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Padres Prospect Rap Sheet: September 2, 2011

Posted by Jeff in AZL Padres | Eugene Emeralds | Fort Wayne Tin Caps | Lake Elsinore Storm | Player Update | Prospect Rap Sheet | San Antonio Missions | Tucson Padres - (0 Comments)

Star Performer:

Yoan Alcantara, OF (AZL Padres) – Alcantara went on a complete tear to end the season.  Although he missed a few games after being hit by a pitch, Alcantara lit up AZL pitching in August to the tune of a .377/.415/.766 slash line that included two doubles, five triples and six home runs.  He came to the Padres in 2009 as an international free agent, signing for a $135,000 bonus.  Alcantara is a good athlete who runs well and projects to play above average defense.  As evident by his four walks and 25 strikeouts in 50 games his approach lacks must polish, but the Padres are very high on Alcantara’s offensive ceiling if he is able to learn how to work counts and compete against more advanced pitching.

Rock Steady:

Cory Spangenberg, 2B (Low-A Fort Wayne) – After being last week’s Star Performer, Spangenberg did little this week to diminish his growing prospect status and finished August very strong.  If you are looking for a yellow light to shine on some aspect of his game the 14 strikeouts in 10 games are a sure sign of growing pains.  One aspect that may have been underrated in pre-draft scouting reports about Spangenberg is his base stealing ability.  Through 68 professional games he has stolen 24 bases, including seven in a row.

Casey McElroy, Middle INF (Short Season Eugene Emeralds) – McElroy was a late addition to the Emeralds roster after gaining a mid-August promotion.  In his 17 games with the EMs, McElroy is hitting .313 with six doubles and two home runs.  He is a polished college hitter who fell to the Padres in the 11th round of this year’s draft with many teams nervous about his 5’8” frame.

Jeudy Valdez, SS (High-A Lake Elsinore) – .327/.383/.522 in 29 August games leaves him with little left to prove this season in the California League.  With Beemer Weems possibly fixed at shortstop again next year in San Antonio Valdez may be moved to another position as his glove still leaves much to be desired.

Tommy Medica, 1B (High-A Lake Elsinore) – Giving some credit where it is due, Medica is having a great season offensively: .292/.408/.486.  While he may not have the tools to project as an everyday player on a contending team, Medica is showing that there is life in his bat.

Keyvius Sampson, RHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – Before giving up six runs in Wednesday’s start, Sampson was primed to finish up an astonishing two month run that would have seen him pitch about 50 innings while allowing just six earned runs, about 30 hits and striking out over 60 batters.  Unfortunately the South Bend team that he had dominated just six days earlier would not be overmatched again, knocking Sampson out of the game after just 2.1 innings. Continue reading “Padres Prospect Rap Sheet: September 2, 2011” »

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Padres Prospect Scouting Report: Donavan Tate, CF

Posted by Ryan in Eugene Emeralds | Scouting Reports - (7 Comments)

Name: Donavan Tate
Report Date: 2011 NWL Season (Rookie Level)
Age: 20
Birthplace: Cartersville, GA
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 200
Bats: R
Throws: R

Overview: As the 3rd overall draft pick in 2009 – and recipient of a club-record $6.25 mil bonus – Tate has been the source of much frustration for the Padres and those who follow the team. The tools are all there for this young man to be an impact player, but a rash of injuries and off-the-field issues have hampered his development. This is the classic toolsy, high risk, high ceiling player that has just as great of a chance of making the majors as he does burning out in the low minors.

Physical Attributes: Tate is a supreme athlete and his body reflects this.  He has a swimmer-like build with long arms and legs that show room for excellent growth on his frame in the future. He has incredible bat speed that is head and shoulders above just about every other player in the Northwest League. The phrase “runs like a gazelle” comes to mind when he runs, as, not only is he incredibly fast, but Tate looks so relaxed and doesn’t seem to exude much effort (not a lack of effort, but his athleticism makes everything seem easy).

