Hunter Renfroe Raking For Lake Elsinore

Jun 25, 2013; Omaha, NE, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs right fielder Hunter Renfroe (34) addresses the media in a press conference after game 2 of the College World Series finals against the UCLA Bruins at TD Ameritrade Park. UCLA defeated Mississippi State 8-0. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Hunter Renfroe is considered the Padres’ #5 prospect down on the farm. He was selected 13th overall last year out of Mississippi State, where he was a First Team All-American. He may be the hottest hitter in Single-A ball right now. This season he has already doubled his home run total from last year, when he played 43 games for Eugene and Fort Worth.

After a 2-homer, 6 RBI game yesterday, he now sits at 15 home runs, 47 RBI and a .290 average in 56 games. He leads all of the California League in home runs and total bases. He is also second in RBI. The 22-year-old outfielder has a bright future. He could easily hit his way to San Antonio (AA) or the El Paso club (AAA) this year. And maybe, if this trend continues, we may see him make an appearance this year in September with the big league club. He now has 21 HRs and 72 RBI in 99 games as a pro.

Renfroe has been hot of late, hitting .415 with 7 HRs and a 1.432 OPS in his last 10 games. He also has had 8 multi-hit games in that span. He has adjusted well to professional baseball. This could be due to the level of college baseball he played for 3 years at MSU. “I played at the highest level of college baseball that you can possibly play at for three years. There’s nothing that I haven’t learned in college that hasn’t been reiterated here,” he told milb.com’s Tyler Maun. 

When the Draft Class of 2013 starts trickling into the big leagues, expect Hunter Renfroe to be right in the mix. The Padres have solid outfielders currently on the big club in Seth Smith and Chris Denorfia, but the others have struggled of late or have been plagued by injury. If Renfroe keeps hitting like this, I am not sure how much longer they will be able to keep him at Single-A.