San Diego Padres All Minor League Team: Pitchers
Credit: Ryan Cox
Logan Allen– LHP, High-A, Lake Elsinore Storm
23 games started, 125 innings, 27.1%-8.4% K/BB rate, 2.95 ERA, 2.93 FIP
There was no pitcher in the Padres’ system who was more boringly successful than left-hander Logan Allen in 2017. Although he had a very successful season, he did so in a very un-flashy way, as he doesn’t really overpower batters and lacks a standout skill. After finishing last season with a successful 54 inning run with the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Allen began the 2017 season back in Fort Wayne. Allen was even better in his second go-round, striking out over 30 percent of the batters he faced in 68 and a third innings. He didn’t find nearly the same success in High-A, but he was still one of the most consistent pitchers in the entire Padres’ system in 2017.
Joey Lucchesi– LHP, Double-A, San Antonio Missions
23 games started, 139 innings, 27%-6% K/BB rate, 2.20 ERA, 3.42 FIP
Even in a system with the likes of Gore, Baez, Allen, Morejon, Quantrill, Avila, and many others, left-hander Joey Lucchesi was the best pitcher on the Padres’ farm in 2017. Despite being surrounded all year by Cal Quantrill, Jacob Nix, and Eric Lauer, who are all great prospects in their own right, Lucchesi outshined them all.
It was believed that Lucchesi wouldn’t have the same success as he moved up the minor league ladder, but he proved the doubters wrong with his strong end-of-season performance in San Antonio. He wasn’t nearly as dominant in the strikeout department, but he managed to still fool hitters with his pitch mix and deceptiveness. Going into the year, Lucchesi was commonly ranked behind all three pitchers he shared a roster with in both Elsinore and San Antonio. Come next spring, Lucchesi could very well be on top of the pile.
Eric Yardley– RHP, Double-A, San Antonio Missions
49 appearances, 70.1 innings, 21.5%-4.7% K/BB rate, 2.05 ERA, 3.13 FIP
Good relief pitching prospects are hard to come by, but the Padres may have a fairly solid one in right-hander Eric Yardley. His success in 2017 wasn’t flashy, but he was easily one of the most consistent and effective pitchers for the Missions for most of the season. At 27, Yardley is a bit old by prospect standards, but he made pretty significant improvements across the board in 2017, including an improved strikeout rate, lower walk rate, and lower ERA. Yardley isn’t a name that really jumps out at you, but he could be pitching some meaningful big league innings sometime in the next year.
Trey Wingenter– RHP, Double-A, San Antonio Missions
49 appearances, 47.2 innings, 33%-9.8% K/BB rate, 2.45 ERA, 3.59 FIP
The Batman to Yardley’s Robin, right-hander Trey Wingenter was probably the most impressive relief pitcher in the Padres’ system. Not only does Wingenter strike out batters more frequently, with 64 in 47 and two-thirds innings, but he also is younger, at just 23 years old. Despite his 2017 success, Wingenter does come with his own issues, as demonstrated by his nearly 10 percent walk rate and near 20 percent HR/FB rate. Both those numbers need further improvement before Wingenter can take things to the next level, but he has shown plenty of flashes of dominance for the Padres’ minor league affiliates.
Editorial and Prospect Writer for East Village Times. Twenty-five years young, Patrick has lived in San Diego for his entire life and has been a Padres fan nearly as long. Patrick lives for baseball and is always looking to learn new things about the game he loves through advanced stats.