San Diego Padres’ Minors Roster Projections: El Paso Chihuahuas

In our next-to-last article about the San Diego Padres’ minors roster projections, we will be discussing the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Pacific Coast League.

Coming off of back to back appearances in the Pacific Coast League Championship series (winning it all in 2016), the San Diego Padres’ Triple-A affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas, are again looking to book their ticket back to the Championship series.

This years team will look nothing like the two earlier division winners. With the Friars’ farm system about to bloom, this El Paso team will have more prospects on it than the past two seasons’ teams have.

With player promotions, and players returning from injury, this is a deeper team than seasons past. I feel it will be a better team just because of the major league product being better, causing a waterfall-effect, culture-wise.

There will be players on this team that should begin the year making the San Diego Padres’ opening day roster out of spring training. However, due to the numbers crunch, they just won’t. These are players who, in the future, will be valuable major league contributors.

Padres Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas Roster Projections

There are a few surprises on this list. What do you say San Diego Padres fans? Are you ready to meet our two-time Pacific Coast League Division Champion El Paso Chihuahuas?

Starting rotation:

1) Chris Young-RH

2) Robbie Erlin-LH

3) Colin Rea-RH

4) Matt Strahm-LH

5) Walker Lockett-RH

Spot Starter/Long Man/Bullpen:

6) Chris Huffman-RH

MR-Jason Jester-RH

MR-Adam Cimber-RH

MR-Buddy Baumann-LH

SU-Kyle McGrath-LH

SU-Phil Maton-RH

CL-Tom Wilhelmsen-RH

Starting Eight:

C-Raffy Lopez

1B-Allen Craig

2B-Luis Urias

3B-Ty France

SS-Fernando Tatis Jr.

LF-Shane Peterson

CF-Travis Jankowski

RF-Franmil Reyes

Bench:

C-Stephen McGee

IF-Dusty Coleman

Utility-Alex Dickerson

OF-Matt Szczur

OF-Cole Gillespie

More from Friars on Base

• 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

And there you have it Friar faithful. With the completion of this article, we have met the players who make up our projected San Diego Padres’ minor league rosters.

Our next article (and the last article of our series) will be our roster projections on what the Opening Day 25-man roster will look like for San Diego Padres.

One thing is for sure about this organization. Everywhere, from the short season Tri-City squad, up to the big league club, the rosters for each affiliate has much more talent than they did a year ago.

Good drafts, key trades, and a spending spree on the international market of the likes of which we will never see again have this organization on the brink of something special.

Next: Pirela Showing His Grit in Peoria

Get used to the names on these lists, Padres fans; we will be seeing them for years to come. And hopefully, they will bring with them our first World Series title.

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