Hitting: When Tate was drafted, this was the aspect of his game that drew the most ire. Even though Tate possesses plus bat speed and uses his hands very well, there is still a lot of swing-and-miss to be dealt with. He does avoid some classic flaws that many minor leaguers will show. Tate is always soft on his front side, which allows him to maintain balance throughout his swing. He also keeps his front shoulder in most of the time but is still prone to letting it fly open every now and then. There is some difficulty in judging Tate as a hitter, as he changed his swing following his most recent drug-related suspension.

Before the suspension he hit with an upright stance with movement going on during his loading phase. Tate slotted his hands well by taking them slightly back during his load, which allowed him great length through the hitting zone. When he fired the swing he got excellent hip rotation. Overall this was a very loose, relaxed, and athletic looking swing. This is all apparent in the video below: Continue reading “Padres Prospect Scouting Report: Donavan Tate, CF” »

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Padres Prospet Mailbag: August Part 2

Posted by Jeff in AZL Padres | Eugene Emeralds | Fort Wayne Tin Caps | Lake Elsinore Storm | Mailbag | MLB Draft | San Antonio Missions | Tucson Padres - (4 Comments)

Some questions have been slightly edited to be shorter and more direct. If you have a question for the next Padres Prospect Mailbag, shoot us an email: mailbag@padresprospects.com

Make sure you check out Part 1 of the Mailbag.

Is Reymond Fuentes still a legit prospect? – Jonathan

Definitely.  While Fuentes’ stock has definitely slipped, he still is loaded with enough tools to be an everyday center fielder on a contending team.  It is becoming more apparent that the bat will never be anything special, but his speed definitely plays in games and – outside of this year – he has shown the ability to make consistent contact.

Unless you see a serious regression in tools, one year of production is not enough to condemn a player.  That being said, Fuentes has a lot to prove as questions surrounding his effort are growing louder and louder.

What level will Joe Ross, Michael Kelly and Austin Hedges start at next season? – Antonio

Too early to definitively say at this point.  Ross has enough stuff to compete in the Midwest League, but the Padres may elect to tinker with his delivery in the Instructional League which may have him set to begin the season in Arizona or Eugene.  Gut says they challenge him in Fort Wayne barring unforeseen circumstances.

Kelly is much more of a project at this point with only one real pitch in his repertoire.  The conservative play would be to start him in Arizona and promote Kelly if his performance validated, but at the moment I’ll say that he begins the year in Eugene with the Emeralds.

While 20 at bats with the AZL Padres is not a ton of experience, Hedges has at least shown that his bat isn’t completely overmatched by professional pitchers.  I’d expect to see him in Fort Wayne to start 2012 barring an underwhelming spring that would send him to Eugene. Continue reading “Padres Prospet Mailbag: August Part 2” »

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Padres Prospect Mailbag: August Part 1

Posted by Jeff in AZL Padres | Eugene Emeralds | Fort Wayne Tin Caps | Lake Elsinore Storm | Mailbag | MLB Draft | Player Update | San Antonio Missions | Tucson Padres - (3 Comments)

Some questions have been slightly edited to be shorter and more direct. If you have a question for the next Padres Prospect Mailbag, shoot us an email: mailbag@padresprospects.com

Make sure you check out Part 2 of the Mailbag.

Where has Edinson Rincon been? – John

Rincon was struck by a pitch on June 25 that knocked him out of action until August 25.  He is currently rehabbing with the Padres’ Arizona League affiliate and may be a candidate for the Arizona Fall League if the Padres are concerned about getting him extra at bats before re-evaluating him in Spring Training.

It is important to remember that we may not see the normal Rincon for quite some time.  The injury he suffered – a broken Hamate bone – is known to sap a batters power severely and full recovery time for their true ability to return can be 12-18 months.  Scouts and talent evaluators love the potential that Rincon brings on offense.  He has a fluid swing that is aided by his strong wrists.  Just be prepared to possibly see a lighter-hitting Rincon than in the past.

