San Diego Padres Bring Back Two Familiar Names

The San Diego Padres have made two minor league free agent signings this past week. Outfielder Edwin Moreno and RHP Yimmi Brasoban are returning to the organization for the 2018 season.

According to Baseball America, the San Diego Padres have made two signings over the last week. Both signings are minor league free agents that played in the Padres’ system last season.

The first signing was OF Edwin Moreno. The 24-year-old was originally an international free agent signing out of the Dominican Republic. He made his organizational debut back in 2010 in the Dominican Summer League.

A series of injuries over his career severely limited his playing time until 2015. During the last two seasons, he has played for High-A Lake Elsinore. He produced nearly identical slash lines, hitting .267 in both seasons. Moreno added 38 doubles, 21 triples, and 25 home runs through 209 games. Unfortunately, Moreno struck out 261 times while working just 31 walks.

The pickup is simply an organizational depth signing. The Padres need more bodies at the AAA and AA level while the teenage crop of prospects develops through the lower levels of the organization. It is nice; however, to see Moreno accept the offer and remain loyal to the Padres.

When you have guys like Moreno who hang around an organization for so many years with no real opportunity to make it to the big leagues, I think it speaks volumes of how the organization is run.

Yimmi Brasoban has the potential to join the San Diego Padres.

The second minor league free agent addition is RHP Yimmi Brasoban. Brasoban, 23, was initially used as a starting pitching after being signed out of the Dominican Republic. Unlike Moreno, Brasoban has the potential to contribute at the major league level. The Padres have since converted him to reliever, where he has experienced good success.

It was assumed, Brasoban was going to be selected in the 2016 Rule 5 draft after being left unprotected by the Padres. Luckily, Brasoban went undrafted and emerged as a quality reliever at the Double-A level.

Elbow discomfort hampered the righty’s 2017 campaign. He appeared in 22 games, working a 4.71 ERA, a 1.88 WHIP, and allowed opposing batters to hit .293 against him. A drastic departure from his 3.03 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and .201 BAA posted at Double-A in 2016.

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Brasoban’s claim to fame has always been his devastating slider and fastball that can reach 98-99 mph. If he can find his control (172 walks in 389 career innings) and continue to show the ability to miss bats as he moves up the system, Brasoban could earn a look as a setup man or back-of-the-bullpen type reliever.

As long as his elbow is healthy during minor league spring training, expect Brasoban to begin the 2018 season in AAA El Paso. I know a lot of Padres’ fans hope he gets a shot at the major leagues soon.

Next: Four Padres' Prospects Who Should Crack The Top 100 Soon