Padres Minors: Down on the Farm- Opening Day Edition
Credit: Storm baseball
It’s April and baseball is finally back.
The Padres have already completed a four-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, dropping three out of four to their division rival.
On Thursday night, all four of the Padres full-season minor league affiliates kicked off the 2017 season.
As we did last year at East Village Times, we will be profiling the prospects that stand out each night down on the farm. With one game in the books in the minor leagues, let’s take a look at which players impressed on Thursday night.
El Paso Chihuahuas
Andrew “Walker” Lockett, SP, 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 8 K
Looking to build off an impressive 2016 season in which Lockett saw time at every Padres full season minor league level with sub-three ERAs after every stop, he started the 2017 season off on the right foot with a dominant performance against the Las Vegas 51s. Lockett was cruising through five innings, giving up only three hits to that point. However, after two singles by top Mets prospects Amed Rosario and Dom Smith, Travis Taijeron got a third single, driving in the first run of the game for the 51s. Lockett would get himself out of that inning with a strikeout of catcher, Kevin Plawecki. All told, it was a strong start for the pitcher who could be the next guy up in San Diego should the Padres need another starter later this season.
Franchy Cordero, CF, 2-4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI
San Antonio Missions
Kyle Lloyd, SP, 5.2 IP, 1 H, O ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Luis Urias, 2B, 1-3, 1 HR, 1 BB
After an MVP season and batting title in the California League with the Lake Elsinore Storm in 2017, Luis Urias kicked off his 2017 season with a bang on a long home run in his second at bat of the season. Urias also drew a walk in the game and showed why he is one of the top-30 prospects in the Padres’ farm system.
Lake Elsinore Storm
Joey Lucchesi, SP, 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Michael Gettys, CF, 1-1, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB
Michael Gettys just tied the game at 2. pic.twitter.com/iRUT0QOVv2
— Woe, Doctor! (@woedoctor) April 7, 2017
Fort Wayne TinCaps
Jesse Scholtens, SP, 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 11 K
Thursday night was a night of good pitching all throughout the Padres’ minor league system, but the TinCaps may have seen the best performance of all. The Padres 9th-round draft pick from 2016, Scholtens looked dominant in his first turn on the hill this season. Not only did he give up only one earned run on the night, but Scholtens also got 11 of his 17 outs via the strike out. Scholtens may not get the acclaim of several of the other strong starters in the Padres system, but he could open some eyes in 2017.
#PersonalCheeseball Jesse Scholtens struck out 11 in 5.2 innings against @BGHotRods pic.twitter.com/zSmDcELwrp
— Vince Lara-Cinisomo (@vincelara) April 7, 2017
Jorge Ona, RF, 2-4, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 K
Quick video of Jorge Ona in his first game in affiliated ball with @Padres‘ low Class A affiliate @TinCaps pic.twitter.com/W8AKOgizQz
— Vince Lara-Cinisomo (@vincelara) April 7, 2017
Editorial and Prospect Writer for East Village Times. Twenty-five years young, Patrick has lived in San Diego for his entire life and has been a Padres fan nearly as long. Patrick lives for baseball and is always looking to learn new things about the game he loves through advanced stats.