Second baseman Josh Barfield is a rookie.

Like father, like son: Barfield is the son of former All-Star Jesse Barfield.

PEORIA, Ariz., March 27, 2006 (AP) — The worst-kept secret in the Padres’ spring camp became official Monday night — rookie Josh Barfield has won the starting job at second base.

“He’s been the talk of camp,” general manager Kevin Towers said before the Padres played the Angels.

Barfield, the son of former AL home run champ Jesse Barfield, beat out Mark Bellhorn and Bobby Hill to fill the job vacated when Mark Loretta was traded to Boston in the offseason. Hill was released on March 15.

Barfield has been impressive both defensively and at the plate. He was hitting .386 through Sunday. He got Monday night off and wasn't immediately available for comment.

“He’s played very well and, to be honest, he’s flat-out earned this,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He took it upon himself to win this job, and that’s what he’s done.”

If Barfield hadn’t won the starting job, he would have been sent back to Triple-A Portland. A fourth-round pick in the 2001 amateur draft, Barfield hit .310 with 15 homers and 72 RBI for the Beavers last year.

“That puts a little pressure on you, knowing you probably need a good spring to stay here,” Bochy said. “He handled it very well. He didn’t back off. He was aggressive from the get-go and stayed that way. It was something similar to Khalil Greene.”

Two years ago, Greene beat out Rey Ordonez in spring training to win the starting shortstop job.

“It’s nice to have two guys who are homegrown middle infielders who can be together for a long time,” Towers said. “It’s nice to be able to draft and develop your own. It would be great if someday they could be Trammell and Whitaker.”

Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker formed the Detroit Tigers’ steady double-play combo from late in the 1977 season through 1995.