Padres Top-10 Prospects and Their Estimated MLB Debut
Credit: EVT
Age: 23/Right-handed pitcher/The San Diego Padres drafted Quantrill in the 1st round (8th overall) of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft from Stanford University.
Cal was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 26th round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario Canada, but did not sign and chose to attend Stanford University.
While at Stanford University in his sophomore year, Quantrill posted a 2–0 record and 1.93 ERA in 182⁄3 innings pitched before his season was cut short by an arm injury. He underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the remainder of the season and the entire 2016 season recovering.
The Padres assigned him to the Arizona Padres of the Rookie League after he was drafted. The team quickly promoted him to the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Single-A short season Northwest League in August 2016, and then to the Fort Wayne TinCaps later in the month. He finished the 2016 season with a combined 0-5 record and a 5.11 ERA between the three teams.
Quantrill spent 2017 with both the San Antonio Missions and the Lake Elsinore Storm, where he posted a combined 7-10 record with a 3.80 ERA with 110/40 K/BB in 116 innings between High-A and Double-A. His statistical performance was okay, but not excellent.
The right-hander has a very nice heater at 93-97, great change-up, and inconsistent but promising breaking stuff. After missing a year and a half with Tommy John, there were some cobwebs to work off.
*Estimation- A 2018 showing is possible, but it’s more than likely 2019 is when you will see him at Petco.
Age: 20/Left-handed pitcher/Was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. On November 13, 2015, Allen along with Manuel Margot, Javier Guerra, and Carlos Asuaje, were traded to the San Diego Padres for Craig Kimbrel.
After being signed by the Red Sox, he spent the majority of his first professional season with the Gulf Coast Red Sox, pitching to a 0.90 ERA in twenty innings, along with pitching one game for the Lowell Spinners in which he gave up one earned run in 4.1 innings.
The Padres assigned him to the Fort Wayne TinCaps, where Allen spent the whole season, posting a 3-4 record and 3.33 ERA in only 15 games (11 starts) due to spending time on the disabled list with an elbow injury. Allen spent 2017 with both Fort Wayne and the Lake Elsinore Storm, pitching to a combined 7-9 record and 2.95 ERA with 142 strikeouts in 125 total innings pitched 24 games (23 starts) between both teams.
Allen has a fastball at 90-94 MPH, a strong change-up, and a breaking ball, which is a knuckle curve. Allen’s scouting reports are underrated presently, but he is still possibly a number three starter.
*Estimation- He should be in the Padres’ rotation by the 2019-20 season.
Age: 24/Left-handed pitcher/Was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the fourth round (114th overall) of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft.
He was named the Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2015 and 2016.
Lucchesi’s professional debut was with the Tri-City Dust Devils in 2016. In July 2016, he combined with two other pitchers to throw a no-hitter versus the Spokane Indians. He was promoted to the Fort Wayne TinCaps in September 2016. In 15 total games between the two teams, he posted an 0-2 record and 1.29 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 42 innings.
In 2017, Lucchesi played for both the Lake Elsinore Storm and the San Antonio Missions, pitching to a combined 11-7 record with a 2.20 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 24 total games (23 starts) between both clubs.
Lucchesi has a 90-96 fastball, sometimes a notch higher, with a quality curveball and change-up. He has an unconventional delivery, but throws strikes. He is confident and a possible number three starter.
*Estimation- He should surface in San Diego in 2018 at some point
Age: 22/Left-handed pitcher/Drafted by the Padres in the first round of the 2016 draft out of Kent State.
He first received attention from Major League Baseball scouts as a result of his 90-93 mile per hour fastball. Originally, he committed to play college baseball for the University of Kentucky, but he rescinded the decision and committed to Kent State University instead.
The Toronto Blue Jays selected Lauer in the 17th round of the 2013 MLB draft. Lauer declined a signing bonus in excess of $1 million to attend college.
Lauer began the 2017 season with the Lake Elsinore Storm of the Class A-Advanced California League. He pitched to a 2-5 record and a 2.79 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 67 2⁄3 innings, and was promoted to the San Antonio Missions of the Class Double-A Texas League in July. The Padres rewarded Lauer with a non-roster invite to spring training.
Lauer’s arsenal consists of a fastball in the low to mid 90’s. He mixes in a slider and a nice curveball. He is effective with strong command and indisputable mound presence.
*Estimation- He could possibly make an impact in this 2018 season.
Age: 20/Right-handed pitcher/He was originally signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in October 2014, receiving a reported bonus of $1.8 million plus $200,000 in scholarship money. The Padres acquired Espinoza from the Red Sox in exchange for pitcher Drew Pomeranz.
In 2014, Espinoza was Baseball America’s fourth-ranked international amateur prospect and top-ranked pitcher, while grabbing the number 10 spot on MLB.com’s list.
After being acquired, the Padres assigned Espinoza to Class A Fort Wayne TinCaps, where he finished 2016 with a 6–11 record with a 4.49 ERA. He missed all of 2017 with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the 2018 season as well.
According to baseball scouts, Espinoza features a solid three-pitch mix and has advanced pitchability. He repeats his delivery and throws strikes much more easily than a typical teenager. He has been throwing his fastball in the low 90’s, topping out at 98 with potential to throw even harder as he grows. His secondary pitches include a curveball in the 72–75 mph range and an above-average sinking changeup as his third option. His arm is quick, and he delivers his pitches with clean mechanics and a minimum of effort. The biggest question remains whether he can rebound from surgery with the same command.
*Estimation-He could make the team by 2020 if all breaks correctly for him.
Hello, my name is Jeff Weber. I am a life long San Diego Padres Fan and a 27 year San Diegan. Stay up to date with Padres trade rumors, breaking news, prospects, injuries and in-depth reports on players here at EVT.
Lucchesi and Lauer will make it this year. This season MiLB action will determine allot for the rest and a few that didn’t make your Top 10 List. I also think Urias will be up in September if not sooner. Tatis could be ready when rosters expand also, but they will probally try to make sure he gets another year of team control. Both of those guys have the first 2/3rds of the year like I think they can have and the Big League Club is close, playing over .500 ball, ALL projections are off.
Baez might even be available to come out of the pen if he could make a difference, if not midseason 2019 is a good projection for him. Quantrill has the upside but he is September call-up in 2019 in my eyes. Gore needs more MiLB results to fully adjust his arrival date. But just based on hype, Sept. 2019 or during 2020 sounds right to me.
The Padres have 4 prospect arms that will have to be protected next off-season from the Rule 5 draft or risk losing them. Nix, Espinoza, Avila, and Paddack need to show they deserve to be added to the 40 man roster so they will be protected. Espinoza is not slated to see action this entire regular season, but I guess he could be a caniditate for the AFL in AZ in mid-OCT. If he doesn’t make it back for that then just on hype he should be protected but he will need awhile to work his way back in MiLB. Trades could be an option for any of these 4 at some point.
Thanks for article, GREAT INFO!!!
Nice response. Appreciate your opinion Don.