston: Slow slider.

*

The Padres signed Jared Baker, a right-handed pitcher from the University of South Carolina, who as the Padres’ third-round pick in the June free agent draft. Baker, 21, struck out 306 batters in 262 2/3 innings in three seasons at South Carolina. He had a 5-6 record last season with 4.06 ERA, striking out 114 in 106 1/3 innings.

Baker, 21, was ranked by Baseball America as the 58th best prospect in the country, and 25th among pitchers.

The Padres also signed catcher Michael Stadler, 17, from El Cajon Valley High School. He was a 35th-round selection.

The Padres have signed a total of 26 players from the draft, including 11 of their first 18 picks.

*

Padre starter Dave Eiland continues to be impressive in his rehabilitative assignment at triple-A Las Vegas. He allowed only four hits and two runs in seven innings Thursday against Albuquerque.

Eiland is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts at Las Vegas, yielding 17 hits in 21 innings.

If rookie Frank Seminara struggles with the Padres, Eiland would be the likely candidate to replace him in the rotation.

*

The biggest battle of the night Friday was Padre first baseman Fred McGriff trying to scrape up enough tickets for his friends and family who traveled from his hometown of Tampa, Fla., for the series.

“There must be 40 or 50 of them coming in,” McGriff said, “I finally had to say, ‘No,’ after awhile.”

*

Brad Genarro of San Diego State made his professional debut in style Thursday night by obtaining three hits, including a home run, with two RBIs for Charleston. Genarro, a graduate of St. Augustine High School in San Diego, was the Padres’ sixth-round pick.