Stats for High-A hitters are as of play Wednesday.

Star Performer:

Adys Portillo, RHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – Walks are still a constant struggle for Portillo with 12 already in just 20.1 innings pitched, but his other peripherals have been much better.  So far he’s only allowed nine hits and a single homerun.  TinCap coaches have been encouraging Portillo to just let his fastball rip right down the middle of the zone so his approach will need some refinement before he’s able to really take off.

Rock Steady:

Frank Garces, LHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – Garces has been on a tear since opening the season for the TinCaps.  In his Saturday start Garces went eight strong innings while allowing just six base runners and threw five solid innings on Thursday.  The 5’11” lefty has a devastating curveball when he’s on, but with his inconsistent control things can get ugly fast.

Matt Andriese, RHP (High-A Lake Elsinore) – Andriese has been nothing short of fantastic in his last two starts: 13IP 6H 0ER 3BB 10K and an obscene amount of ground ball outs.  The sinkerball specialist should have a lot of success in the California League this season as he seems to have a special distaste for fly balls – he has yet to allow a home run in almost 60 professional innings.

Matt Stites, RHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – In seven innings this season Stites is yet to allow a run or walk a batter while allowing just three hits and striking out 11.  With an above average fastball and potential knockout slider Stites projects well as a mid-to-late-inning reliever.  He was a three-pitch starter in college but his changeup hasn’t been as effective against professional hitters at this point.

Cody Hebner, RHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – With a 23-to-4 strikeout-to-walk rate Hebner has dominated Midwest League hitters with his mid-90s fastball and sweeping curve.  As has been previously mentioned before, there is a ton of deception in Hebner’s delivery, which should help him stay in the rotation as he advances through the organization.

Kevin Quackenbush, RHP (High-A Lake Elsinore) – Quackenbush has picked up right where he left off last season, allowing just one run in almost nine innings while striking out 12.  The 6’3” right hander will sit in the mid-90s with his fastball and projects as a late inning reliever if his secondary offerings can remain sharp.

Rico Noel, CF (High-A Lake Elsinore) – Last week’s star performer did nothing to lose that title, we just felt we needed to spread the love around a bit.  Coming into action Thursday, Noel had four multi-hit games in his last six contests.  In addition he’s 11-for-11 in steals while playing stellar defense in center.  A lot to like here from the 23-year-old switch hitter.

On the Upswing:

Joe Ross, RHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – In two starts this season Ross has gone 10 innings, giving up just five hits while striking out 13 and allowing one earned run.  Unfortunately he’s made two other starts that totaled 6.1 innings in which he’s allowed a staggering 11 earned runs and 14 hits while walking five batters.  Considering that Ross was in high school at this time last year, his lack of consistency at this point is neither surprising nor concerning.  The good news is that he’s healthy and striking out more than a batter an inning even with the rough starts.  Results aren’t important at this point in his career as long as his peripherals stay consistent.

Rymer Liriano, RF  (High-A Lake Elsinore) – While you have to squint a bit to see that Liriano has been improving the signs have been there.  After striking out 14 times in his first eight games he’s struck out just six times over his last 10 contests.  Four of his five walks this season have also come in that time frame along with his first steal of the season.  It’s been a slow start for Liriano but it looks like he’s finally getting out of his early season slump.

Luis Domoromo, LF (High-A Lake Elsinore) – With six hits in his last three games Domoromo has raised his average to .250 after getting off to a pretty lackluster start.  The 20-year-old Venezuelan is playing against a lot of older competition but his batting practice sessions and outfield defense have still been as impressive as ever.  Still has first-division potential.

Keyvius Sampson, RHP (Double-A San Antonio) – Sampson continues to roll along in his first season above Low A.  His strike out rate is down a bit, but considering the Padres skipped Sampson two levels this offseason that’s to be expected.  Word out of the Texas League is that Sampson has impressed without showing his usually sharp stuff.  That’s not to say he’s been walking too many batters, just that Samson has had a habit of falling behind hitter this season.  As he gets more comfortable pitching to advanced hitters it seems safe to expect another big year for the 21-year-old right-hander.

Signs of Struggling:

Juan Oramas, LHP (Double-A San Antonio) – Oramas has been all too hittable so far this season – 17 hits in 13 innings – with little control – nine walks.  His strikeout numbers are probably a bit of a mirage, though Oramas has struck out about a batter an inning during his professional career.

Other:

Yasmani Grandal, C (Triple-A Tucson) – Grandal was activated from the 7-day disabled list on Thursday after missing 17 days due to a leg injury.  The Cuban backstop wasn’t immediately put in the starting lineup but should see full game action this weekend.

Austin Hedges, C (Low-A Fort Wayne) – Like Grandal, Hedges was activated from the 7-day disabled list on Thursday.  Hedges went one-for-three with a walk after missing the Tincaps’ last 10 games with a shoulder injury.

Jedd Gyorko, INF (Double-A San Antonio) – The Padres have officially elected to give Gyorko a regular season trial at second base after an injury to outfielder Jaff Decker opened up an opportunity for a few guys to shift around.  In the words of one evaluator Gyorko has been “meh” so far at second – yes, seriously – which means that he hasn’t been astonishingly terrible or the second coming of Roberto Alomar.