Padres Editorial: The Padres Have a Bright Future

As of a life long Padres fan (I’m 27) There’s been only a handful of times when you could say that we had something interesting down on the farm, wether or not those players turned out to be great major league players is another topic.

I remember getting excited for the pro debut of Sean Burroughs, and I will forever remember my dad taking me to the Q for Jake Peavy‘s debut vs the New York Yankees. But after that we as fans haven’t had a lot to look forward to when it comes to prospects, I mean, the organization sold us Chase Headley, Luis Durango, Cory Luebke among others as top prospects, they obviously weren’t.

So after years and someone older than me, might say decades, The Padres finally have a minor league system full of players with great promise. Let’s take a look at how “Rockstar GM” A.J. Preller has done this.

When Preller first got here, the Padres had three very good prospects, Hunter Renfroe, Austin Hedges and Trea Turner. Turner was dealt in a package that brought Wil Myers to San Diego, the other two players are still in the Padres organization.

In the offseason the Padres traded away closer Craig Kimbrell to Boston, in return they got SS Javier Guerra, , INF Calrlos Asuaje, OF Manuel Margot, and LHP Logan Allen.  Although Guerra has struggled this season, he’s young and talented enough to turn it around, Margot has really impressed scouts and many consider him the CF of the future. The package of prospects was a great addition to the Padres franchise.

The season began and the team didn’t played well, especially RHP James Shields, so Preller decided to get rid of him. He traded Shields to the Chicago White Sox for SS Fernando Tatis Jr. And P Erik Johnson, while Johnson is only a marginal major league pitcher, some say that Tatis could develop into a future star. Only time will tell.

Then Preller turned closer Fernando Rodney who had been a pleasant surprise and a fan favorite in San Diego into Chris Paddack a solid prospect from the Miami Marlins. Paddack injured himself recently but looks to have a solid future with the team.

A.J. also traded Melvin Upton Jr. To the Toronto Blue Jays for P Hansel Rodriguez from the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez was the Jays 18th overall prospect but he’s still very young and could develop into something very special. Again the team will need time to see what they have in this young man.

Overall I like what Preller has done, of course some of these players will never make it to San Diego, that is just how this game works, but the Padres now have something they’ve never had… A promising future. I know its rough right now, but think of what the future holds when times are rough. Go Padres!

Miguel Vazquez

I am a lawyer that loves everything San Diego!