DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Toronto manager John Gibbons says Ty Taubenheim reminds him of Dave Burba. When Blue Jays pitching coach Brad Arnsberg sees the big right-hander, he keeps thinking of Carl Pavano.

If the 6-foot-5, 200-pound pitcher can wind up with a Major League career like either of those two, Toronto will be more than happy. Taubenheim was "that other player" acquired in the December trade with Milwaukee that brought first baseman Lyle Overbay to the Blue Jays.

So far this spring, Taubenheim has done his best to show Toronto that they didn't just get a throw-in as part of the package for Overbay. In his three Spring Training outings entering Sunday, Taubenheim had pitched three scoreless innings with three strikeouts, one walk and two hits allowed.

"He's pitched quite well in this camp so far and we're going to keep running him out there every second or third day," Arnsberg said recently. "I told him the other day, 'It seems to me, looking at you, because I knew Carl [Pavano] for so long, that you look like a 27, 28 year old kid.' I cease to remember at times that he's 23. He's a really a delightful kid."

Taubenheim could start at either Double-A or Triple-A for Toronto. Last year, he went 12-8 with a 3.28 ERA in 170 innings between Class A Brevard County and Double-A Hunstville in Milwaukee's farm system. He went 10-2 with a 2.63 ERA and had two complete games in 16 starts with Brevard County.

On the move: This is outfielder John-Ford Griffin's fourth Spring Training with Toronto, and so far, it's been his best showing. Entering Sunday, Griffin was hitting .353 (6-for-17) with a home run, two doubles, four RBIs, three runs scored and a .421 on-base percentage in six games. Griffin will start the season back with Triple-A Syracuse, but he'll be one of the first in-house options if something happens to one of Toronto's regular Major Leaguers.

Names in the game: Cito Gaston has been in and out of camp at Knology Park for the last week. Gaston, who served as a manager and hitting coach for the Blue Jays, has spent most of his time behind the cage during batting practice -- occasionally giving input to players working on their hitting.

They're No. 1: Outfielder Miguel Negron, who was the first pick for the Blue Jays in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, has had a good spring at the plate so far. Entering Sunday, Negron was hitting .316 (6-for-19) with two runs scored in 10 games. Negron will probably start the season at Triple-A.

Class of '05: Outfielder Ryan Patterson, who was Toronto's third pick (116th overall) in last year's draft, has one at-bat for the Blue Jays this spring. Against Cleveland on Wednesday, Patterson pinch-hit for right fielder Eric Hinske and promptly chipped in an RBI single in his first Spring Training appearance.

Stat machine: Entering Sunday, first baseman Kevin Barker led Toronto with 26 at-bats and six RBIs. Barker was tied for the team lead in total bases (17) and walks (3). Outfielder Wayne Lydon led Toronto in hits (10) and catcher Curtis Thigpen had the most doubles (4).

What they're saying: "Six, eight days into camp, he was saying how much fun he was having and how much he was learning. What a nice boost for our staff, but also what a nice gesture for a kid who's new to the organization." -- Arnsberg, on Taubenheim