Any thoughts on what players the Padres will send to the Arizona Fall League? – Ryan

As I mentioned above, I do believe that Rincon is a strong candidate for the AFL.

Others who could potentially make an appearance:

Simon Castro – he appeared to be on the cusp of a call up heading into the season but has experienced serious regression in his secondary offerings.  With just over 100 innings pitched on the season he has more than enough bullets left in his arm this year to pitch through the winter.

Jason Hagerty – he lacks much experience against upper-level competition so the AFL would be a great challenge for him.

Cody Decker – he missed almost three months of live action.  Now that his ankle is fully healed the Padres would like to get him as much experience as possible so that his promotion path is not delayed.  Still, even with some AFL experience another year in San Antonio is not out of the question for the undersized first baseman.

Jaff Decker – he has already surpassed his career-high in games, but with his struggles in adjusting to a new stance the Peoria native may be asked to play some extra baseball over the offseason.

Like every other team the Padres will send six players, two of which can be from lower than Double-A if the team so chooses. Continue reading “Padres Prospect Mailbag: August Part 1” »

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Padres Prospect Rap Sheet: August 24, 2011

Posted by Jeff in AZL Padres | Eugene Emeralds | Fort Wayne Tin Caps | Lake Elsinore Storm | Player Update | Prospect Rap Sheet | San Antonio Missions | Tucson Padres - (2 Comments)

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. Continue reading “Padres Prospect Rap Sheet: August 24, 2011” »

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Padres Prospect Rap Sheet: August 17, 2011

Posted by Jeff in AZL Padres | Eugene Emeralds | Fort Wayne Tin Caps | Lake Elsinore Storm | Player Update | Prospect Rap Sheet | San Antonio Missions | Tucson Padres - (0 Comments)

Star Performer:

Keyvius Sampson, RHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – Sampson is leaving little doubt that he is ready for more difficult competition.  The 2009 4th-round pick has been a force in his last seven outings: 36.1 IP 0.76 ERA 17 H 3 ER 44 K.  The only thing holding him back from a promotion may be the fact that Sampson has already surpassed his career high in innings by 56.2.

Rock Steady:

Robbie Erlin, LHP (Double-A San Antonio) – Erlin caused a major freak out this week in the Padres-fan social media community when he was pulled after just two innings in his Monday start.  It was all part of a plan the San Diego front office has put in place to limit Erlin, Wieland, and Kelly’s innings pitched this season.  Erlin has thrown 135.1 innings this year, 114.2 was his previous career high in 2010.

Rico Noel, CF (Low-A Fort Wayne) – Noel is absolutely on fire.  With six multi-hit games in his last 10 and six stolen bases during that same period, he is beginning to turn more than a few heads in the Midwest League.

Miles Mikolas, RHP (Double-A San Antonio) – Armed with a low-90s fastball and a curveball that sits 78-80, the 6’5” 2009 7th-round pick by the Padres offers a great blend of size and arm strength.  He’s only given up five home runs in 196.1 innings pitched in his pro career, a mark complimented by his 4.76 strikeout per walk rate in his three seasons.  Mikolas hasn’t allowed a run in his last 12 appearances – 13IP – and may get promoted to Triple-A if the Tucson Padres’ bullpen is raided by roster expansion.

Juan Oramas, LHP (Double-A San Antonio) – Two-straight quality starts and the stuff is still plenty filthy.  He seems to be too hittable given the quality of his pitches, but at 21 in Double-A he is young enough to believe the Padres have something special here.

Joe Wieland, RHP (Double-A San Antonio) – It was a very un-Wieland-like outing for the righty this week.  He struck out just two batters and allowed six hits in five innings.  Wieland even hit a batter for good measure.  It was a positive note to see that he was able to pitch well without his best stuff.

