Star Performer:

Cory Spangenberg, 2B (Low-A Fort Wayne) – Although he looked like a man among boys in the Northwest League in his first taste of pro ball, Spangenberg struggled to make adjustments during his first 20 games in Fort Wayne.  Since August 6, Spangenberg has posted a .414/.443/.603 slash line in 58 at bats with two home runs, three doubles and a triple.  With this late-season push, he may be in line for an aggressive placement in Lake Elsinore to begin next year if the Padres are satisfied with his progress next spring.  Spangenberg has benefited more than any other 2011 draftee in the experience and value he has gained by signing early.  While many August 15 signees may see 10-15 late season at bats, Spangenberg has already appeared in 59 games and has thrust himself into the conversation among the Top 100 prospects in baseball.

Rock Steady:

Jonathan Galvez, 2B (High-A Lake Elsinore) – With so much of the Padres’ offensive organizational talent residing either with corner infielders or raw, young athletes, there is a legitimate case to be made that Galvez could be the best up-the-middle bat in the system.  With 34 doubles, 13 home runs and 35 stolen bases this season as a 20-year-old Galvez provides a skill set that is difficult to come by at second base.

Jeudy Valdez, SS (High-A Lake Elsinore) – Valdez seems to be making it his personal mission to make me look dumb for leaving him off the August edition of the Organization Top 25.  This month he is carrying a .357/.417/.595 slash line in 22 games.

Rymer Liriano, RF (Low-A Fort Wayne) – What more is there to say about Liriano? A nine-game hitting streak and seven stolen bases during that time has brought his impressive season line to .328/.390/.508 with 11 home runs and 59 stolen bases as a 20-year-old in the pitching-dominated Midwest League.

Kevin Quackenbush, RHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – Emilio continues his onslaught against professional hitters.  Not only has he not allowed a run since being promoted to Fort Wayne, but Quackenbush has a 0.26 ERA in 34 innings as a pro and has struck out 56 batters over that period.

On the Upswing:

Jose De Paula, LHP (High-A Lake Elsinore) – De Paula continues to flash signs of a Major-League starter, but his inconsistency throughout the season has been troubling.  Still, he’s allowed just four home runs in 100.1 California League innings as a 21-year-old which is very impressive and must be considered.

Jason Hagerty, C (Double-A San Antonio) – August continues to be a better month for Hagerty in Double-A: .261/.382/.326.  Also, he’s posted a career-high caught stealing rate since being promoted – 37%.

Jedd Gyorko, 3B (Double-A San Antonio) – Concerns about his early struggles after being promoted seem overblown at this point.  Gyorko went from one of the most hitter-friendly leagues in Minor League Baseball to the large fields of the Texas League, but at no time did his secondary skills dip.  Consecutive multi-hit games have his average up to .273 with the Missions.

Zach Cates, RHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – It has been an up and down season in Cates’ first year in a full-season league.  On Tuesday he was working on his best outing of the year – five strikeouts through five innings allowing just one hit – but lost his control and composure in the sixth inning culminating in his ejection.  Cates’ stuff is well beyond his polish, but he has shown a few times this season what he is capable of when his control borders on well-above average.

Jaff Decker, OF (Double-A San Antonio) – Decker has suffered through two abysmal months this season in May and July, but is putting together a solid August campaign as the Missions prepare for the postseason.  With just two strikeouts in his last 24 at bats hopefully Decker is beginning to figure out what has caused his strikeout rate to jump 10 points this year.

Luis Domoromo, LF (Low-A Fort Wayne) – All Domoromo has done since the last Rap Sheet is post a .379/.471/.552 line with a home run, three steals and five walks.  With a steadily declining performance as the year has gone on, Domoromo is heating up in time for a final late-season push.

Jace Peterson, SS (Short Season Eugene Emeralds) – After a rocky first few months in professional ball Peterson has hit .293/.407/.360 in 21 August contests with 15 walks and just 11 strikeouts.  In addition to an uptick in offensive performance, Peterson has also closed many holes in his defense with the help of professional coaching since his first days in the system just a few months ago.

Brad Brach, RHP (Triple-A Tucson) – After consecutive rough outings, Brach has been locked in during his last three appearances: 4IP 3H 1ER 0BB 6K.

Signs of Struggling:

Anthony Rizzo, 1B (Triple-A Tucson) – In what has clearly been the biggest slump since joining the Padres’ system, Rizzo is just 5 for his last 37 with 15 strikeouts.

Duanel Jones, 3B (Short Season Eugene Emeralds) – Jones falls in this category on statistics alone – .194/.237/.250 in just 36 at bats – but all reports out of Eugene come back very impressive on the Padres’ slugger.  Jones is a good athlete with huge power potential and a very strong arm who is playing in front of a paying audience for the first time in his career.

Blake Tekotte, OF (Double-A San Antonio) – .120/.267/.120 in seven games since returning from his most recent big-league action has been tough to watch, but Tekotte will still be recalled once rosters expand.

Adys Portillo, LHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – With Matt Jackson back from the disabled list Portillo made his first relief appearance of the season and third of his career on Monday, going three innings and allowing a run on three hits while striking out two and walking one.  As I said on Twitter, while I could see his future in the bullpen the organization has not given up on him as a starter.  Monday’s appearance was solely based off late-season roster crunches and his recent struggles not forcing their hand to keep him in the rotation.

Other:

Donavan Tate, OF (Short Season Eugene Emeralds) – Tate’s season is ending early for the third year in a row, this time with a wrist injury.  His final line for the season of .288/.410/.409 across two levels and 39 games showed promise and underscored the disappointment shared by many fans over Tate’s inconsistent playing time.  He was on the disabled list two times this season and was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a “drug of abuse”.  Ideally, Tate will start next season with the Fort Wayne Tin Caps – the same place he began 2011 – but at this point a healthy, uninterrupted season is most important.

Alberth Martinez, OF (Short Season Eugene Emeralds) – Martinez has been promoted from the AZL Padres to take Tate’s spot in the everyday lineup for the remainder of the season.  Martinez, 20, put up a .354/.394/.593 line in 44 games in the complex league.

Austin Hedges, C (AZL Padres) – Hedges made his first appearance since signing with the Padres on August 15 in a Complex League game on Tuesday.  Hedges went 1-for-3 with a run, RBI and a walk.

Cody Decker, 1B (Double-A San Antonio) – Decker’s rehab assignment with the AZL Padres officially ended after Monday’s game and he was sent back to join the San Antonio Missions on the road in Frisco.  Decker was recovering from an ankle injury that had sidelined him since May 21.

Yoan Alcantara, OF (AZL Padres) – Alcantara returned to action on Tuesday after missing a few days of play when he was hit by a pitch on August 19.  His four-hit performance in his first game back tied a career high.