Padres News: Down On The Farm-Second Base

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Even though Jedd Gyorko is the incumbent at second base and signed long term, I thought it would be nice to take a look at the San Diego Padres minor league second base options. Gyorko should be in a Padres uniform for years to come, but it’s always fun to take a look at what the Padres have in the farm system

Some in the organization think Gyorko might be better suited for third base. So a switch to that position could be in store for the 26-year old from West Virginia. He is a little stiff at second, but has flashed some real quickness to the ball. I think a move to third would benefit the Padres defensively.

Will Midddlebrooks was brought in to win the third base job, but if he struggles, Gyorko could be a viable option. If say Jedd Gyorko would have to move to third, then that leaves the likes of Yangervis Solarte and Alexi Amarista (provided San Diego has a reliable starter at shortstop already) to play second base. Or they could even look outside the organization for a speedy, top of the order type hitter.

The following five players give you an idea of what kind of talent is available down on the farm. The Padres have a guy who has already been up with the Padres. A local kid, with impressive minor league numbers. They also have a former top prospect in another organization who is almost major league ready, maybe. Lastly the Friars have two young second baseman, who both started with the Padres organization as teenagers.

Second base is not a position of real weekness in the Padres organization. They have decent prospects at all levels of the system, and with Gyorko in the Majors they have no immediate need.

Mandatory Credit: MiLB.com

Josh Van Meter

Bats/Throws: L/R

Height/Weight: 5′ 11″ 165 lbs

Age: 20

This blooming young second baseman was a 5th round pick in the 2013 MLB draft. Van Meter is from Norwell High School in Indiana and owns a .261 career minor league average with 644 minor league at-bats. His 24 doubles led the Fort Wayne TinCaps last year.

Although he only hit 3 home runs in 644 at-bats so far in his minor league tenure, the 24 doubles last year show that the power potential is there. Players at that age, especially middle infielders, seldom show any power. So in time, it should come.

He split time between shortstop and second base last season and is reportedly an above average defender at both positions. 59 games played at second base and 59 games at shortstop show that Van Meter is more than a just fill-in at shortstop. The versatility is a very good sign to his flexibility.

Van Meter has shown some speed with 18 stolen base in his 160 career games. Although he has been nabbed 8 times while attempting to steal. Being that he is young, the stolen bases are really no surprise. Nothing exceptional here, but it is nice to see he isn’t an anchor on the base paths.

All and all, Van Meter is 2-3 seasons away from even beginning to be in the Padres immediate plans. He has very good tools, but still needs more time to develop them in order to prove his worth in the Major Leagues. Keep an eye on him, the versatility is key to him contributing sooner rather than later.

Mandatory Credit: youtube.com

Luis Urias

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height/Weight: 5′ 9″ 160 lbs

Age: 17

Luis Urias was signed at the age of 16 in December 2013. Born in Magdelena de Kino, in Sonora, Mexico, the Padres negotiated his contract from the Mexico Red Devils.

The second baseman has shown a great eye at the plate at his young age. A .381 on base percentage and .297 batting average in 165 minor league at-bats. To play professional baseball at the age of 16 speaks of the potential of this young second baseman.

I watched some scouting video on him and it was very impressive. The video was before he was signed by the Padres. He took ground balls from shortstop and second base.

Urias is very fluid and has excellent range. I can see why the Padres moved him to second base though, as his arm strength is lacking. He gets himself in very good position and transitions the ball well to his hand, yet the arm just isn’t there. He is young, and arm strength can be built if the Padres feel his range and positioning is adequate at shortstop.

Hitting was also very impressive to see, as he even took swings left handed. The left-handed swing was stiff and off balance and the Padres were wise to have him concentrate as a right-handed hitter only. The swing is nice and compact, as he gets his hands through the ball well. Hits up the middle and to right side with ease, and in my opinion has a very high ceiling.

Luis Fernando Urias Figueroa was signed to play with the Yaquis de Obregon in November of 2014. At the age of 17, he was the second youngest in the history of the Mexican League. Playing time was limited, but to be on a team at that age again bodes well for his future.

The Padres are sure to bring him up slowly being that he is only 17. Think about it, when most of us were struggling with adolescence and high school, this young man already had almost two years of professional baseball experience.

