EVT Top-100 San Diego Padres Prospects

30- Reginald Preciado- SS  05/16/2003
Highest Level: Has yet to make debut
2019 Stats: Has yet to make debut

16-year-old Preciado was signed from the country of Panama this July for $1.3 million. The shortstop is a switch-hitter with great bat to ball skills. He has very good size (6-foot-4) and should be able to advance through the system with no issues. Preciado will stick at shortstop for now but has the size and arm strength to move to third base if needed. He has decent speed, though he is not considered a speed burner. The infielder will be 17 next season and should play most, if not all, the season in the DSL league. The Padres covet the fact he is another young player with a very high baseball IQ.

29- Reggie Lawson–  RHP  08/02/1997
Highest Level: Double-A Amarillo
2019 Stats: (3-1) 5.20 ERA/1.40 WHIP  27.2 IP/36 K

The 71st overall selection in 2016 by the Padres, Lawson has developed slowly. At 21 and in Double-A, he is not behind in his improvement on the mound. However, he is currently sidelined with an injury and battled inconsistency when he was pitching in 2019. Lawson still has issues throwing strikes from time to time, despite having a plus fastball with good movement. He has a decent curve and has improved in the usage of his changeup. Control has been his major issue, and the right-handed pitcher needs to refine his command. At 6-foot-4, Lawson has excellent size, and most scouts believe he will gain arm strength as he matures.

28- Yeison Santana- INF  12/07/2000
Highest Level: AZL Padres
2019 Stats: .923 OPS (.346/.429/.494)  3 HR/30 RBIs  23 BB/38 K

This Dominican shortstop has a decent glove, but there are some small concerns about his bat. Sanatana is a 5-foot-11 right-handed hitter who has quick hands but needs to keep developing his power potential. At 18, there is still time for him to get bigger and stronger, but that will likely be the key to his future. Santana is already showing signs of increased power, and that is a good thing. He will walk but will also swing and miss a lot.

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27- Pedro Avila–  RHP  01/14/1997
Highest Level: Major Leagues
2019 Stats: (0-3) 5.25 ERA/1.250 WHIP  24 IP/31 K

The curveball specialist made his major league debut in 2019 for the Padres but was injured shortly after that. Avila is not blessed with huge size, but he repeats his motion well and gets decent movement on his fastball. The outpitch is the curve which he uses really well to keep hitters off-balance. He also has a developing changeup that is progressing very well. He looks to be a mid-rotation type starter at the highest level if everything breaks right for him. Avila blew out his elbow in August and will undergo Tommy John surgery. This is a tough blow for the Padres.

26- Ismael Mena- OF  11/30/2002
Highest Level: Has yet to make debut
2019 Stats: Has yet to make debut

The Padres spent $2.2 million on Ismael Mena, who is a big left-handed hitting outfielder. The 6-foot-3 Dominican gets Gregory Polanco comparisons with his future development. He barrels up baseball very well, and most think the power will come in time. Mena’s forte is speed as he grades at a 70 in the speed category already. Most reports indicate he is a student of the game and will be a high IQ player. Those indications are a good sign as he is still only 16 years of age. Mena could be a special player, but it will be a year or two before he makes it to the States. His showing on the list is high, but there is a very big upside here with this young player.

25- Anderson Espinoza-  RHP  03/09/1998
Highest Level: Single-A Fort Wayne
2019 Stats: Injured

Not one, but two Tommy John surgeries have sidelined this pitcher for the last three years. He is still 21 and will be 23 when he returns fully healthy in 2021, but there is a lot of reasons to be concerned about Espinoza. He has never shown great durability and could return in the bullpen. It will be interesting to see if he returns to form with his stuff. He had a triple-digit fastball with an excellent assortment of secondary pitches when he was healthy. Only time will tell for this pitcher. He makes this list as his ceiling is very high. That you cannot deny.

24- Jorge Ona– OF 12/31/1996
Highest Level: Double-A Amarillo
2019 Stats: .957 OPS (.348/.417/.539)  5 HR/18 RBIs  11 BB/26 K

Injuries derailed what a very promising start to the 2019 season for Jorge Ona. He reportedly underwent shoulder surgery but should return to full strength in 2020. The stocky right-handed hitter has shown plus power with his bat. He was at a .957 OPS and leading the Texas League in hitting (.348) when he went down in early May. The Cuban outfielder will be 23 next season when play starts and could be very close to major league action. Defensively, he projects as a corner outfielder. He does not have great range but does have a decent throwing arm. Ona will also need to be added to the 40-man this winter or risk being exposed to the Rule-5 draft.

23- Buddy Reed–  OF  04/27/1995
Highest Level: Double-A Amarillo
2019 Stats: .698 OPS (.228/.310/.388)  14 HR/50 RBIs  42 BB/126 K  23 SB

Switch-hitting outfielder Buddy Reed shows impressive skills on the baseball field. He is a top-notch defender in centerfield where he gets great jumps and shows a plus arm with excellent carry. He is as fast as there is in the Texas League, but he is still having issues transition the speed to stolen bases. 23 steals is impressive, but you have to think he is capable of more. The power is coming for Reed, and he is making more consistent contact too. The outfielder is 24 now and will need 40-man protection this winter. It will be interesting to see what the Padres do with him moving forward.

22- Jeisson Rosario–  OF   10/22/1999
Highest Level: Single-A Lake Elsinore
2019 Stats: .686 OPS (.242/.372/.314) 3 HR/35 RBIs  87 BB/114 K  67 Runs/11 SB

Left-handed hitting outfielder Jeisson Rosario is a terrific athlete. He does a standing backflip in center when the team wins and is known to be ambidextrous. He also has been seen taking grounders in the infield, though he is clearly an outfielder at the next level. The Dominican outfielder flashes a great eye at the plate and makes decent contact. He has struggled to put the ball in play this season, but that is more about the fact he is 19 and playing against much older talent. Rosario has very little power, and that will likely never come. He slashes the ball around the field with his quick hands. He has plus speed but has yet to transition that to stolen bases. Rosario is very raw.

21- Joshua Mears–  OF  02/16/2001
Highest Level: AZL Padres
2019 Stats: .794 OPS (.253/.354/.440) 7 HR/24 RBIs  23 BB/59 K  9 SB

This young man is built like a tank. Power will be his best ability as he can slug a baseball with the best of them. At 6-foot-3 and 235 lbs and only 18 years old, there is a lot to be excited about in regards to the future of this outfielder. There are some concerns about his swing, which is not the most fluid of motions. The risk with Mears is there, but he could be a high-ceiling player when it is all said and done. He runs well and is a decent fielder where he shows a plus arm with great carry.

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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.