Padres Minors: Down on the Farm- Weekend Recap
Friday
Austin Hedges, C, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas 1-3, 1 H, 1 RBI, 1 K
After a ridiculous home run streak in mid-to-late June, Austin Hedges has cooled off considerably, hitting only .182 in the last ten days. Hedges is still hitting .348 on the season and has more than proven his ability to hit consistently. All that’s left is proving that at the big league level, although that may have to wait until September call ups, or even 2017.
Nick Torres, RF, Double-A San Antonio Missions 2-4, 2 RBI
Similarly to Austin Hedges, Nick Torres has cooled off a bit after a hot start to the 2016 season. Originally a fourth round pick, Torres has greatly improved his future stock this season with a strong season long performance. Torres has long been seen as a fourth outfielder/utility type, but he is right on the cusp of something special if he can take his power game to the next level.
*Prospect of the Day* Franmil Reyes, RF, High-A Lake Elsinore Storm 3-4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Reyes has been one guy who has been kind of hard to place in the Padres system. He has a lot of size and some good power potential, but he has yet to really unlock that full potential. Reyes is hitting .351 over the last ten days, and at only 21 years old he still has some time to grow. More strong showings like this will certainly help his case going forward.
Austin Allen, C, Low-A Fort Wayne Tincaps 2-4, 1 BB, 2 RBI
In his first full season of professional ball, catcher Austin Allen continues to impress at the plate. However, with some defensive question marks, there is real concern about where he will end up on the field long-term, with 1B/DH being a real possibility. Even so, if he continues to hit like he has this season the Padres will always find a place for him.
Eric Lauer, LHP, Short Season Tri-City Dust Devils 3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K
The most developed of any Padres draft pick from this year, Lauer has already been ranked all the way at #9 on the MLB Pipeline mid-season Padres top 30 update. Lauer sports an above average fastball and slider, and potential above average pitches in his curveball and changeup as well. With Lauer it’s all about the high floor rather than a high ceiling, but the Padres have plenty of high ceiling pitchers in the system now.
Hudson Potts, SS, Rookie AZL Padres 2-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Another recent Padres draft pick, Hudson Potts has a lot to prove, and he’s doing it well so far. Potts is hitting .312 so far with the AZL Padres, and is hitting .353 over the last ten days. Potts has a long way to go to prove himself as a useful prospect, but the start has been solid.
Saturday
Carlos Asuaje, 2B, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas 2-4 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 HR, 2 RBI
When the Padres traded Craig Kimbrel last offseason for a four prospect haul, it was pretty clear which of the four would go overlooked. While Carlos Asuaje was that guy, he has very quietly had a very solid season, making the Triple-A All Star Game and maintaining an average around .320-.330 all season long. Asuaje has profiled as a utility player, but the Padres may need to give him a chance to prove himself sooner rather than later.
*Prospect of the Day* Gabriel Quintana, 3B, Double-A San Antonio Missions 2-4, 1 BB, 2 HR, 5 RBI
Gabriel Quintana has struggled quite a bit in his second go around at Double-A, but a performance like this certainly garners some recognition. Quintana sits outside the Padres top-30 prospect list, but could make a move if he puts more good performances like this together.
Michael Gettys, CF, High-A Lake Elsinore Storm 3-5, 2 2B, 2 K
Enyel De Los Santos, RHP, High-A Lake Elsinore Storm 5 IP, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Josh Naylor, 1B, High-A Lake Elsinore Storm 0-5, 1 K
After a tough 2015 season in professional ball, Michael Gettys has really turned it around this season, lighting up Fort Wayne before doing the same in Lake Elsinore. The arm, run, and field tools are all so strong that Gettys can truly be a star if he can unlock his power and hit potential.
Another solid start for Enyel De Los Santos who has been a bit shaky for the Storm but has made three solid starts in a row.
In his professional debut with the Padres organization, Josh Naylor went 0-5 with a strikeout. He will have plenty of time to prove himself though.
Carlos Belen, 3B, Low-A Fort Wayne Tincaps 4-7, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI
Hansel Rodriguez, RHP, Short Season Tri-City Dust Devils 5 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K
Acquired in the Melvin Upton trade, this was the first start Rodriguez made as a Padre farmhand. All the good about Rodriguez was there, the arm speed, the fastball, but the bad was there as well, as Rodriguez struggled with his mechanics and repeating his delivery, walking three batters over his five innings. Either way, there’s a lot to dream on with Rodriguez long-term.
Jean Garcia, RHP, Rookie AZL Padres 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Sunday
Carlos Pimentel, RHP, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas 6 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K
After spending parts of the last four years in Triple-A for various different teams, Pimentel has been finally putting it together as of late. In just over 50 innings in June and July, Pimentel has given up 25 earned runs, including a string of five consecutive starts with three or fewer earned runs. Pimentel still isn’t much of a prospect at 26, but the progress has to be at least somewhat encouraging.
Seth Simmons, RHP, Double-A San Antonio Missions 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Simmons had yet another impressive start for the Missions on Sunday afternoon. At 28 years old, Simmons is long past being considered a “prospect to watch”, but he may at some point be used a stopgap option for the Padres while they are in the middle of this upcoming rebuilding period. Simmons has been lights out since joining the Missions, pitching to a 2.22 ERA in just under 53 innings.
Zech Lemond, RHP, High-A Lake Elsinore Storm 2.1 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
A forgettable performance for Lemond who has had his share of those as of late. His ERA is now just below 7.00 for the year as he looks to rebound from this recent tough stretch in which he has had three starts with seven plus earned runs given up since June 19th after a solid start to the year.v
*Prospect of the Day* Anderson Espinoza, RHP, Low-A Fort Wayne Tincaps 5 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Espinoza has had a bit of a rough go of it since being acquired by the Padres for Drew Pomeranz. After a shaky first start on July 20th, in which he gave up four earned runs in only three innings pitched, and a slightly better start in which he gave up two earned in four and two thirds on July 25th, Espinoza looked even better for the Tincaps on Sunday. At only 18, the hiccups will be there, but the potential for Espinoza is sky-high, and he is rightfully the top prospect in the Padres system going forward.
Ruddy Giron, SS, Low-A Fort Wayne Tincaps 3-4, 1 2B, 1 R
While Espinoza was the player to watch on Sunday for the Tin Caps, the Padres #24 ranked prospect Ruddy Giron had a solid game as well. It’s been a rough go of it for Giron for the Tin Caps this year, made all the more frustrating by his second half collapse last year after a fantastic first half in Fort Wayne. At only 19, Giron is already playing at a level above his age, so the Padres hope these growing pains go away with more development and playing time.
Will Headean, LHP, Short Season Tri-City Dust Devils 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Lake Bachar, RHP, Rookie AZL Padres 3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 K
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.