Padres Minor Leagues: El Paso Chihuahuas April Report
The San Diego Padres AAA affiliate the El Paso Chihuahuas are off to a 12-9 record this season in the month of April. With all the huge additions to the San Diego Padres major league roster, the Chihuahuas were expected to have many quality players that could in most seasons be on a Padres 25 man roster.
Robbie Erlin, Tommy Medica, Abraham Almonte, Rymer Liriano, and Jake Goebbert all played semi-regularly at some point last season. With their experience, the team was set up for a decent year. The team has plated 116 runs this season while only allowing 97 runs to score.
Let’s take a look at some stats and see how some of the players are doing so far this season. Leading the team in hitting to this point is Austin Hedges, who is starting to really turn in on offensively. Hedges is hitting .355 with 2 homers and 15 runs batted in. He has also slugged eight doubles and has a .420 on base percentage. If he continues to hit like this, Hedges will force the Padres to make a huge decision.
Derek Norris or Austin Hedges as the catcher of the future? We are not at that point yet, but it is very nice to see Hedges hit the ball well. At the very least he has boosted his trade value back up to where it should be. He in my opinion is a legit prospect. Not only on the Padres, but in all of Major League Baseball.
Tommy Medica is right behind Hedges in hitting. Medica has a .329 batting average to go with 1 home run and 10 runs batted in. Alex Dickerson is hitting .327 with 2 home runs and 12 runs driven in. Journeyman first baseman Brett Wallace is off to a .315 start with a team leading three home runs and 14 runs batted in. Another journeyman infielder Ramiro Pena is hitting .288 with 10 runs batted in. The 29-year-old Pena provides middle infield depth for the Padres, but realistically isn’t in the teams plans.
Rymer Liriano is currently hitting .271 with two home runs and nine runs batted in. He has also walked 11 times and amassed an impressive .393 batting average. Liriano is major league ready and at the age of 24, could blossom. Abraham Almonte is off to a .282 start in 78 at bats. He has surprised most with three home runs and 14 runs batted in. The 26-year-old outfielder has played in every game for the Chihuahuas.
Former top Angels prospect Taylor Lindsey is the every day second baseman and is hitting .239 with seven runs batted in. Cody Decker is off to a .229 start with two home runs and six runs batted in. Jake Goebbert has struggled hitting .212 in 52 at bats this far.
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.