Yoan Alcantara, OF (AZL Padres) – This is Alcantara’s second appearance in this category, this time because of a nine-game hitting streak that was snapped on Monday that saw him post a .432/.447/.865 slash line with three home runs, three triples and 15 RBI. Continue reading “Padres Prospect Rap Sheet: August 17, 2011” »

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Padres Grab High-End Talent in 2011 Draft

Posted by Jeff in MLB Draft | Scouting Reports - (7 Comments)

With a flair for the dramatics and an eye on infusing high-upside talent into an improving system, the Padres managed to sign three of their top-four picks that were left unsigned heading into deadline day.  Joe Ross, Michael Kelly and Austin Hedges have been added into the fold in San Diego, representing a continued dedication towards building from within and investing more into the future of the franchise than ever before.

Joe Ross – $2.75 mil (2010 Slot – $1.125 mil)

The Padres were enamoured with Ross’ mixture of athleticism and left over projection.  Many of the top high school arms in the draft were decently polished – leading to a Major League-deal for Dylan Bundy – with Ross sitting just behind Arizona’s Archie Bradley on most draft boards looking for upside.

He was the top player left on San Diego’s board at number 25 overall, and for good reason.  Ross boasts a low-90s fastball that should sit around 93-96 once his body begins to mature.  The fastball features good arm-side run (see the videos below) and could grade out to be a 65 pitch with professional coaching.  Ross’ curveball is an advanced pitch for his age, showing great spin and control, but as his delivery is tightened up with professional coaching he’ll need to keep focused on the pitch.

Like most high school arms, Ross’ changeup is a very immature pitch at this point that lacks great feel and deception.  The pace that he moves through the organization will rely on the development of his changeup, in turn giving him an effective offering to left-handed batters.

The aforementioned delivery is still very raw.  The good news is that he has not developed the stiff front leg that currently haunts his older brother, Tyson Ross.  Joe shows enough athleticism that he should have no problem repeating his delivery with enough professional coaching to help keep his front side closed and use his lower half better.

Continue reading “Padres Grab High-End Talent in 2011 Draft” »

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Padres Prospect Scouting Report: Jace Peterson, SS

Posted by Ryan in Eugene Emeralds | Scouting Reports - (2 Comments)

Jace Peterson - Eugene EmeraldsName: Jace Peterson
Report Date: 2011 NWL Season (Eugene Emeralds – Rookie Level)
Age: 21
Birthplace: Moss Bluff, La
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 200
Bats: L
Throws: R

Overview: The athletically gifted Peterson consistently shows why he was a compensation round – 58th overall – pick for the Padres in 2011.  A raw player, Peterson is still learning the ins and outs of the game both in the field and at the plate. He is a high ceiling player whose overall progression depends on when, and if, he is able to transition from an athlete who plays baseball to an athletic baseball player.

Physical Attributes: Peterson is one of those guys who just looks good wearing a baseball uniform. He has a very athletic build, which should come as no surprise as he was also a wide receiver in college. There is some room for growth left on his frame, but no more than 5-10 lbs. His past days as a wide receiver are evident when watching him run. He has an average arm and a tick above average bat speed both of which show room for growth as he gets more time on the diamond. Continue reading “Padres Prospect Scouting Report: Jace Peterson, SS” »

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Padres Prospect Rap Sheet: August 9, 2011

Posted by Jeff in AZL Padres | Eugene Emeralds | Fort Wayne Tin Caps | Lake Elsinore Storm | Player Update | Prospect Rap Sheet | San Antonio Missions | Tucson Padres - (2 Comments)

Star Performer:

Robbie Erlin, LHP (Double-A San Antonio) – Since joining the Padres Organization all Erlin has done is dominate: 12 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 15 K.  Diving deeper into Erlin’s performance you see that he has retired all 12 left-handed batters and maintained his plus-plus command he showed while with the Rangers.  Could he be inspired by his #1 ranking in the Padres Prospects Top-25?  Probably not.  Erlin’s previous career high in innings was 114.2 in 2010, so don’t be surprised to see shorter outings down the stretch for the 20-year-old.

