Padres Winter League Update

What, you didn’t think just because the Arizona Fall League was over they stopped playing baseball did you?

After all, Spring Training is still about 80 days away. While the results of the AFL were overall positive for the Padres, so far the Padres have swung and missed on the free agent market. So, the club is still hopeful for more positive news from their prospects and players getting in more work farther south on the globe in warm weather.

More from Padres News

• Jurickson Profar free agency update likely rules out Padres reunion
• Fernando Tatis Jr. may not take to outfield move after Xander Bogaerts addition
• Padres News: Fernando Tatis Jr. trade rumors, Seth Lugo chase, Manny Machado
• Padres barely missed out on high-end veteran starting pitcher
• This veteran DH target seems ideal for contending Padres roster

–  In the Mexican Winter League, OF Rico Noel leads the league in stolen bases with 15 and has a .489 OBP to go with it. He should also start in Triple-A again.

– LHP Pablo Juan Oramas, who went 7-7 in Triple-A last year with an unsightly 5.61 ERA has struck out 40 in just over 42 IP. He is expected to start the season in Triple-A.

– The Venezuelan Winter League features major leaguer Yongervis Solarte getting some work in his native land, and in four games is 6-for-19 with a double. Obviously Padres fans are hoping he has the stuff to be the everyday productive third baseman for the Padres, especially after the club missed out on free agent Pablo Sandoval.

– RHP Chris Smith, who is trying to make it back to the majors for the first time since 2010, has 37 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings with a 4.22 ERA. Last year after being signed by the Padres in June finished 2014 with a combined record of 8-1 with a 3.75 ERA. He will start in Triple-A for the pitching-rich Padres.

– In the Puerto Rican Winter League, Catcher Rene Rivera is getting his swings in and has doubled in several games for San Juan. Rivera of course became the Padres starting catcher after starting the year as the backup and hopes to improve or maintain his 2014 totals of a .252 BA and 11 HR.

– After a breakout year in which he hit 17 HR and .323 between High-A and Double-A, Diego Goris is off to an 0-for-10 start for the Aguilas Cibaenas. Let’s hope he is working out some additional kinks and has another big season. He figures to start in Double-A to start the season.