Alex Romero

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Alex Romero admitted he was surprised when the Minnesota Twins, the organization that signed him out of Venezuela in 2000 and developed him into a prospect, placed him on waivers in January.

"Players have no control," the 23-year-old outfielder said through a Spanish translator, Sidewinders teammate Danny Richar. "Anything can happen."

The Twins made the move to free up space on their 40-man roster for right-hander Ramon Ortiz, who signed a one-year, $3.1 million deal.

The Arizona Diamondbacks claimed Romero, whose discipline at the plate, ability to run and defense made him the Twins' No. 30 prospect for 2007, according to Baseball America.

"I want to show the Diamondbacks they weren't wrong to pick me up," Romero said.

And the D-backs are interested in finding out exactly what Romero can do. When asked which Sidewinder he is most curious to see, D-backs director of player development A.J. Hinch quickly mentioned Romero.

"He's pretty consistent, been a contributor," Hinch said. "He hasn't been caught up in the nerves of being with a new team. He has a fresh start with a new organization."

With that fresh start, Romero is expected to hit around .300 and collect more than a dozen stolen bases while primarily playing right field. He is batting .321 after going 4 for 6 with four RBIs during Tucson's 17-5 victory Monday over Oklahoma at Tucson Electric Park.

Hinch said he wants to see Romero, a left-handed batter, make consistent contact to all fields, and "not be a one-dimensional player." Romero hit .301 in Double-A in 2005, but in his first season at Triple-A last year, he batted .250 in 71 games.

"He's learned more how to control his swing," Sidewinders hitting coach Joel Youngblood said. "He's become more aggressive."

Although power isn't considered a strength — he hit five homers in 119 games last year — Romero hit his first home run of the season Monday, a two-run shot to right field.

The Sidewinders have been recently batting Romero in the No. 2 hole, a spot he enjoys, even breaking from Spanish to talk about it in English.

"I can bunt. I can do more stuff, see more pitches," he said.

● Sidewinders owner Jay Zucker said he is not interested in moving the club to Reno, Nev. According to a recent report in the Reno Gazette-Journal, a group headed by Jerry and Stuart Katzoff of New York and Indiana Pacers co-owner Herb Simon, is interested in buying a Pacific Coast League club. The Washoe County Board of Commissioners will discuss a recommendation to enter into a pre-development and finance agreement with the group to build a baseball stadium.

"Some of these groups in Reno have knocked on our door, and you listen, like a good businessman," Zucker said. "At this point, there's no contracts. There's nothing that I can state as any updates.

"I'm sure with the right money and the right opportunity they will land a club. But does our organization want to move to Reno? Absolutely not."

● In Monday's game, Richar went 4 for 5, falling a double short of hitting for the cycle. He finished with three RBIs and hit his fourth homer.

● Outfielder Rich Thompson (back) returned to the lineup after missing three straight games. Manager Bill Plummer said infielder Augie Ojeda (groin), who has been on the disabled list since April 18, might join the team on this week's road trip, but might not play until after the weekend.