Padres Organization Players of the Week: July 22-28

Here is a recap of the top performers of the Padres’ organization this week.

Farm batter: Jordy Barley (A-)

With a system chock-full of talented middle infielders and the best rookie on the planet currently playing shortstop for the San Diego Padres, it’s easy to forget about Barley, a 19-year-old shortstop in Short-Season Tri-City. He is doing his best to make sure that doesn’t happen, especially with his bat. He exploded with power this week as four of his seven home runs this season came just this week, in fact, were hit in the last two games of the weekend.

It’s that guy again. Jordy Barley 2-run HR gives the Dust Devils the lead. Unreal.

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) July 29, 2019

On Saturday against the Everett AquaSox, Barley went 5-for-6 with two homers and two doubles, with four RBI. He has maintained respectable numbers throughout his first season above Rookie ball, with a .267 average, .795 OPS and 121 wRC+. He collected eight hits and eight RBI in the final two games of the week alone.

Farm pitcher: MacKenzie Gore (AA)

Gore is at it again, except this time, it’s at his new level of Double-A. It looks as if Gore has gotten his “sea legs” with Double-A Amarillo after a rough start in his previous outing (seven earned runs on three home runs). In Friday’s start, it was back to the old Gore we know and love as he pitched into the sixth inning and struck out six without allowing a run. He is currently the youngest pitcher in the Texas League at 20 years-old with the other two 20 year-olds, Adrian Morejon and Andres Munoz, currently with the big league club.

Final line for @Padres phenom MacKenzie Gore:

5.1 IP
0 R
4 H
1 BB
6 K

Here he is whiffing 3 in the first, including Chris "Kringle" Carpenter.

Live #Padres prospects stats: https://t.co/qhxUsyE11e pic.twitter.com/y27lLCO2f7

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 27, 2019

Gore will find himself with the Padres soon enough, perhaps sometime next season. His walk rate continues to impress as it is 1.8 batters per nine innings through three Double-A starts, which is actually lower than the rate he had down in Lake Elsinore (2.3). Since his recent crowning as the Padres’ number one ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline and his impressive appearance at the MLB Futures Game in Cleveland, Gore has received much more national attention.

MLB batter: Fernando Tatis Jr. 

Perhaps I need to copy and paste this in here because Fernando Tatis Jr. has carried this offense on more than one occasion. In a week where San Diego went 2-4, there was not much to celebrate. Tatis was the main exception. Tatis was the only Padres hitter that was remotely consistent in the weekend series against the Giants, collecting six hits and an emphatic home run. Tatis will soon qualify for the batting title as he gains the appropriate amount of plate appearances and his average currently sits at .333, which would be third-best in the major leagues.

"He says TAKE THAT!"

Fernando. Tatis. Jr.#FriarFaithful | @Padres | @tatis_jr pic.twitter.com/2AgRDvcNG2

— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) July 28, 2019

Among players with at least 250 plate appearances, Tatis’ .991 OPS is fifth in all of baseball, better than the likes of Joey Gallo, Xander Bogaerts and Josh Bell. The most encouraging sign is that Tatis had a miserable week the week before and bounced back for a stretch this time around. Everyone around baseball, including myself, is running out of ways to describe just how good of a baseball player Tatis is.

MLB pitcher: Joey Lucchesi

The Padres struggled this week, but a bright spot overall was Lucchesi. He went six innings while allowing just one run while striking out eight, which is the second-most Lucchesi has fanned in a game this year. This also marked the eighth time Lucchesi pitched at least six innings this year, the most on the Padres’ staff. Even with how dominant Paddack can be, Lucchesi has been the steady force in the rotation, with a 4.12 ERA and 103 ERA+.

Fuego. 🔥🔥🔥#FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/47Ygi1OafO

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 27, 2019

Lucchesi has allowed three runs or less in four of his last five starts. He leads the starting rotation in innings pitched (111 1/3) and FIP (3.91). In a season of ups and downs for the Padres’ rotation, Lucchesi has answered the bell multiple times. Unfortunately, the Padres wasted Lucchesi’s strong start on Friday, falling to the Giants in extra innings.

Nick Lee

Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.