San Diego Padres Top-50 Prospects

40- Michael Baez (20) RHP (Has Yet to Make Pro Debut)

This six-foot-eight inch pitcher has great size, and he also has a fastball that reaches the mid to upper 90’s. He has a decent feel for his off-speed pitches and could be a viable option eventually for the team. The Padres enjoy his easy motion and repeatable delivery. He throws from a consistent plane and has shown decent control in his limited time on the mound. The only real stats he amassed were from 2014 when he was 18 years old. He pitched in the Cuban National Series for the Vegueros de Pinar del Rio and the Huracanes de Mayabequez. During his 16-game span there, he recorded a 1-1 record with a 5.22 ERA in 29 innings pitched. He walked 17 and struck out 17 in that time. The ceiling is high with this young man.

39- Luis Torrens (21)  C  (NYY Charleston/High Single-A)

The Padres selected this backstop from the Yankees in the 2017 Rule-5 Draft. He will need an excellent spring to even have a chance for the Padres to consider keeping him. There is a chance the team can work out a deal with the Yankees and send Torrens to the minors. He clearly isn’t ready for major league pitching. Torrens is a right-handed hitter with a decent approach and excellent defense, but he is still really raw. An excellent young prospect nevertheless.

38- Jean Cosme (21) RHP (Fort Wayne TinCaps/High Single-A)

Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles for Odrisamer Depaigne before the start of the 2016 season, Cosme had a productive year in Fort Wayne. Cosme is tall and thin and has had trouble with his mechanics in the past. He seems to have made progress in the Padres’ system where he features a mid-90’s fastball. He also has a curve and a change, but both are inconsistent for him at the moment. He has a loose arm and projects as a possible reliever if he is unable to perfect his off-speed pitches.

37- Jose Rondon (23) SS (San Diego Padres/MLB)

Acquired for Huston Street from the Angels in July of 2014, this shortstop was, at one time, considered the shortstop of the future. That didn’t last long. He is not flashy by any sense of the imagination, but he also doesn’t do anything really badly either. He is a slightly above-average hitter who makes decent contact. The power is lacking from his bat, and his speed is average. Defensively, he is nothing special, with limited range. Rondon played in eight games for the Padres last season where he showcased exactly what most Padres fans already knew. He is an average player who just provides depth at the upper minor league level.

36- Jose Torres (23) LHP (San Diego Padres/MLB)

Torres made it all the way to Petco this past season and was very impressive. The amount of talent in the Padres’ bullpen is amazing. Torres will have a hard time making the team out of the spring as the Padres have Ryan Buchter, Brad Hand, and Buddy Baumann all ahead of him on the depth chart. The team could also have Christian Friedrich pitching out of the bullpen with all the competition for rotation spots. Jose Torres was acquired from the A’s in the same deal that the Padres obtained Drew Pomeranz for Yonder Alonso and Marc Rzepczynski. Talk about a steal. Torres has a mid-90’s fastball that touches 97-98 on a good day. He also features a power curve and is basically a two-pitch pitcher at this point in his career. He looks to be a decent option out of the pen for the team fairly soon.

35- Ruddy Giron (20) SS (Lake Elsinore Storm/High Single-A)

Giron shot through the Padres’ rankings just before 2016, after hitting .285 in Fort Wayne as an 18-year-old in the 2015 season. This past year, a groin strain sidelined him and limited him during the first half of the season. He was in a horrible slump, but the Padres stuck with him, and he rewarded them by hitting .305 after late July. He is an above-average hitter with the ability to use the whole field. His power is lacking though, and there are concerns he might never be able to drive the ball consistently. He also might not be able to remain at short, where he has some shortcomings. At 20, he still has time to develop though.

34- Tirso Ornelas (17) OF (Has Yet to Make Pro Debut)

This local kid from the city of Tijuana must be excited to begin his career with the Padres. He had Mexico City Reds affiliation, and with Oscar Suarez being a minority owner in the Padres, the marriage made sense. He was considered the best international player from the country of Mexico available in this years’ signing period. The left-handed hitter has a nice swing. He makes hard contact to all fields and has jumped in value in recent months. He is already impressive with his physical presence and there are some whispers he will eventually move to first base. He is very sound defensively and has a pretty decent floor. He could be someone to keep an eye on.

33- Joey Lucchesi (23) LHP (Fort Wayne TinCaps/High Single-A)

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 draft out of Southeast Missouri State, Joey Lucchesi has already shown great ability to the franchise. He pitched at Tri-City last season and threw 40 innings, striking out 53 batters while only walking two batters. His velocity increased to 95-96 MPH in Tri-City, as he worked directly with the Padres’ coaching staff on his mechanics. His impeccable command, teamed with his increased velocity, means that Lucchesi is one to keep an eye on. He features a funky left-handed delivery and pause that some people say reminds them of Clayton Kershaw. This young man could make the jump to the big leagues within a year and a half. He has all the intangibles for success. Keep an eye on him this season in Lake Elsinore. He could blossom and climb this list in 2017.

32- Gabriel Arias (17) SS (Has Yet to Make Pro Debut)

This right-handed hitter has a very balanced and smooth swing. He is arguably the best talent out of the country of Venezuela to sign this international signing period, and is a very solid prospect. Scouts are indicating that his power should develop in time. He is very smooth on the field too, but there are some reports he could move to third base as he gets bigger and gains more power. Early indications are that Arias projects as an everyday player in the major leagues. It will take at least three years before he even sniffs major league pitching though. A solid pick up by the Padres, and a potential third baseman of the future. Arias really solidifies the Padres farm system with offensive ability.

31- Reggie Lawson (19) RHP (Has Yet to Make Pro Debut)

This 2016 draft choice has a live arm and could be a viable choice down the line for the big league club. Lawson has a plus fastball and a very repeatable delivery. Early indications are that he needs to refine his command and off-speed stuff or he will only be considered as a relief option. At 19, he has plenty of time to develop, and with the proper tutelage, he could progress into a mid-rotation type starter. A mid-90’s fastball will help him progress through the Padres’ system.

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James Clark

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.