This is a list of the best prospects in the Padres’ organization.  To be eligible for this list a player must still posses their rookie status.  Prospects are ranked both by their ultimate potential and the likelihood that they will reach that potential.  The easiest way to understand the rankings is to consider what order players would be selected in if the entire organization were eligible for a draft.  Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) for each prospect is when they would reach the majors if they are able to reach their potential.

If you have any questions or comments about the list, send Jeff a message or post a question to the Padres Prospects Facebook Page.

Updated: July 2012

*Yasmani Grandal, Yonder Alonso, Alexi Amarista, Anthony Bass and Joe Wieland were not eligible for this list due to their big league status*

1) Rymer Liriano – With the graduations of Grandal and Alonso, Liriano is able to reclaim his spot as the Padres’ top prospect.  A surprising midseason promotion to Double A offered a new challenge for the 21 year old who still has 20/20 potential with plus defense in right field. ETA: Late 2013

2) Keyvius Sampson – Although his stat line looks less than dominant, Sampson has had a huge year for the progression of his career.  The Padres elected to skip the 21-year-old Florida native over High A as a way to jump start his advancement through the organization after he came to camp this Spring with an improved curveball.  ETA: Late 2013

3) Jedd Gyorko – Gyorko has seen his stock rise as much as any Padres prospect this season after putting up huge numbers in San Antonio and Tucson, and a call up appears more imminent than ever.  Still, baring a trade or injury Gyorko is unlikely to see action until later in the season even with his newfound versatility as a serviceable second baseman.  ETA: 2012

4) Max Fried – Fried is making his first appearance in the Padres’ Top 25 after being selected eighth overall in the 2012 MLB Draft.  Fried is scheduled to throw about 20 innings this season in the Arizona League before his preparation for 2013 will begin.  The 18-year-old lefty offers top-of-the-rotation upside and may be benefiting in these rankings from limited play thus far.  ETA: Late 2015

5) Austin Hedges – It’s tough to say enough about how impressive Hedges’ 2012 campaign has been thus far as he’s managed to keep a respectable batting average, show an excellent approach and hit for a surprising amount of power in his first full season of professional baseball while playing elite defense behind the plate.  Hedges’ bat is much more advanced than most scouts had come to believe which could shorten his development time in a big way.  ETA: Late 2014

6) Joe Ross – Ross drew the attention of many evaluators this winter by showing great stuff during Instructs, but injuries and inconsistency have plagued his 2012 campaign.  Ross is just getting back to game action in his rehab process and should be able to make several starts to save 2012 from being somewhat of a lost season.  ETA: Late 2014

7) Casey Kelly – Kelly looked great to begin the season with a ramped up delivery that had given his arsenal more life than ever.  Unfortunately a mysterious elbow injury has caused him to miss more than three months of game action at a time when he likely could have made his way to San Diego due to a rash of injuries throughout the top of the organization.  Health is most important at this point so it’s doubtful that Kelly will see time with the Padres in 2012.  ETA: 2012

8) Robbie Erlin – Erlin looked like he was on the fast track until injuries caught up to him this season in the form of an oblique strain that delayed the start of his year and elbow tendinitis that has had him out since May.  The elbow injury shouldn’t have any long-term effects meaning his prospect status has remained mostly unchanged.  ETA: 2013

9) Matt Wisler – This may be an overly optimistic ranking, but so far the scouting reports have matched up with Wisler’s superior production at just 19 in the Midwest League.  He was drafted in 2011 as a projectable high school righty and Wisler has already shown a tremendous amount of development.  He has a shot at three average or better pitches, which gives him a great, shot at seeing time in San Diego.  ETA: Late 2015

10) Cory Spangenberg – Spangenberg received an aggressive promotion to start his season when he was assigned to High A, but he’s shown a solid level of production.  A concussion and subsequent symptoms have slowed him down of late.  Spangenberg has shown off his speed and hit tools but still needs to refine his other tools before he is ready to take the next step forward in his development.  ETA: 2014

