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Bentz, a left-handed relief pitcher who is on the Montreal Expos' 40-man roster, headed to Viera, Fla., for spring training on Saturday and he wants to prove he's ready for the major leagues, also known as "The Show."

This is Bentz's third trip to spring training, but this time he went with a much different attitude than he had in his first two trips.

Bentz, 6-foot-2, 210-pounds, earned a spot on Montreal's 40-man roster after a successful season with Montreal's Class AA team, the Harrisburg (Pa.) Senators.

In Harrisburg, Bentz won the best pitcher award given by the team's fan club and the team's Matt Rosen Community Service Award. Bentz was born with a deformed right hand and uses his left hand to pitch and catch, like former major leaguer Jim Abbott. But Bentz has proven he's more than a novelty act with his pitching and work ethic.

Even though he didn't work his way into the closer's role until midway through the season, Bentz still finished tied for third in the Eastern League saves race despite the Senators finishing 22 games below .500. Bentz wrapped up the 2003 season with a 1-4 record, 16 saves and a 2.55 ERA, recording 56 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings over 52 games.

Unlike the other major league teams, the Expos didn't call any minor leaguers up to the majors when rosters expanded from 25 players to 40 in early September. But they did add Bentz to the 40-man roster after the season ended in October.

The move protected Bentz on the Expos' roster so other teams couldn't claim him in the Rule V draft, which allows major league teams to claim minor league players with three years of experience but no trips to the major leagues. Bentz said he has no idea if the move also meant he now makes a major league wage, or if he has to actually play a major league game before he makes a big-league wage.

"I let Lenny (Strelitz) and Bill (Shupper) take care of that," Bentz said, referring to his agents with West Coast Sports Management.

This winter, Bentz returned to Long Beach State, where he played two years of college baseball. He trained with Mike Gallo, a left-handed pitcher with the Houston Astros, "and I'm way better than Gallo," Bentz said (as Gallo could be overheard laughing in the background).

Training in California allowed Bentz to throw outside all winter, something he can't do in Juneau. Bentz did come home for the holidays, where he helped run a camp with Juneau-Douglas High School baseball coach Jim Ayers and some other local college players. In California, Bentz also worked out with former JDHS player and current minor leaguer Rob Conway, who played third base for the Kelowna Heat in the Canadian Baseball League last summer.

"I'm going into camp real confident," Bentz said. "I can throw all three of my pitches for strikes. My breaking ball's breaking sharp and my fastball's got a lot of pop. I'm not going to press, but I'll see what happens."

As he heads to camp, Bentz feels he has a decent shot to make the big leagues. Montreal's director of player personnel Adam Wogan agrees, although Wogan said the decision whether Bentz makes the team will be made by field manager Frank Robinson and general manager Omar Minaya. Wogan said if Bentz doesn't make the team he'll probably end up with Montreal's Class AAA team, the Edmonton (Alberta) Trappers.

"With that said, Chad will have an opportunity to pitch his way onto the club based on his performance in March," Wogan wrote in an e-mail message Friday.

"There are a few things in Chad's favor that could lead to him earning his debut sometime this season. First, we have just two lefties in the bullpen on the roster - (Joey) Eischen and (Randy) Choate. Second, we tend to go with a smaller ML (major league) camp than some clubs, so the competition for roster spots is less like a tryout and more head to head. Third, he has shown the confidence and ability in the past to indicate that he should be a successful ML pitcher."

Bentz said he's not going to worry too much about whether or not he makes the team out of spring training. He said he knows of some players who had great spring trainings, only to get caught in the numbers game so they got sent back to the minors. He knows of other players who didn't have a great spring training, but still made the team.

"You know what, I have no idea if I'll make the team," Bentz said. "My biggest goal is to throw strikes and get guys out. I'm going to make it tough for them not to keep me on the roster. I have no control over what they decide, so there's no point in worrying."

Bentz doesn't have to report to spring training until Feb. 19, but he left early to get acclimated to Florida's humidity. Bentz said he planned to hang out with his mom, Mary, in Orlando this weekend, then he was going to check in at camp today. Spring training games for the Expos start on March 4.

"My goal going into camp is I'm trying to earn a job," Bentz said. "If they feel I'm not ready, I'll do whatever it takes to get ready. This is going to be a good year, and I'm looking forward to it. We get to play Seattle, too. I'm going to challenge hitters and I'm not going to be afraid. The best hitters still get themselves out all the time."

• Charles Bingham can be reached at charles.bingham@juneauempire.com.