Predicting the 2019 Padres’ Minor League Rosters
Credit: A.Brault/ EVT News
Let’s take a look at the San Diego Padres’ 2019 minor league affiliates and try to determine exactly where each of their valuable prospects fits. The system is really deep with talent and there are a lot of names to know, so here is a brief preview of the 2019 season.
The San Diego Padres have a deep farm system. That is not a secret.
2019 should be an exciting year for the franchise, as many of the young players in the organization are near major league service time.
It has been a long wait in San Diego. The fan base has been starved of competitive baseball for a long time. Even though the past two seasons have been horrific to witness at the major league level, there are plenty of things to be excited about. Austin Hedges, Hunter Renfroe and Travis Jankowski have all taken their game to the next level in 2018. Renfroe and Hedges in particular, look like completely different players with the bat. The duo is also feeding off each other, as they both grew up in the system and are homegrown Padres.
The team is starting to motivate itself to get better and there are more reinforcements on the way. The Padres will be flooded with talent in the coming years and that is a very good thing. Here is a look at the top four affiliates who all play full-season ball starting in April.
There is no way to predict exactly where each player will start their 2019 season, but here is an outlook to give you an idea how developed this system really is.
El Paso Chihuahuas
The 2019 San Diego Padres starting staff will consist of several young pitchers, but all simply cannot make the team. Eric Lauer, Joey Lucchesi, Jacob Nix and Brett Kennedy will all be competing for a spot in the rotation, but each probably will not make it. That will give El Paso some “veteran” leadership and a pitcher or two with major league experience. Paddack is very close to being major league ready. Allen is as well and Cal Quantrill showed great improvement in 2018. This is an exciting group of hurlers.
Mejia is listed here, but very well may be the starting catcher on opening day. Tatis should start in El Paso after a successful Winter League, showcasing that his injured thumb is healed. Naylor has emerged and will have a huge year in the PCL and Ty France keeps doing everything right on the baseball field. The former SDSU athlete has emerged as a viable prospect in the system. Andres Munoz should also probably be on this team. The bullpen will be stacked too, as the Padres seem to always have the ability to find relievers.
Starting Staff- Chris Paddack, Logan Allen, Cal Quantrill, Walker Lockett
Position Players- Francisco Mejia (C), Fernando Tatis (SS), Josh Naylor (1B-OF), Javy Guerra (SS), Ty France (3B-1B)
Amarillo
It’s looking like the Padres will play the 2019 season in Amarillo, but that is not set in stone just yet. No matter what happens, the team will play in the Texas League and they will have a very competitive squad. The starting staff here is going to compete. Baez and Morejon are Cuban aces that will surely lead this staff. Behind them, Margevicius is very serviceable and so is Avila, Lawson and Bolanos. This will be a fun staff to watch.
The offense will be full of young prospects, some with experience already at the Double-A level. Hudson Potts and Buddy Reed had rough starts to the Texas League careers, but each seemed to get more comfortable late in the year. Expect both men to help lead a squad that will consist of many young Latino position players. Jorge Ona is not a lock to start in Double-A, but Olivares should clear the Rule-5 Draft and begin the year in the Texas League.
Starting Staff- Michel Baez, Adrian Morejon, Reggie Lawson, Nick Margevicius, Pedro Avila, Ronald Bolanos
Position Players- Hudson Potts (3B), Buddy Reed (OF), Jorge Ona (OF), Edward Olivares (OF), Michael Gettys (OF), Brad Zunica (1B), Matt Batten (INF)
Lake Elsinore Storm
Of all the starting staffs in the system, this one could be the most exciting to watch. Gore, Espinoza and Patino all have top of the order stuff and Hernandez and Leasher are two very effective lefties. There will be plenty of reason to travel up the 15 freeway to Lake Elsinore in 2019.
Most of the 2018 TinCaps’ roster should move up to the California League where they should put up more impressive numbers. The Latino blood on the team may be more comfortable pitching in Lake Elsinore and visiting the neighboring communities. Expect to see Orlenas, Ruiz and company all boost their offensive numbers from 2018 in the Midwest League.
Starting Staff- MacKenzie Gore, Anderson Espinoza, Luis Patino, Osvaldo Hernandez, Aaron Leasher
Position Players- Tirso Ornelas (OF), Esteury Ruiz (2B), Jeisson Rosario (OF), Luis Campusano (C), Gabriel Arias (SS), Eguy Rosario (INF), Robbie Podorsky (OF)
Fort Wayne TinCaps
Ryan Weather will headline this staff which should have plenty of young players from the DSL and AZL Leagues. Mason Thompson may also repeat in Fort Wayne as he has some mechanical issude to work through. Cruz and Cantillo are both interesting pitchers and Manuel Partida has a decent upside. The Mexican left-handed pitcher, Partida, may start in Tri-City though before making his way potentially to Indiana.
This team will have some offensive potential as Xavier Edwards, Grant Little, Blake Hunt and company are a nice mix of young position players. Tucupita Marcano is another interesting player to keep an eye on as he hit over .380 in the AZL this year. International draft picks Jorday Barley, Luis Almanzar, Justin Lopez and others will provide a very entertaining young infield.
Starting Staff- Ryan Weathers, Henry Henry, Mason Thompson, Omar Cruz, Joey Cantillo, Manuel Partida
Position Players- Grant Little (OF), Xavier Edwards (SS), Tucupita Marcano (SS-2B), Blake Hunt (C), Mason House (OF), Jordy Barley (INF), Justin Lopez (INF), Luis Almanzar (INF), Luis Asuncion (OF), Olivier Basabe (INF)
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.
Where is Elliott Ashbeck pitching this season.
Mejia and Hedges will be the catchers in SD. Austin Allen and likely Brett Nicholas will be the catchers in El Paso.
The more I see Baez pitch, the more I think he ends up in the BP as an 8th inning guy. Too wild to start. Will throw too many pitches.
Lockett will get DFA’d and picked up elsewhere. He’s taking up a 40 man spot. Gettys will be Rule 5 eligible. Not sure anyone will take a flyer on him, though.
Commenting on the above, it looks like Espinoza is listed with the Storm and if they are starting Gore, Espinoza and Patino in a 3 game series, that’s gonna be worth driving up from SD every day and watching our future top 3 starters.
Lawson started out great and ended great, but had a rough couple of months in between. If he shows well in Instructs, he will cement a place on the AA team .
Tatis and Paddack are the future but probably not yet big-league ready. Even the top-rated prospects by Baseball America or MLB Pipeline have not been rushed to the majors only to fail and be demoted. A start at El Paso, neither has played at that level, doesn’t mean they are going to be there all season; Paddock will be added to the 40 man soon.
And, yes, 2019 will not be the season the Padres make the playoffs but they will start assembling the pieces at the big league level for 2020 and beyond – good times are coming for the long suffering Padre fans!
What about Espinosa? Where will he end up?
I thought this was interesting piece, I would disagree tho that hedges is having a break out year other wise would of never traded for Mejia ( all tho great trade). If our starting AAA team consist of tatis and paddack I going to be fu(kin irate because that means another padres rebuild season. Lastly do you think Reggie Lawson deserves a promo to AA? He has all the talent in the world but seemed to struggle last year with the storm.
2019 was always going to be a rebuild year, so no need to flip your wig.