San Diego Padres Top-50 Prospects
31- Hudson Potts (Sanchez) (17) SS AZL Padres/Instructional League
Potts was a surprise selection with the team’s second pick in the June Draft. He has great bat speed for a young man and showed well in the winter playing in a wood bat league. He seems able to make the adjustment to the lumber fairly easily, and with that, could be a nice value pick for the team. He has a nice right-handed stroke and makes contact. He projects as a shortstop at the moment, but there are whispers he could move to second or third base eventually.
32- Jean Cosme (20) RHP Fort Wayne TinCaps/Single-A
He was amazingly acquired from the Baltimore Orioles for Odrisamer Despaigne in the offseason. Cosme is 6′ 2″ and 155 lbs. He is still filling into his body and his velocity looks to be on the rise. He gets great spin on the ball and has an excellent slider. Cosme is currently in Single-A and performing well. You could see him in the rotation around 2019 if he continues to grow as a hurler.
33- Fernando Tatis (17) 3B AZL Padres/Instructional League
Tatis was acquired from the White Sox in the James Shields trade. He is the son of former major league Fernando Tatis, and seems to have a decent future. He is listed as a shortstop, but most agree his future will be at the hot corner. He has shown a very quick bat and power to his pull side. He is a work in progress, but at 17, he provides the Padres a very bright future. His development could be exciting for Padres fans. It is truly amazing that the team has so much international talent in their system. Look for Tatis in the majors around the magical year of 2019.
34– Jerry Keel (22) LHP San Antonio Missions/Double-A
This left-handed pitcher is a ground ball machine. In his 108 career minor league innings, he has only allowed two home runs, and neither dinger was on his hard sinking fastball. He was recently promoted to Lake Elsinore and recently put into the starting rotation. He has a herky-jerky motion that gets left handers out effectively, but he needs to improve on his changeup to neutralize right-handed batters. This young man has great demeanor and an excellent attitude. This is another example of how well A.J. Preller evaluates talent, as Keel was a fifth round selection last year out of Cal State Northridge.
35- Brad Zunica (20) 1B Fort Wayne TinCaps/Single-A
The mammoth slugger is having a decent year in Fort Wayne. He is displaying a ton of power with his bat. At 6′ 6″, that is no surprise. He has struggled with his walk rate though. Zunica enjoys hitting home runs, and with that, he does strike out a lot. The Padres would like to see him be more patient and have a better approach with two strikes. He is still very young and is one of the best first base prospects in the system. He is a work in progress though, so do not expect to see him until 2019 or 2020.
36- Jose Torres (22) LHP San Antonio Missions/Double-A
You got a brief glimpse of this lefty in September and you saw exactly what excites the Padres about him. He throws gas and is left-handed. The fact he got his feet wet and fared well at the major league level bodes well for his chance at a bullpen spot in the near future.
37- Jeisson Rosario (16) AZL Padres/Instructional League
Young and full of talent is how he was described to me by international scouting director Chris Kemp. He has a long way to go as far as growth, but this young man a decent ceiling.
38- Phil Maton (23) RHP Lake Elsinore Storm/Single-A High
Emerging this year and performing out of the bullpen, Maton is someone to keep an eye on as the Padres look for bullpen pieces in the next few seasons.
39- Tirso Ornelas (16) AZL Padres/Instructional League
This young Mexican outfielder is very toolsy, but like Rosario, has a lot of growing to do as a ball player. He provides the Padres a homegrown talent of sort, as he is a native of Tijuana.
40- Michael Kelly (23) RHP El Paso Chihuahuas/Triple-A
After years of just kinda going through the motions, Kelly has developed this season. He made it all the way to El Paso from the Single-A level.
41- Andrew Lockett (22) RHP San Antonio Missions/Double-A
42-Josh Van Meter (21) 2B Lake Elsinore Storm/Single-A High
43-Ty France (22) 3B Lake Elsinore Storm/Single-A High
44-Jose Castillo (20) LHP Fort Wayne TinCaps/Single-A
45-Brett Kennedy (22) RHP Fort Wayne TinCaps/Single-A
46-Franchy Cordero (21) OF/1B San Antonio Missions/Double-A
47- Luis Asuncion (19) OF AZL Padres/Instructional League
48- Justin Lopez (16) SS AZL Padres/Instructional League
49- Jordy Barley (17) SS AZL Padres/Instructional League
50- Alison Quintero (16) C AZL Padres/Instructional League
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.