Garth Brooks Leaves Padres Camp
Tuesday, March 02, 1999. Associated Press
Story by Story by Bernie Wilson

PEORIA, Ariz.- Country singer Garth Brooks abruptly left the San Diego Padres training camp, apparently due to a family illness, and the club isn't sure when he might return.

On Saturday morning, club officials would only say that Brooks wasn't in camp due to personal reasons. The Associated Press learned that Brooks left for Los Angeles to be with his mother, who has had cancer. The team said it was waiting for more information from those close to Brooks.

``It sounds like a serious health problem,'' owner John Moores said. ``A guy like him wouldn't leave camp if he didn't think it was serious. I'm sure he's concerned about his mom.''

General manager Kevin Towers' termed it a ``leave of absence'' and likened it to the recent illness of the daughter of outfielder Reggie Sanders. When Sanders' 16-month-old daughter fell ill from a viral infection on Monday, Sanders rushed home to Florida and was told by the team he could stay with her until he knew she was OK. Sanders returned to camp on Thursday.

``It's up to him (Brooks) when he comes back,'' Towers said. ``His locker's there waiting.''

Said Moores: ``Obviously he's welcome back, but we're a lot more concerned about his mom's situation as opposed to whether he's just coming back. It would be a shame if he doesn't because it's obvious to everybody he was committed.''

Brooks was invited to camp on a non-roster basis as a way for him to kick-start his baseball-related Touch 'Em All Foundation. He has no chance of making the big-league roster, and would be sent to a minor-league team only if he showed he was competitive. He's yet to get a hit in eight at-bats in two intrasquad games, an ``A'' game and a ``B'' game, but he has been putting the ball in play.

Brooks has been wildly popular with the fans and has spent hours signing autographs.

Moores said Towers and Bochy told the team's board of directors Saturday that Brooks' work ethic was inspirational to the team.

``From that standpoint, we wish that he'll be back in camp,'' Moores said.