Rock Steady:

Rymer Liriano, RF (Low-A Fort Wayne) – He was the Padres Prospects Player of the Month in July, and a .318/.370/.455 line in 7 August games isn’t going to disappoint anyone.  Liriano is beginning to be pitched around by teams, so don’t be surprised to see his numbers take a dip.  Also, a .395 BABIP is never a sign of completely sustainable play.

Rico Noel, CF (Low-A Fort Wayne) –With an absurd 94.4% steal success rate, he possess game-changing speed and he obviously knows how to use it.  As a point of reference, 36.2% of the time Noel reaches base he steals a bag.

Kevin Quackenbush, RHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 10 K since being promoted to the Tin Caps to give him a season line that includes a 0.35 ERA in 27.1 IP since being selected in June’s draft.

Keyvius Sampson, LHP RHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – Continue reading “Padres Prospect Rap Sheet: August 9, 2011” »

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Top 25 Padres Prospects – August

Posted by Jeff in Scouting Reports - (1 Comments)

This is a list of the best prospects in the Padres’ organization.  To be eligible for this list a player must be currently in the minors or temporarily filling a roster spot on the Major League club.  Prospects are ranked both by their ultimate potential and the likelihood that they will reach that potential.  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 disagree with a ranking or an evaluation that is fine.  You could ask 10 experts to submit a list of top prospects and no two would be the same.  Disparity among the evaluations is what makes them interesting!

If you have any questions or comments about the list, send Jeff a message.

Updated: August 2011 – 2011 Draft Picks who had not signed by the beginning of August were not considered.

1) Robbie Erlin – Although he’s only been a Padre for a few days, Erlin has the skills and track record to thrive in San Diego much like Mat Latos has.  As evident by his 129/13 K/BB ratio in 127.1 IP in 2011 Erlin is an extreme command pitcher, but he’s still learning to control the strike zone.  While many see his ceiling as 2 or a 3, pitching half his games in Petco – and most of the rest at friendly NL West parks – should help Erlin perform as a dominant top-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues. ETA: Late 2012

2) Casey Kelly – Kelly came over in the offseason as the big name in the Adrian Gonzalez trade.  A two-way player when drafted, Kelly is in just his second season as a fulltime pitcher.  Scouts are still waiting for the results to match the stuff, but Kelly still has all of the tools and leftover projection to be a very successful pitcher and a plus-plus defender at his position. ETA: 2013

3) Keyvius Sampson – An elite athlete, Sampson lacks the desired frame that would project him as a potential future ace.  Armed with a low to mid-90s fastball and a violent delivery, Sampson is missing bats at an impressive rate – 10.5 K/9 – and has shown consistent control over his first two full seasons.  With a 1.026 WHIP in Class A Fort Wayne, he should see a few starts in Lake Elsinore before the season’s over.  ETA: 2014

4) Joe Wieland – Wieland put himself firmly on the prospect map with his July 29th complete game no hitter against his future franchise.  While he doesn’t have quite the ceiling that Erlin does, Wieland is just as safe of a bet to be a solid 3 or 4 for the Padres for the next several years.  His strikeout rates are a bit deceptive, but Wieland has more than enough stuff than he needs with his 70-grade control.  ETA: 2012

5) Cory Spangenberg – While Spangenberg may not have the ceiling of a typical number 9 overall pick, he is a great hitter with legitimate tools.  He started off his San Diego career by dominating Short-Season ball in Eugene to the tune of .394/.545/.535, but has struggled since joining Fort Wayne.  His hitting ability is legitimate and will be the tool that carries him to the majors.  ETA: Late 2014 Continue reading “Top 25 Padres Prospects – August” »

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