A Ross by any other name ... is still Ross

PEORIA, Ariz. -- A representative from Topps baseball cards who was in the Padres clubhouse Tuesday made a common gaffe when he mistook 20-year-old Minor Leaguer Joe Ross for his older brother, fellow pitcher Tyson Ross.

This case of mistaken identity no longer irks the younger Ross in the very least. If anything, it makes him laugh.

"I don't know how many times I've gotten that already," Ross said. "It's more media or fans, who see 'Ross' on my jersey and yell, 'Hey, Tyson.' It's funny and I enjoy it. It keeps me on my toes."

Joe Ross, whom the Padres took 25th overall in the 2011 Draft, is dressing in the same clubhouse and taking part in the same drills as his brother this week.

So far, Ross has mostly refrained from pestering the 26-year-old Tyson in camp.

"I try and do as much on my own as I can. But he's there for any questions that I have," Joe Ross said. "Every so often, he'll put in his two cents and give me a heads-up on things I can improve on or things that I can expect. Most of the stuff I try to do on my own. But if it's something small, I go to him."

Joe Ross said he was able to check in on his brother's success with the Padres last season, even if it meant doing so around his own schedule.

"While we were playing, I would check before and after our games, depending on where they were playing. It was good to see him do so well, especially late, the last dozen or so starts where he was dominant," Joe Ross said.

"I tried to pick his brain as to what was clicking, and it was his mental aggressiveness and consistency. Hopefully he can continue it into this season."

Ross is a combined 5-12 with a 3.89 ERA in his young professional career, including a 5-8 mark with a 3.75 ERA in 2013 with Class A Fort Wayne. He'll likely be a part of a dynamic rotation in Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore with Max Fried and Zach Eflin.

"Hopefully I can put it all together this year," Joe Ross said.