Padres minor league depth (Relief Pitchers)
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Minor League Depth and Uncertainty
Kyle McGrath– El Paso (4-3) 7.76 ERA/1.644 WHIP 62.1 IP/20 BB/43 K
McGrath has major league service time, but there is not a lot of upside with him. The 27-year-old is a soft tosser who relies on an unorthodox windup and motion to get outs. He was knocked around last year in El Paso as the PCL is a hitter’s league. McGrath is probably nothing more than organizational depth at this point.
Alfredo Castaneda– DSL Padres (1-1) 4.50 ERA/1.63 WHIP 24 IP/10BB/23 K
19-year-old Alfredo Castaneda played for the DSL last year, and his future is uncurtained. The Mexican native has good size and, after spending two years in the Dominican Republic, seems poised to begin 2020 in the States. He should pitch on one of the AZL teams to start the year.
Hazahel Quijada– Fort Wayne (0-0) 3.38 ERA/1.125 WHIP 2.1 IP/1 BB/5 K
This left-handed pitcher provides depth to the team in the middle reliever department. The 17th round pick in 2018 from UC Riverside has an issue throwing strikes and is trying to rectify that in the lower levels. Quijada has an outside chance of starting the year in Single-A.
Dominic DiSabatino– Tri-City (4-0) 8.03 ERA/1.78 WHIP 24.2 IP/23 BB/13 K
After missing the entire 2017 and 2018 season, this 23-year-old will be looking to further in the lower levels. The right-hander, who was selected in the 20th-round of the 2016 draft battled throwing strikes last year for the Dust Devils. His future is undoubtedly cloudy.
Keegan Collett– AZL Padres (2-0) 4.56 ERA/1.690 WHIP- 23.2 IP/22 BB/36 K
Right-hander Keegan Collett has a big arm but has real issues throwing strikes. The Padres will hope to rectify his mechanics and get some consistency from the 21-year-old native Texan. Look for the pitcher to start in Tri-City with an outside chance of seeing time in Fort Wayne if all goes well for him.
Brandon Komar– AZL Padres/Fort Wayne (1-1) 6.29 ERA/1.485 WHIP- 34.1 IP/15 BB/39 K
There is a chance that Komar is given a shot in the rotation, but he looks to be a reliever in the long run. The 13th-round pick from the 2019 draft out of Madison Area Technical Collge has a lot of work to do, but the 20-year-old is still very young, and his future is cloudy.
Mark Zimmerman– AZL Padres INJURED
The former 33rd-round pick in 2016 missed all of the 2018 season and only pitched in one game last year at the AZL level. The 25-year-old power pitcher has an uphill battle in front of him, but he could eventually be a decent prospect for the team.
Alejandro Lugo– DSL Padres (0-5) 5.24 ERA/1.61 WHIP- 22.1 IP/15 BB/24 K
Signed in May of 2019, this 17-year-old has a decent arm. The Venezuelan native will pitch again in the DSL to begin the 2020 season. There is not much known about this right-handed pitcher who only adds to the Padres organizational depth.
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Alan Mundo– AZL Padres INJURED
This Mexican pitcher missed the entire 2019 season with an injury. The 6-foot-2 right-hander has some ability but will need to rebound in the coming years to be a viable prospect in a system that is very deep. His future is uncertain at the age of 19.
Jessel Soto– DSL Padres (2-1) 2.12 ERA/1.449 WHIP 29.2 IP/14 BB/14 K 1 save
Venezuelan right-handed pitcher Jessel Soto is a prospect that needs another year at the DSL level. The 18-year-old has excellent size at 6-foot-4, but is lean and wiry and needs to add muscle to his frame. There is some ability here.
Luis Eusebio– AZL Padres (2-2) 4.41 ERA/1.356 WHIP 34.2 IP/15 BB/41 K 4 saves
23-year-old Luis Eusebio has been at the rookie-level for three years without emerging. The Dominican pitcher owns a career 4.53 ERA in 131 innings for the DSL and AZL Padres. The right-handed pitcher is probably nothing more than a depth piece at this point.
Omar Fernandez– AZL Padres INJURED
This 20-year-old left-handed pitcher spent the whole 2019 season on the shelf. The Venezuelan native put up decent numbers in his three previous seasons, recording a 3.61 ERA and a 1.245 WHIP in 119.2 innings pitched. Health will be a massive key for him moving forward.
