Padres Minors: Dinelson Lamet- A Name to Remember
The San Diego Padres minor league system is rather weak in the pitching department at the upper minor league levels. However both the A-Ball teams are loaded with pitching prospects and Dinelson Lamet might be one of the best you have never heard of.
Dinelson Lamet is a 23-year-old Dominican pitcher who was signed by the Padres in 2014 as an International Free Agent. He was retained for $100,000, just before the Padres deadline for spending on the market. He paid immediate dividends for the Friars and looks to be a solid prospect for the team.
So far this season Lamet is 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA in five starts and 26 innings pitched. He has struck out 24 batters in that time and remained very poised on the mound. He is currently in Lake Elsinore with the Storm and a promotion to San Antonio (Double-A) could be in his cards very soon.
He has an excellent motion that you will see here. He is very free and easy and that translates well to his future in the league. Lamet is 6′ 4″ and around 190 lbs. You have to figure that once he fills out a bit more he will increase his already high 90’s fastball. His stuff is electric and the Padres might have found a good one here.
On April 7th 2016 Lamet vs. Rancho Cucamonga
Here is his scouting report via Baseball Prospectus
Major league ETA: 2019
9. Dinelson Lamet, RHP
DOB: 07/18/1992
Height/Weight: 6’4” 185 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired: Signed June 2014 by San Diego out of the Dominican Republic for $100,000
Previous Ranking(s): Unranked
2015 Stats: 2.99 ERA, 105.1 IP, 82 H, 44 BB, 120 K at Low-A Fort Wayne
Future Tools: 70 fastball, 50 slider
Role: 45—Backend starter/High-leverage reliever
To be blunt, this is an aggressive ranking of Lamet, but the area scouts I spoke with convinced me he’s one of the true “sleepers” of the system. He’ll throw a two- and four-seam fastball—the latter will get up to 97— and, stop me if you’ve heard this one before, there’s plenty of projection left. He’ll also throw a solid slider with late tilt, and as the season progressed he showed he could locate it within the zone. The change is still a developmental pitch at this point, and the command leaves a lot to be desired. Still, in a system that isn’t deep in starting pitching prospects, Lamet deserves to be mentioned, and if he can miss bats next year, he’ll be a riser in 2015.
Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: If you want a name that probably isn’t owned in your league that rosters 500 prospects, Lamet might be it, but he’s got ways to go in proving he’s anything more than a reliever.
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.