Mandatory Credit-utsandiego.com

Fernando Perez

Bats/Throws: L/R

Height/Weight: 6 ‘ 210 lbs

Age: 21

Another product of Mexico, Fernando Perez, ranks as the San Diego Padres’ #3 prospect at second base. Perez is a local talent out of Chula Vista’s Otay Ranch High School. He had an excellent year last year at Fort Wayne with the TinCaps.

Perez hit .284 with 18 home runs and 95 runs batted in. He played in 116 games this past year, and has three years of experience in the Padres minor league system. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft from Central Arizona College.

The 18 home runs Perez put up were in the pitcher-friendly Midwest league, so that bodes well for his future. In fact he is scheduled to play in the California league this year and his bat could really take another step up in the power category.

The power Perez displayed this past season was a nice surprise as he only had totaled 10 home runs in his previous 140-plus games. He did strikeout 106 times in his 507 plate appearances.

He played first, second and third base for Fort Wayne TinCaps. His lack of arm strength suggest third base is probably not his best-suited position. He could develop into a first baseman, because of his size and his power ability.

He has no speed to speak of (4 of 7 on stolen base attempts), and the .308 career minor league on-base percentage is troubling to say the least. He just does not walk enough as most young power hitters lack the ability to be patient.

He does have a fluid, left-handed swing and generates outstanding bat speed. At his young age, the sky is the limit, but he needs to be more consistent and work on his craft. With another 15-plus homer year, Perez could be a September call-up in 2016. He is still a bit raw, so to expect him earlier would be asking a bit too much.

Taylor Lindsey

Bats/Throws: L/R

Height/Weight: 6′ 195 lbs

Age: 23

Taylor Lindsey was a former 1st round pick for the Los Angeles Angels in 2010. He was acquired last July with R.J. Alvarez in the Huston Street deal.

In 2013 the young second basemen smacked 17 home runs in Double-A Arkansas to with a .274 average. He seemed to be on the fast track to the Major Leagues, but digressed a little last year statistic-wise. He still managed to hit 20 home runs between the Angels and Padres affiliates. Despite the power, his average hovered around .230 and his on-base percentage was barely over the .300 mark.

Despite the low averages and low on-base percentages, Lindsey does put the ball in play. Only 300 strike outs in over 2200 plate appearances isn’t outstanding, but it’s not horrible either. He has a line drive to all fields kind of stroke, that does translate well to Major League pitching.

Lindsey is not the most athletic of second baseman. No speed at all and has an average arm for a second baseman. His defense is not spectacular, nor is it horrible. He is durable and nearly major league ready. Lindsey has many fans and critics, the scouts seem split on his ultimate potential.

Although he didn’t perform well at all in Triple-A El Paso last season, his bat is pretty legit in my eyes. It was a new farm system for him, so the Padres will just have to see how well he performs when not as much pressure is put upon his shoulders. A September call-up this season is a possibility, but he needs to take a few steps forward for that to become a reality.

Cory Spangenberg

Bats/Throws: L/R

Height/Weight: 6′ 195 lbs

Age: 24

Cory Spangenberg made his Padres debut last year, and showed his versatility right away. In 20 games for the Padres, Spangenberg played second base, left field and third base. He is major league ready now and fighting for a spot on this year’s team.

At 24 years of age, and with years of college experience behind him, he has done all you can do in the minor leagues. With a career .290 batting average and a .350 on-base percentage, he has the stats you look for in a young second baseman.

The man has great speed and that’s evident in his 113 career minor league stolen bases. He was the Padres 1st round pick in the 2011 draft, in fact he was the #10 overall pick. Obviously the Padres think very highly of Spangenberg.

He had suffered two concussions in his past three years, but appears to be fine. No after effects are evident. Concussions even in baseball can be hard to recover from. Two head injuries in three years is nothing to be complacent about.

Cory Spangenberg looks like he will be a very good utility infielder in the Major Leagues at worst. He could bloom with a little more seasoning, into a legit second baseman. Although Spangenberg can play shortstop, I do not think he could handle the every day nuances of being a Major League-caliber shortstop.

Bud Black seems to really like Spangenberg and this year’s Padres team could use more speed. He is however, behind Alexi Amarista and Yangervis Solarte for that super-sub role on the team. It will take an injury or a trade for Spangenberg to break camp with the Padres. Even if he doesn’t break camp with the team, he is a pretty good bet to be seen at Petco sometime during this long season.

Next: Ranking The NL West First Basemen

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