EVT Top-100 San Diego Padres Prospects

10- Owen Miller–  INF  11/15/1996
Highest Level: Double-A Amarillo
2019 Stats: .785 OPS (.290/.355/.430)  13 HR/28 Doubles  46 BB/86 K

Drafted in the third round in 2018, Miller continues to impress with his ability to barrel up the baseball. He slashes the ball to all fields and is showing improved power. His knock was supposed to be a lack for hitting the long ball, but the right-handed hitter recorded 13 at the Double-A level in 2019. He is very compact with his swing and should have no trouble developing at the next level. He can play all over the infield, though his arm is probably best suited for second base in the future. He is versatile enough to play short or third and could be a handy utility player when it is all said and done. At 22, Miller is close to major league action.

9- Ryan Weathers– LHP  12/17/1999
Highest Level: Single-A Fort Wayne
2019 Stats: (3-7) 3.84 ERA/1.240 WHIP  96 IP/90 K

The Padres selected Weathers with the seventh overall selection of the 2018 draft. He has had an up and down season in Fort Wayne in 2019, but at the age of 19, the Padres are undoubtedly content with what they have seen. He flashes a fastball in the mid-90s at times but is generally working at 91 or 92 with his speed. Weathers has two plus offspeed pitches in a curve and a changeup, but both need more refinement. He repeats his delivery well and shows terrific athleticism on the mound. The son of a major leaguer gives Weathers plus intangibles in the game. He knows how to pitch, and the game will never get too big for him. He has the upside of a mid-rotation starter but could exceed those expectations with some hard work

8- Hudson Potts– INF  10/28/1998
Highest Level: Double-A Amarillo
2019 Stats: .731 OPS (.242/.304/.427)  17 HR/65 RBIs  32 BB/129 K

Hudson Potts is only 20 years old, and most people do not realize that. He is one of the younger players in the Texas League where he is beginning to find his stroke. The right-handed hitter started 2019 slowly and even spent time on the shelf with an injury. But returned with gusto, raising his home run total to 17 for the season. The strikeouts are concerning, and he fails to walk, but there is still a lot to like about Potts. The swing is quick, and he continually barrels up pitches. If he can learn to be more selective at the plate, he could be a real star in the game. The ball just sounds different off his bat. The prototypical third baseman is now playing some second base for the Sod Poodles. He can play the position but has the plus arm and grit of a power-hitting third baseman when it is all said and done.

7- Luis Campusano– C  09/29/1998
Highest Level: Single-A Lake Elsinore
2019 Stats: .906 OPS (.325/.396/.509)  15 HR/81 RBIs  52 BB/57 K

The more you see from Campusano, the more impressed you become of his ability on the baseball field. The 20-year-old is a Cal League All-Star and would probably be promoted at this point if not for the Padres ridiculous catching depth in their system. His OPS was just above .900 for the Storm where he showed a plus bat from the right side of the plate. He is quick to adjust and has slugged double-digit home runs this year. The power is coming as he matures and gets bigger. Defensively, the catcher is highly regarded by his pitching staff. He has a plus arm and moves well behind the dish. Campusano has the upside of an everyday major league catcher.

6- Xavier Edwards–  2B  08/09/1999
Highest Level: Single-A Lake Elsinore
2019 Stats: .771 OPS (.322/.375/.396)  76 Runs/34 SB  44 BB/54 K

Now in Lake Elsinore, the teenager is showing that he will indeed be a fast riser. In Fort Wayne, Edwards put up a .805 OPS in 77 games. He stole 20 bags in the Midwest League where he used his plus speed well on the bases. The switch-hitter has a great eye at the plate and generally makes contact. He should be a top of the order type of player when it is all said and done. Edwards has very little power presently, but his forte is getting on base, not driving in runs. He can play shortstop but has seen action at second base mostly where he flashes a Gold Glove level skill. If he can continue to get on base, steal bases and wreck havoc to opposing pitchers, Edwards will be a useful player at the highest level of the game.