11) Jonathan Galvez – After being yet another Padres prospect slowed due to an early season injury Galvez has stormed back to post impressive offensive numbers in a league many weren’t convinced he was ready for.  With Gyorko and Amarista now potentially ahead of him, Galvez’ future lacks clarity at this point.  ETA: 2014

12) Edinson Rincon – Like several others, the Padres elected for an aggressive assignment for Rincon in 2012.  Although he struggled for much of the first half, Rincon has come on strong since the All Star break and has absolutely dominated left-handed pitching all season.  He’s spent most of the season in left field thus far with mixed results but the organization seems set on letting him learn on the job for as long as it takes.  ETA: Late 2013

13) Adys Portillo – Portillo’s production in 2012 has been incredible as he led the Midwest League in ERA before earning a promotion to Double-A San Antonio.  While his command and control are far from even average, Portillo has an incredible arm and physical frame that allows him to reach into the upper 90s when he needs it.  ETA: Late 2014

14) Donavan Tate – 2012 marks the first time Tate has been able to stay healthy for the majority of the season and he’s continued to show elite-level tools even if the offensive production has not followed.  Tate was granted a surprise promotion given his .547 OPS in Low A, but continues to show a solid approach that has oddly left his primary skills behind his secondaries.  ETA: 2015

15) Zach Eflin – Eflin was selected by the Padres in the 2012 MLB Draft and has already impressed with his big fastball and advanced changeup.  The Midwest League should be a great test for Eflin in 2013.  ETA: 2015

16) Jace Peterson – We gave Peterson an aggressive ranking in the previous Top 25 that he has definitely lived up to this season.  Peterson is a fantastic athlete that is still learning the game but at 22 years old he needs to get moving if he’s going to make a difference in San Diego one day.  ETA: Late 2014

17) Walker Weickel – Weickel was taken by the Padres in the 2012 MLB Draft and boasts premier potential if it all comes together.  Expect to see him in Fort Wayne to start 2012.  ETA: 2016

18) Donn Roach – The Padres received Roach along with Amarista in the trade that sent reliever Ernesto Frieri to the Angels.  Roach is an elite sinker baller that is light on secondaries.  His two seamer alone may get him to San Diego but he’ll need to refine his off-speed offerings to stick in the rotation long term.  ETA: 2014

19) Cody Hebner – Hebner has been a personal favorite for quite some time for his mix of stuff and demeanor on the mound.  He’s got a big arm and a fastball that has touched the upper 90s in short outings.  ETA: 2015

20) Blake Tekotte – Tekotte remains an extremely interesting power/speed option in the outfield, but injuries have limited his availability this season.  He can provide a lot of value as a bench player to a contending team as Tekotte is able to play all three outfield spots.  ETA: 2012

21) James Darnell – Darnell’s season was cut short due to a severe shoulder injury, but it allowed him to keep his rookie status and earn a spot on this list.  His ceiling is still as a fourth outfielder, but his bat is solid enough to justify a roster spot.  ETA: 2012

22) Rodney Daal – Daal is a 2011 bonus baby out of the Netherlands who has a great shot at being an offensive catcher.  He’s still a long way off but Daal’s approach and power potential are causing a lot of excitement.  ETA: 2016

23) Jaff Decker – Decker has just about fallen off the prospect map after a few consecutive years of poor production.  He gets somewhat of a pass this year because of injuries, but it looks less and less likely that he will be an everyday outfielder.  ETA: Late 2013

24) Rico Noel – Noel is extremely intriguing as he has shown a great deal of success in his first year as a switch hitter.  He plays great defense in center and has elite base running ability but there is some concern the bat can be knocked out of his hands.  ETA: Late 2014

25) Henry Charles – Charles has tools to dream on and has performed admirably in his first season stateside but is still a long way off.  He was slotted here as a name to keep an eye on if you’re looking for a potential breakout stud in the coming years.  ETA: 2016

If you have any questions or comments about the list, send Jeff a message or post a question to the Padres Prospects Facebook Page.