Moises Lugo– AZL Padres/Fort Wayne (5-2) 3.83 ERA/1.250 WHIP 40 IP/8 BB/41 K
Getting a little taste of Single-A baseball was good for this right-handed pitcher. The 21-year-old was roughed up a bit, but he could open the season at the level if he shows well in the spring.
Enrique Page– DSL Padres INJURED
At 6-foot-7, Enrique Page is a large human being. The right-handed pitcher out of the Dominican Republic missed the entire 2019 season and has yet to make his professional debut after being signed by the Padres during the last international signing period.
Anderson Polanco– AZL Padres (1-1) 5.73 ERA/1.636 WHIP 22 IP/12 BB/24 K 2 saves
After missing the entire 2018 season, this 22-year-old left-hander was able to get into some action last year. There is some ability here, and he could make a run at full-season ball if all breaks well for him this spring.
Fernando Sanchez– AZL Padres (3-0) 4.64 ERA/1.394 WHIP 33 IP/22 BB/41 K 2 saves
19-year-old Mexican pitcher Fernando Sanchez is a decent option for the team in the long run. The right-hander has saved games and looks to be a reliable middle relief option moving forward. He could see some time in Fort Wayne this year.
Alexuan Vega– AZL Padres (1-1) 6.26 ERA/2.232 WHIP 27.1 IP/24 BB/29 K
The Padres used a 6th-round pick on the Puerto Rican youngster, and it has not looked to be a solid pick. The left-handed pitcher owns a 7.87 ERA in the last two seasons and has struggled to make it out of rookie ball. The 20-year-old has the stiff, but need to figure it out.
Jake Sims– Tr-City (3-2) 5.40 ERA/1.933 WHIP 30 IP/28 BB/50 K
Canadian Jake Sims was selected in the 31st-round in 2018 out of St. Leo College. The right-handed pitcher has a power arm, but struggles with location and throwing strikes. The 22-year-old could be a decent option one day.
Tom Colletti– 5 Teams (4-6) 5.10 ERA/1.482 WHIP 54.2 IP/20 BB/65 K 4 saves
24-year-old Tom Colletti will likely open the season in Lake Elsinore or Fort Wayne. The right-handed pitcher owns a career 3.58 ERA in 105 innings pitched at the minor league level. Colletti has saved games in the past and could be used in that role moving forward.
Manny Guzman– AZL Padres INJURED
Gusman was injured for most of 2019 and only pitched in two games for the AZL Padres. The 20-year-old Dominican has excellent size at 6-foot-4 but will need to refine his mechanics. There is an outside chance he starts in Tri-City to begin the 2020 season.
Dylan Hoffman– AZL Padres (0-1) 6.00 ERA/1.667 WHIP 6 IP/1 BB/5 K
Trevor Hoffman’s nephew is not much of a pitching prospect. The right-hander will need to get bigger and stronger to be a relevant prospect. At the age of 24, the chances of that happening are really low.
Tyler Mortensen– AZL Padres INJURED
The 26th-round pick in 2018 missed the entire season last year. The 19-year-old left-handed pitcher has the size and enough stuff to get back into prospect relevancy. The native Californian will need to stay healthy to excel in the system.
Eudi Asencio– AZL Padres (2-1) 7.23 ERA/1.661 WHIP 18.2 IP/19 BB/ 12 K
21-year-old Eusi Asencio is not a very highly-touted prospect. The Dominican pitcher owns a career 5.22 ERA in 70.2 minor league innings. The right-handed pitcher may see some time in the AZL, but that is not even a guarantee.
Carlos Belen– Fort Wayne/Amarillo (2-3) 4.12 ERA/1.256 WHIP 67.2 IP/18 BB/73 K
Converted infielder Carlos Belen throws hard and showed some promise last season in his first taste of pitching. There is a lot to like about his upside, but the 23-year-old Dominican is raw on the mound. He will see some time with the Storm in 2020.
Tom Cosgrove– Lake Elsinore/AZL Padres (1-4) 5.45 ERA/1.667 WHIP 33 IP/13 BB/33 K
Drafted in the 12th-round in 2017, this right-handed pitcher has some ability. He owns a 3.90 ERA and a 1.423 WHIP in 195 minor league innings. Cosgrove will likely play a part in the bullpen rotation between Lake Elsinore and Amarillo this coming season.
Nick Kuzia– 3 Teams (3-3) 4.65 ERA/1.417 WHIP 60 IP/26 BB/62 K
24-year-old Nock Kuzia is an undrafted free agent who has pitched well for the Padres. The right-hander owns a 4.46 ERA in 119 minor league innings. Kuzia should begin the 2020 season at the Single-A level.
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.