Down on the Farm Weekly Review: July 10-16
Credit: Storm Baseball
Nick Buss– OF, Triple-A, El Paso Chihuahuas
6-14, 2 2B, 2 HR, 14 TB
Now more than three months into the 2017 season, and Padres Triple-A outfielder Nick Buss continues to mash. After another solid week, Buss is now sporting a 168 wRC+ on the season and an OPS over 1.000. Despite Buss’ success, it remains increasingly unlikely that Buss will see any big league playing time this season, especially once the Padres get Hunter Renfroe and Travis Jankowski back healthy. As the trade deadline looms, Buss may be the player that the Padres try to trade to a team looking for outfield depth.
Michael Kelly– RHP, Triple-A, El Paso Chihuahuas
7 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K
With Dinelson Lamet now in the big leagues, right-hander Michael Kelly is now the likeliest minor league pitcher to earn the next big league promotion. Kelly has been solid all season in time split between Double and Triple-A, and should see some big league playing time before the end of the season. Kelly struggled in his first few Triple-A starts, but this week Kelly had his best start yet with the Chihuahuas. Kelly has seen his strikeout rate rise and walk rate fall since joining the Chihuahuas, but with only 15 innings under his belt, it’s too early to make anything of that.
Ty France– 3B, Double-A, San Antonio Missions
11-21, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 12 TB
As Ty France has risen through the ranks of the Padres’ minor league system, it has become very clear that France is a very streaky hitter. France did not play on Sunday, but he did collect 11 hits in the previous four games he played. Prior to that, France had only one hit in the previous four games. If you look through France’s game log, you see a similar story, as France goes back and forth between hot streaks and streaks of getting no hits at all. Regardless of his streakiness, France has been consistently good this season and now has a 114 wRC+ on the season.
Enyel De Los Santos– RHP, Double-A, San Antonio Missions
7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
After being perhaps the most interesting pitcher in the Missions’ rotation for most of the season, De Los Santos now has been joined by the trio of Eric Lauer, Cal Quantrill, and Joey Lucchesi. Despite those three being in the Missions’ rotation, De Los Santos still had the best week of any Missions’ starter, with seven strong innings with only one earned run. After starting the year off with lots of inconsistency, De Los Santos has been one of the most effective starters in the entire Padres’ organization over the last month. Over his last six starts, De Los Santos has given up just 10 earned runs in 34 and two-thirds innings since June 13. The walks are still a concern, as he has walked 11 batters during that time, but the strikeouts have ticked up, and his success has as well.
Austin Allen– C, High-A, Lake Elsinore Storm
11-26, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 19 TB
The Allen Brothers continue to find success, as Austin continued his successful season at the plate with another stellar week. Over the last month or so, it seems like Allen has gotten hits, especially extra base hits, in just about every game he has played. Over the last month, Allen has seven doubles and nine home runs and is slashing .314/.351/.638. If he continues this play, he could find himself in San Antonio with most of his pitching staff before the season is through.
Logan Allen– LHP, High-A, Lake Elsinore Storm
6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
After waiting weeks for a promotion to Lake Elsinore, Logan Allen finally got that call, and has not disappointed since that promotion. Allen has now made three starts in Lake Elsinore, has thrown at least six innings in each start, and has given up just three earned runs in total. The walks have still been a small concern, as Allen has walked seven in those three starts, but the success speaks for itself. At just 20 years old, Allen is progressing very well through the Padres’ minor league system.
Jack Suwinski– CF, Low-A, Fort Wayne TinCaps
7-14, 1 2B, 1 HR, 11 TB
Fernando Tatis Jr. is clearly the best offensive player in Fort Wayne, but this week Jack Suwinski took the spotlight. Suwinski is hitting just over .200 for the season with a wRC+ below 100, but this week he had a lot of success. Maybe this is a sign of things to come for the young center fielder.
Reggie Lawson– RHP, Low-A, Fort Wayne TinCaps
7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
After a string of unsuccessful starts, Reggie Lawson had probably his best start of the season on Friday night. Following 11 walks in his previous three starts, Lawson walked no batters on Friday, striking out seven and giving up only three hits and one earned run. Lawson is still maddeningly inconsistent, but he’s just 19 years old and is still figuring things out. The upside is quite big if Lawson can figure out his secondary pitches and maintain better overall command and control of all of his pitches.
Bryant Aragon– IF, Short Season, Tri-City Dust Devils
8-18, 3 2B, 1 HR, 14 TB
Henry Henry– RHP, Short Season, Tri-City Dust Devils
7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
With an 80 grade name and lots of upside, Henry Henry is finally putting it together for Tri-City. After throwing just 35 innings in the AZL last summer, Henry is finally showing his great potential in short season ball this season. Henry now has 19 strikeouts in 21 and two-thirds innings with only three walks. He has given up eight earned runs and 10 hits, but Henry has looked the part so far this year.
Jonny Homza- IF/C, Rookie League, AZL Padres
8-20, 4 2B, 12 TB
He may lack a true position, as he has played third base, second base, and catcher so far this season, but Homza does not lack a strong bat. Homza is striking out a bunch, but he is showing a good deal of skill at the plate, as Homza has not only slashed .298/.355/.439 so far with the AZL Padres, but also has shown that strong positional versatility. It remains to be seen what position he will play full time in the future, but it looks like the bat may play at any of the three positions.
Nick Margevicius- LHP, Rookie League, AZL Padres
10 IP, 10 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 14 K
That’s a lot of strikeouts. At 21 years old, it seems like Margevicius could be a quick mover if the Padres moved the 6’5” left-hander into the bullpen. However, it appears the Padres are intent on letting him try it out in the rotation first, and he had a great deal of success this week. On the year, Margevicius has now struck out 24 batters in just 16 innings. If that success continues, Margevicius could be someone to watch going forward.
Alison Quintero– C, DSL Padres
5-14, 1 2B, 1 3B, 8 TB
Carlos Valenzuela– RHP, DSL Padres
6 IP, 6 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 2 K
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.