Padres Prospects Striking Out on MLB.com List

The Padres have revamped their minor league system with some off-season trades and a couple of recent draft picks that seem to be working out. Yet as MLB.com releases their list of Top 10 2016 prospects by position this year, Padres are nowhere to found. Which teams are looking good and who might be potential trade partners for the Friars to rebuild quicker?

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On the catchers list, the Cubs have the #1 prospect in Willson Contreras. They debuted Kyle Schwarber to monster success last season – but he is more of an ocassional outfielder or DH in waiting than a defensive catcher. If they do decide to trade him and not wait for the NL to adopt the DH, they appear to have Contreras waiting in the wings to supplant Miguel Montero behind the plate. The Pirates boast two prospects on this list, Reese McGuire at #4 and Elias Diaz at #6.

The Astros grab the top spot at 1B with A.J. Reed, while the Tampa Bay Rays get two prospects at #7 and #9 in Jake Bauers and Casey Gillaspie respectively.

Moving over to second base, the Red Sox are #1 with Joan Moncado, which partly helped net Carlos Asuaje in the Craig Kimbrel trade. The Reds this time are the team with two on the list, sporting #2 Jose Peraza and #5 Alex Blandino. The Cubs and Astros once again have a prospect each on the list. Is there no end to top prospects with those teams?

Third base is a rare category where no one team has multiple entrants, but the Rangers and Red Sox steal the top two spots with powerful Joey Gallo in the #1 spot and Rafael Devers in #2. The Padres are weak at 3B in he minor league, with Asuaje who is ranked only the Padres 20th best prospect is the first player with 3B possibility.

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At shortstop, while Javier Guerra occupies the Padres third best prospect and Jose Rondon #5, neither of them appears in the top for the MLB.com list. Instead the Dodgers Corey Seager who debuted last year is at the top, with the Phillies J.P. Crawford at #2. A former Padre draft pick, Trea Turner, comes in at #5 while the Braves have #4 and #10 in Dansby Swanson acquired for Shelby Miller from the D-backs and Ozzie Albies.

The outfield and pitching picks haven’t come out yet. Will Manuel Margot or Hunter Renfroe (Padres #1 and #2 prospect) crack the Top 10?