Padres Organization Players of the Week: May 13-19
Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Here are the best performers in the San Diego Padres organization this week.
Farm batter: Buddy Reed (Double-A)
| Games | AVG | HR | RBI | XBH | OPS | wRC+ |
| 6 | 0.409 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1.071 | 191 |
Reed has had his share of struggles in Double-A, but if this is a sign of things to come, the Padres should be doing cartwheels. He has plus speed and fielding skills in center field, and if his bat can come along, he could be playing at Petco Park very soon. Last Monday, he went 4-for-4 with a double and a home run.
He also is a threat on the bases as he stole two bags this week. Reed has displayed more power this year, already with seven home runs when his career-high is 12, in High-A Lake Elsinore last season. He has shown vast improvement in his second go-around in Double-A, after hitting .179 with one home run in 43 games last season.
Farm pitcher: Andres Munoz (Double-A)
| Games | IP | ERA | Saves | K/9 | FIP |
| 2 | 2.2 | 0 | 2 | 13.5 | 0.67 |
Munoz made a big splash this week with his other-worldly velocity. He is quickly becoming the best bullpen option down on the farm for San Diego. He earned two saves this week for Amarillo in dominating fashion. He struck out half of the batters he faced.
Andres Munoz are you serious?!? 104 😱🤷🏻♂️🔥 #Padres #EVT pic.twitter.com/vDZ8VRpKyC
— Nick Lee (@NickLee51) May 16, 2019
With the Padres bullpen reeling, Munoz could soon become a possibility, especially if he can show his walk rate is under control. His overall walk rate is 6.3 walks per nine innings, but in his six appearances in May, his walk rate has been 2.4 walks per nine innings.
MLB batter: Manny Machado
| Games | AVG | HR | XHB | RBI | OPS | wRC+ |
| 6 | 0.333 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1.011 | 175 |
When the Padres signed Machado to then the biggest free agent contract in North American sports history, San Diego expected him to have weeks like this with regularity. It looks as if Machado has shaken off the early season cobwebs and is in full “Machado Mode.” Especially with Fernando Tatis Jr. being out, Machado has stepped up his game and been the Padres’ most consistent hitter.
On Sunday, he had an 11-game hitting streak snapped. He has hit safely in 20 of his last 23 games. He continues to be something the Padres have not had in many, many years…a Dodgers-killer.
Manny Machado moonshot? MANNY MACHADO MOONSHOT 🚀🚀🚀#FriarFaithful | @Padres | @MLBONFOX pic.twitter.com/u6PSsTBpw3
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) May 15, 2019
The Padres dipped below .500 for the first time this season, but they would be much worse off if Machado was not in the lineup. In May, he has been everything the Padres paid for, on both sides of the ball, playing a stellar shortstop and at the plate, he is hitting .303 with five home runs, a .956 OPS and 151 wRC+. The great thing about Machado is that he is not a one-trick pony at the plate as he only had one home run this week, but he was very effective in just about every game.
MLB pitcher: Joey Lucchesi
| Games | IP | ERA | K | K/BB | FIP |
| 1 | 7 | 2.57 | 6 | 6 | 3.24 |
In a week where the Padres won just one game, it was more difficult than normal to find standout players, pitchers especially. In Friday’s tough-luck loss to the Pirates, Lucchesi battled and kept the Padres in the game. He went seven innings, which was much-needed with this taxed and under-performing bullpen. He allowed two runs, struck out six without a walk.
Lucchesi badly needed a good start, and he got one. He has made nine starts this season, and he lowered his ERA to 4.28 with a solid 3.34 FIP.
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.