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5- Adrian Morejon–  LHP  02/27/1999
Highest Level: Major Leagues
2019 Stats: (Minors) (0-4) 4.35 ERA/ 1.22 WHIP  36 IP/44 K

The San Diego Padres signed Morejon for $11 million during the 2016 international market spending spree. The Cuban left-handed pitcher has plus stuff and has shown it at an early age. He made his major league debut in Chicago this season and was not fazed. Morejon has a FB that he can thrown up to 96-98 mph. He also spins a plus curve up for strikes and has shown excellent command of that pitch. The pitcher throws two different changeups. One is a knuckle-change, and the other is a typical circle change. The 20-year-old shows great maturity on the mound when it comes to pitching. He knows how to keep hitters off-balance. Morejon has had some shoulder injuries and has been used mostly in one or two-inning stints this season. He has starting rotation potential and should be given a chance to flourish in that role soon. For now, the team will continue to try and monitor his workload.

4- CJ Abrams–  SS  10/03/2000
Highest Level: Single-A Fort Wayne
2019 Stats: 1.104 OPS (.393/.436/.662)  3 HR/8 Triples/14 SB  11 BB/14 K

Skyrocketing up everyone’s list is this young infielder. Abrams was selected with the 6th overall selection out of Blessed Trinity Catholic High in Georgia. The left-handed hitter has plus speed which will transition well in professional baseball as he has off the charts baseball skills. At 6-foot-1 and with a solid throwing arm, there are indications that the Padres could eventually move Abrams to the outfield. He has played centerfield in the past and did a great job displaying positive instincts for the position. Abrams is a top-of-the-order presence with the ability to be really special. At 18, he is still very young and will probably add muscle. Reports currently indicate that he has average power, but we have already seen excellent power potential in Arizona. He could be the type of player who just gets better as the competition level gets higher. He should be a top 30 prospect in baseball shortly and has the ability to be the best Padres’ prospect at some point in 2020.

3- Luis Patino– RHP  10/26/1999
Highest Level: Double-A Amarillo
2019 Stats: (6-8) 2.57 ERA/1.130 WHIP  94.2 IP/123 K

The 19-year-old converted shortstop has been impressive since starting his journey on the mound. The right-handed pitcher has a funky motion and is generating 98 mph fastballs with a decent tail. He teams that high-velocity pitch with a plus slider that is a deadly strikeout weapon. Patino can also throw a decent curve and is working on a changeup. With a four-pitch mix, he should have no problem advancing as a member of the rotation. The Colombian native brings a ton of energy with him each start. He is athletic on the mound and is regarded as a plus hitter. He repeats his motion very well and has been extremely durable for the Padres. With a sub 3.00 ERA in the Cal League in 2019, Patino will probably start the year in Amarillo for the 2020 season.

2- Taylor Trammell- OF  09/13/1997
Highest Level: Double-A Amarillo
2019 Stats: .677 OPS (.231/.337/.339) 10HR/42 RBI/20 SB  66 BB/121 K

Trammell had a horrible 2019 season, but there is still a lot to like about the left-handed-hitting outfielder. He has a sweet swing and uses the whole field well with his approach. The fleet-footed outfielder has the speed to play center, but there are some concerns about his arm. He will need to improve in that area in order to become a valuable contributor. Trammell gets on base as he shows a plus eye at the plate. He has speed to be a real threat on the basepaths. His down year should not be a concern as Trammell caught fire at the end of the season once he built some comfort with his new team. He could debut at some point in 2020 with the Padres.

1- MacKenzie Gore– LHP  02/24/1999
Highest Level: Double-A Amarillo
2019 Stats: (9-2) 1.69 ERA/0.832 WHIP 101 IP/135 K

There is no doubt that Gore is the Padres #1 prospect. He dominated this year in the California League, going 7-1 with a 1.02 ERA and a 0.706 WHIP in 15 starts. The left-hander has a plus fastball and three potential plus offspeed pitches which he spots well to all sides of the plate. Gore was roughed up a bit in the Texas League at first, but made an impressive last showing in the league in late August. The best left-handed pitching prospect in the game of baseball is really close to major league action. He should debut with the Padres at some point in 2020. Once he does, he will not return to the minors.

James Clark

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.