MINOR LEAGUE NOTEBOOK / SEAN WATERS : Redfield Knows the Trick Is to Stick in Major Leagues

The wait is over. Joe Redfield has finally arrived.

Redfield, who personifies the word perseverance, received a phone call he has waited for since he began playing professional ball in 1982.

The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted Redfield, a former Miraleste High standout, from their triple-A affiliate in Buffalo on June 13th. In a span of nearly 10 years, Redfield, a right-handed hitting third baseman, has played for six organizations, but only once at the major league level. He made one start with the Angels in 1988.

“I thought my chances were pretty slim I was going to get called up,” said Redfield, who replaced injured third baseman Jeff King on the Pirates’ active roster. “It’s fantastic to be in the major leagues, but the trick is staying there. I will celebrate when it’s all over.”

King, who has been troubled all season with a bulging disk in his lower back, made his second trip to the disabled list after missing 25 games in May.

The first time King was hurt, the Pirates used Bobby Bonilla at third and inserted another outfielder in their lineup. The second time King got hurt, the Pirates couldn’t depend only on Bonilla because he suffered a muscle strain in his left calf.

Redfield, who was batting .295 with three home runs and 23 runs batted in at Buffalo, was the logical solution. But the Pirates didn’t give Redfield much time to get ready.

Redfield, 30, had an hour to catch a chartered flight to Pittsburgh where he met the team to take another plane to San Francisco. In the meantime, Redfield had to arrange to get his equipment from Rochester, N.Y., where he last played.

“It was a great feeling to get called up, but also very sobering,” Redfield said. “You have a job to do and you have to be prepared. I had a thousand thoughts going through my mind. What bills do I have to pay? Who is going to take care of

my place? My biggest worry was whether I would have my glove and bats.”

Pittsburgh Pirate Manager Jim Leyland gave Redfield a day to collect his thoughts and gear and told his new third baseman that he would be starting the second game of the road trip against the San Francisco Giants.

“It was good to know when I was going to play,” said Redfield, who received his equipment shortly before his start. “I was mentally prepared. I didn’t have to sit and guess.”

Redfield went 0 for 3 in his Pirate debut, but he didn’t make an error. The highlights of Redfield’s trip included his first major league hit against San Diego Padre left-hander pitcher Bruce Hurst and a key hit before a sold-out crowd at Dodger Stadium.

“The fact that I played at Dodger Stadium made the long wait worth it,” said Redfield, who chose baseball instead of pursuing a degree in dentistry. “I had some quality starts and it’s been a thrill of a lifetime. I hope to have a lot more thrills.”

Redfield, who has played in four games, has not made an error, but has struggled at the plate. He has a .167 batting average (two for 12).

“I think Redfield is doing fine,” Leyland said. “He’s been around the minors for a while, but he knows how to play the game. He’s got pretty good instincts.

“Obviously if Jeff King is here, he’s not here. But I mean this sincerely. . . . I feel comfortable with him over there. The guy can obviously play third base in the major leagues.”

The Pirates are rumored to be trying to trade for a third baseman with more major league experience. But until King gets healthy or they make a trade, the Pirates will keep Redfield around.

“If my major league career were to end today, I would be happy that I got the chance,” Redfield said. “I wouldn’t have done anything differently.”

Attention-getter--San Francisco Giant President Al Rosen recently scouted the organization’s farm teams and returned impressed with one player--Royce Clayton.

“He has a real presence about him,” Rosen told San Francisco Chronicle columnist Glenn Dickey. “If there were 50 players on the field, your eyes would be drawn to him.”

Clayton, who struggled as a hitter last season in the California League, has a .327 batting average with four home runs and 38 RBIs in double-A Shreveport, La., entering this week’s games.

“He looks like the kind of player who could hit .300 with 15 home runs a season, which would be a big advantage in a middle infielder,” Rosen said.

The Giants haven’t had a good shortstop since Chris Speier. Jose Uribe, last season’s starter, is on the disabled list and opening-day starter Mike Benjamin is struggling at the plate. But Rosen said it’s unlikely the Giants will promote the former St. Bernard standout this season.

“There’s no question he could do the job defensively for us right now, but I’d hate to see him come up and be overmatched at the plate. I’d like to see him have that monster season in Shreveport, then come to spring training with us next year and be ready.”

It pays to pout (or does it?)--Tim Layana, who boycotted two Nashville, Tenn., games after he was bypassed for a promotion, was called up June 21 by the Reds. Layana replaced starter Jose Rijo, who broke his right ankle.

The former Loyola Marymount pitcher gave up one earned run on three hits and a walk in two innings the next day against the Montreal Expos. On Thursday, the Reds activated outfielder Eric Davis from the disabled list and returned Layana to the minors.