There’s a new Top 25 up over at Padres Public and here on the Top 25 Padres Prospects page.
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Typically, when a 23-year-old infield prospect who can play two premium defensive positions is posting a .342/.390/.606 line in Triple A an immediate promotion to the majors seems like the reasonable course of action. Unfortunately for Jedd Gyorko his situation features far less black and white with an ever-growing amount of shades of grey.
In a vacuum, Gyorko is absolutely ready for a shot at regular playing time with the Padres. While his numbers are artificially inflated due to the friendly confines of the Pacific Coast League, the scouting reports on his bat have pegged him as ready for a new challenge since late June. On the defensive end, Gyorko has at least an average glove at third if not a tick above with enough arm strength to make every necessary play. At second base where Gyorko has spent about a third of his time this season, he lacks enough true range to stick at the position long term but is a good enough athlete to be an average defender there over a short period of time. Continue reading “The Complicated Situation of Jedd Gyorko” »
Players You’re Intrigued By But Know Little About
Posted by in AZL Padres | Eugene Emeralds | Fort Wayne Tin Caps | Lake Elsinore Storm | Player Update | San Antonio Missions | Scouting Reports | Tucson Padres - (0 Comments)Earlier this week I sent out a message on Twitter asking for followers to send suggestions of guys they were intrigued by, but knew little about. While the following seven guys aren’t necessarily the best prospects in the Padres’ system, each offers enough upside that they deserve some attention.
Henry Charles – Charles is in his first season of stateside baseball after spending all of last year in the Dominican Summer League. Although his AZL line of .254/.336/.336 isn’t overly impressive, he has the tools to be a solid regular in an outfield corner. His speed precludes him from playing in center field, but Charles may be able to stick in right with his above average arm. Charles isn’t an extremely physical player at the moment but should fill out his 6-foot-3 frame over the coming years. He’s got a solid approach at the plate and a pretty clean swing making him an intriguing option as a breakout player in 2013 or 2014, which is part of the reason I thought he deserved a spot in the Top 25. Continue reading “Players You’re Intrigued By But Know Little About” »
Top 25 Padres Prospects – Midseason 2012
Posted by in AZL Padres | Eugene Emeralds | Fort Wayne Tin Caps | Lake Elsinore Storm | Player Update | San Antonio Missions | Tucson Padres - (14 Comments)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 Continue reading “Top 25 Padres Prospects – Midseason 2012” »
Padres Sign Dominican Third Baseman Carlos Belen
Posted by in Player Update | Scouting Reports - (3 Comments)The Padres made a splash on Day 1 of the 2012 international signing period, inking 6-foot-2 third baseman Carlos Belen to a $1 million deal. Baseball America ranked Belen eighth among international prospects, citing his advanced bat as the reason behind his high ranking.
Belen features a short swing not often seen in players his own age or experience level and projects to hit for average and power down the road. Defensively, the evaluations of Belen range from above average potential to near guarantees he’ll move off the position. Belen does feature above average arm strength but his footwork and instincts at the position are very much on the raw end – even for a 16-year-old prospect. Continue reading “Padres Sign Dominican Third Baseman Carlos Belen” »
Padres Grab Eflin, Jankowski and Weickel in Draft’s Supplemental Round
Posted by in MLB Draft | Player Update | Scouting Reports - (2 Comments)The Rule 4 Draft is a beautiful blend of art, science and intestinal fortitude. Every year General Managers, assistants, Scouting Directors and scouts put their job on the line in an effort to find their organization’s next wave of talent.
This year Chad MacDonald, Jaron Madison and Co. are putting their reputations on the line with a $9.9 million budget in their back pocket. So what does just under 10 million dollars buy you these days?
To lead things off the Padres drafted Max Fried at seven.
San Diego’s next selection was right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin at 33. Eflin was ranked 31st on Baseball America’s Top 500, 26th in Baseball Prospectus’ Top 30 and 14th on ESPN’s Top 100.
Eflin is a 6-foot-5, 205-pound pitcher out of Hagerty High School in Florida. His velocity ticked up this spring to the mid-90s and there is a chance that he has enough projectability left in his frame to see another uptick. Continue reading “Padres Grab Eflin, Jankowski and Weickel in Draft’s Supplemental Round” »
Padres Grab Max Fried with 2012 First Round Draft Pick
Posted by in MLB Draft | Player Update | Scouting Reports - (4 Comments)Finally, the speculation can end. With their first pick of the 2012 MLB Draft the San Diego Padres selected high school left hander Max Fried.
Fried is a Southern California native who was considered by many to be the top high school pitcher in the entire draft.
His arsenal is led by a fastball that sits in the upper 80s to lower 90s with arm-side run, but Fried has shown the ability to hit 95 at times when he needs it. Fried’s changeup is a work in progress but some see it has his best offering in the future as he already shows great arm speed and more run than fade with the pitch. Fried has a curveball that will sit in the mid-70s with sharp downward break that some evaluators see as a potential 70 pitch if he’s able to remain consistent with the offering. Continue reading “Padres Grab Max Fried with 2012 First Round Draft Pick” »
2012 MLB Draft Scouting Reports: Nick Williams, Stryker Trahan, Ty Buttrey
Posted by in MLB Draft | Player Update | Scouting Reports - (3 Comments)Nick Williams – OF
What to Love: Nick Williams is yet another strong and dynamic outfielder out of the state of Texas. Equipped with some top-notch tools, including plus-plus speed and impressive arm-strength, Williams has everything he needs to become a defensive force in centerfield, where many project him to remain during his professional career. Included in Williams’ toolbox is some intriguing hitting ability, especially to the opposite field, and considerable power potential. Though he won’t ever hit 40 home runs, doubt digit bombs should be well within reach for Williams in the future. Williams’ speed also makes him a threat on the base paths, giving the Texan future 15-15 potential down the road if things break right. For what it’s worth, Williams also plays the game with a great attitude and always seems to have a smile on his face on the field, evoking makeup comparisons to a young Ken Griffey, Jr. Continue reading “2012 MLB Draft Scouting Reports: Nick Williams, Stryker Trahan, Ty Buttrey” »
Padres Prospect Rap Sheet: May 4, 2012
Posted by in Fort Wayne Tin Caps | Player Update | Prospect Rap Sheet | San Antonio Missions - (0 Comments)Star Performer:
Jedd Gyorko, INF (Double-A San Antonio) – After an abysmal start to the season Gyorko has been on fire since April 26th hitting .351 with two home runs and two doubles. He’s also logged 11 games through Thursday at second base for San Antonio and initial reports have been encouraging. Gyorko has assisted in turning four double plays while committing just one error. While errors don’t tell the whole story, evaluators have been encouraged by Gyorko’s ability to make most standard plays at second, yet doubt still lingers he can make the tougher plays necessary to stick at the position in the big leagues. Even if Gyorko is able to stick at second for the next few years it seems clear he’ll be moved off second as his body continues to mature. Continue reading “Padres Prospect Rap Sheet: May 4, 2012” »
Prospect of the Month: May
Rymer Liriano: G R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS 28 16 36 9 2 0 15 13 2 .330 .397 .450 Have a prospect question? Send it in to the Padres Prospects Mailbag (Click the image below)
