Down on the Farm: Weekly Review April 30 – May 6
Franmil Reyes – OF, Triple-A, El Paso Chihuahuas
14-23, 5 1B, 2 2B, 7 HR, 11 R, 11 RBI, .609/.654/.1609, 447 wRC+
It really shouldn’t be possible to have a single week stat line that is THIS good. And from a guy who is still just 22 years old and playing at the highest minor league level, it is even more impressive. The trouble is the Padres’ outfield remains jam-packed, so it’s hard to see Reyes getting a big league chance no matter how well he hits. However, it’s clear he deserves one with his recent performance. At the least, he has passed up Hunter Renfroe in terms of interesting, power-first outfield prospects. Let’s hope he gets a chance to show what he’s got sooner rather than later. All aboard team Franny-Pack.
Luis Perdomo – RHP, Triple-A, El Paso Chihuahuas
9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
If you’re going to get demoted to Triple-A, this is probably the best way to respond. While Bryan Mitchell continues his struggles in the big league rotation, Perdomo has looked solid in his first taste of minor league action in over two years. It was kind of wrong that Perdomo was thrown under the bus while Mitchell got a pass, but it seems Mitchell is experiencing his share of criticism now. However, even if Mitchell is removed from the rotation, it doesn’t seem like Perdomo is the guy who would immediately replace him. The Padres are intent on him working out some things in the minors and it appears they will let him continue to do so for the immediate future. Although if he keeps pitching like this, that may not be for very long.
Fernando Tatis Jr. – SS, Double-A, San Antonio Missions
10-29, 2 1B, 4 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 8 R, 8 RBI, 3 SB, .345/.424/.862, 225 wRC+
Has Fernando Tatis Jr. finally turned a corner? After slashing just .177/.231/.333 over his first month of action, Tatis appears to finally be heating up. Since April 24, Tatis has a .280/400/.720 slash line with a 185 wRC+. He is still striking out in over 30 percent of his at-bats during that time period, but a 13.3 percent walk rate sort of evens it out. He is still not quite the hitter he was in Fort Wayne last year, but the last week or two has been an encouraging sign. Let’s all hope he can keep it up for a while.
Logan Allen – LHP, Double-A, San Antonio Missions
7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
For a guy who consistently ranks slightly above average across the board, left-hander Logan Allen continues to impress with every outing. He’s missing bats less than last year, a 9.8 percent swinging strike rate compared to 10.8 percent in Lake Elsinore last year, but Allen has kept a consistent strikeout rate in the mid-20s. However, Allen is walking more batters this year, as he currently sits at a walk rate above 10 percent. Allen is getting more ground balls than last year while inducing more pulled balls from batters. So far, it has been a recipe for success, and it seems like Allen has the capability to reach his fourth-starter ceiling.
Jesse Scholtens – RHP, Double-A, San Antonio Missions
12.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 14 K
Given his early season performance, I have added Jesse Scholtens to my list of under-the-radar prospects to keep my eye on. Despite posting only an 18 percent strikeout rate in 100-plus innings in High-A last year, Scholtens has suddenly become a strikeout pitcher with a strikeout rate over 30 percent in his first 35-plus big league innings. Scholtens is definitely an older prospect at 24, but it will be interesting to see if he can keep up this solid pace as the season progresses. If he can, he might have the ceiling of a big league starter after all.
Buddy Reed – OF, High-A, Lake Elsinore Storm
8-25, 3 1B, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 5 R, 4 RBI, .320/.393/.640, 170 wRC+
It’s crazy that this stat line is a slight step down than what Buddy Reed put up to start the season. Through the first month of the season, Reed put up a .366/.385/.591 slash line with a 160 wRC+. The most encouraging development of all is Reed’s power, as the usually punchless outfielder has five home runs and an ISO near .200 to start the year. Now all the small sample size and Cal League caveats apply, but if Reed can maintain even a fraction of this performance, he’s a real prospect to watch.
Chris Paddack – RHP, High-A, Lake Elsinore Storm
10 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 16 K
Now that’s how you make a good first impression on a return from injury. After missing nearly two years of action following a Tommy John surgery in the second half of the 2016 season, right-hander Chris Paddack has returned with a bang in Lake Elsinore this week. In his first two starts, Paddack has not only struck out 16 out of the 36 batters he has faced, but he has also posted a 17.3 percent swinging strike rate. For Paddack, it’s all about developing a third pitch as his above-average fastball and double-plus changeup will not be enough to carry him into the upper levels. However, if he can develop a more consistent breaking ball, which he has made strides with, he could be a fast riser through the Friars’ system.
Esteury Ruiz – 2B, Low-A, Fort Wayne TinCaps
7-23, 3 1B, 1 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 5 R, 4 RBI, .304/.333/.652, 159 wRC+
Over the last week or so, young second baseman Esteury Ruiz has shown just what kind of hitter he can be if it all comes together. There is still some work to do with regard to plate discipline and his overall approach, but that is expected for a 19-year-old playing in full-season ball. Ruiz has a chance to be an all-fields hitter with some serious extra-base power at a position that is trending more towards power-first players. He’s still a long way away from the big leagues, but this hot streak has been a good showing of what he may be capable of.
Nick Margevicius – LHP, Low-A, Fort Wayne TinCaps
6 IP, 8 H, 3 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 9 K
Man, if not for the return of Chris Paddack, left-hander Nick Margevicius would probably be my favorite under-the-radar Padres’ pitching prospect. The presence of the likes of Cal Quantrill, Logan Allen, Michel Baez, Adrian Morejon, MacKenzie Gore, and others, cause guys like Margevicius to go overlooked, but he has been phenomenal in his small sample of innings so far this season. And that continued in a big way on Sunday. Margevicius turned some eyes with his strong showing at the end of last year after being drafted in the seventh round by the Padres last June, but he has taken a step forward this year with his strikeout stuff. Margevicius now has 44 strikeouts in his 32 innings. He has been hit hard on occasion, with 37 hits given up in his first 32 innings, but his strong strikeout stuff has been able to work him out of jams. Margevicius, like Paddack, could be a quick mover through the system if he continues to blow hitters away in Fort Wayne.
Editorial and Prospect Writer for East Village Times. Twenty-five years young, Patrick has lived in San Diego for his entire life and has been a Padres fan nearly as long. Patrick lives for baseball and is always looking to learn new things about the game he loves through advanced stats.
At this point it seems it would do a world of good for Margot to spend some time in AAA, and for kicks it would be fun to see Franmil get a couple of weeks at the top level.