Listing teenage prospects within the Padres’ system

19-year-old prospects

CJ Abrams- (INF) Born: 10/03/2000

Already one of the top prospects in the farm system, Abrams has a very high ceiling. The left-handed hitter barrels up the baseball consistently and has top-notch athletic ability. There is talk he could play center field eventually for the team as the Padres are full of infield prospects.

Ryan Weathers- (LHP) Born: 12/17/1999

He just turned 20 but made this list to emphasize the youth in this organization. The left-handed pitcher had an up and down year in 2019 but showed well overall. His fastball velocity fluctuated a bit, but that is to be expected since this was his first taste of full-season ball. Weathers has the pedigree to succeed and should have no issues advancing through the system.

Tirso Ornelas– (OF) Born: 03/11/2000

Ornelas had a down year in Lake Elsinore in 2019 but is still very young. He made some minor swing adjustments at the end of the year and looked much better with his swing. The left-handed swing has a very high upside with plenty of power and bat to ball skills. He is a decent athlete and will not be a burden in the outfield moving forward.

Joey Cantillo– (LHP) Born: 12/18/1999

Cantillo is just about to turn 20 and made it to Lake Elsinore during the 2019 season. He shows a plus changeup, and the velocity is increasing on his fastball. The southpaw has a funky motion and throws strikes. Cantillo also shows a high baseball IQ and an incredible work ethic. The native Hawaiian will be a good one.

Gabriel Arias– (INF) Born: 02/27/2000

The defensive wizard is starting to swing a more productive bat. He has a long swing but is showing promise as far as power is concerned. Arias performed well in 2019 and could be poised to put up better numbers in the Texas League with the Sod Poodles.

 Justin Lopez- (INF) Born: 05/09/2000

There is a lot to like about Lopez, who is amazingly still a teenager. He has two full years of service time in Fort Wayne, where he was the youngest player to play there in 2018. The switch-hitter has plus power and great size (6-foot-2) but needs to walk more and cut down on the strikeouts. Defensively, he can play all over the infield.

Brandon Valenzuela– (C) Born: 10/02/2000

Switch-hitting catchers are rare, and this product out of Mexico is starting to produce. He has shown a great eye at the plate where he has recorded a .387 on-base percentage in 343 at-bats. There is not a lot of power presently, but he will take a walk and is well-regarded for his defense behind the plate.

Yeison Santana- (INF) Born: 12/07/2000

This right-handed hitter out of the Dominican Republic had a breakout year of sorts in the desert this year. He produced a .923 OPS in 41 games and 162 at-bats for the AZL Padres 2 team. He has a short swing and will use all fields. The power is developing though he will likely never be a major home run threat. There are some defensive concerns with him at shortstop presently.

Efrain Contreras- (RHP) Born: 01/02/2000

He pitched well at Fort Wayne last year, recording a 6-6 record with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.176 WHIP. The Mexican pitcher struck out 121 in 109.2 innings and will likely start the season in Lake Elsinore. The Padres have a deep pitching-rich system, and Contreras is an example of how they have many hurlers flying under the radar.

Luarbert Arias- (RHP) Born: 12/12/2000

Quietly, Arias has thrown well for the Padres in the last two seasons. He owns a career 3.51 ERA, and a 1.120 WHIP 24 games and 100 innings pitched between the AZL and Tri-City. The Venezuelan pitcher throws strikes and works fast.

Jeferson Garcia- (RHP) Born: 02/04/2000

This Venezuelan pitcher has a power arm. He has struck out 133 batters in 106.1 innings pitched at the minor league level but also has 60 earned runs. He can be wild in and out of the zone, and that needs to be fixed if he wants to climb the affiliate ladder.

Vladimir Echavarria– (INF) Born: 04/12/2000

With a career on-base percentage of .410 in 274 at-bats in the minor leagues, Echavarria is worth noting. The right-handed hitter does not have a lot of power and strikes out a lot too. He will need to refine his approach at the plate to truly progress in the system.

Jarryd Dale– (INF) Born: 09/11/2000

The Australian native continues to struggle with the bat, though he did record a .703 OPS in the AZL. His right-handed swing can get a bit long and there is little power to his game. He has yet to homer in 233 minor league at-bats and brings no speed element to his game. Youth is still on his size, though he will need to continue to develop more offensive firepower.

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.