Padres’ organization players of the week: May 31-June 6
Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
The Padres had a tough week at the major league level but a few players continued playing at a high level.
The San Diego Padres had one of their toughest weeks of the 2021 season thus far. They were swept in a frustrating series in Chicago against the Cubs. Then they won the first two games of a four-game, weekend series against the first place New York Mets at home before dropping the final two contests to settle for a series split. Overall, they were 2-5 on the week.
Here are a few players up and down the organization who had a strong week.
Eguy Rosario (San Antonio)
Rosario is the No. 18-ranked prospect in the Padres’ organization. On Saturday, the 21-year-old turned in a four-hit day which included a double, a home run, and five RBIs. He homered twice this week, with nine RBIs, a .391 average, and a stellar 1.179 OPS and 220 wRC+. On the season, he owns a 102 wRC+ and a .734 OPS in 21 games for the Missions thus far.
Jordy Barley (Lake Elsinore)
So far in his professional career, Barley has not been considered a power hitter. In parts of three seasons prior to 2021, his career high is eight homers. This week alone, he arrived at nearly half of that total. He ended the week with home runs in each of the final three games of the week, to go along with a .975 OPS. He also racked up eight RBI in five games this week.
There are very few Padres hitters performing well at the plate right now and Tatis is one of them. In six games this week, Tatis reached base at a .348 clip. He smacked two home runs, and the one on Thursday led to a slim 4-3 win. He not only excited fans with his bat, but he later made an impact on the bases. Standing at third, Tatis saw the ball skip away from the catcher just enough for him to come barreling home to score what would become a key run in the win. He finished the week witha .948 OPS and 158 wRC+.
The reigning N.L. Player of the Month didn't miss a beat! 💥@tatis_jr gets Petco rocking in the 3rd!@Padres | #HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/dYwvbcC9G9
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) June 4, 2021
Fernando was FLYING! pic.twitter.com/atxUvOnejH
— MLB (@MLB) June 4, 2021
Pham has struggled for the majority of the season. However, lately, he has looked a bit more like the player he was before he arrived in San Diego, with a lifetime .373 on-base percentage. He turned in a .400 on-base percentage this week with a home run, a .900 OPS, and 152 wRC+.
The Padres waited all season for the real Blake Snell to take the hill. He finally did at Petco Park on Friday night against the Mets. He was dominant and efficient and took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. He struck out 10 while walking just one on one hit without allowing a run. The biggest moment of his outing was when Francisco Lindor reached third with nobody out due to an error by Pham in left field and represented the tying run. Snell then retired the next three batters on two strikeouts to avoid disaster and stranded Lindor on third with an emphatic strikeout and primal yell as he descended from the mound.
That is exactly the pitcher the Padres were hoping to see when they traded for Snell in the winter.
🦖@Padres | @snellzilla4 pic.twitter.com/ealV1uzem3
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) June 5, 2021
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.