San Diego Padres: Lucchesi And Lauer Are Here, Who's Next?

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The San Diego Padres have a very rich farm system full of young and exciting starting pitching prospects. Let’s take an in-depth look at each of them and when we can expect to see them in a Padres uniform.

Joey Lucchesi is one of those exciting pitchers and has been impressive through five starts sporting a 2.70 ERA for the San Diego Padres. The next pitching prospect to make their big league debut this year for the Padres was Eric Lauer.

In three starts this year for Triple-A El Paso, Lauer pitched to a 2-1 record with a 3.00 ERA. Both Lucchesi and Lauer are very talented pitchers, but according to MLB Pipeline, there are currently six other pitching prospects listed ahead of them.

Logan Allen No. 6 Padres Pitching Prospect, ETA 2019. Age: 20

Logan Allen was drafted in the 8th round out of the IMG Academy in 2015 by the Boston Red Sox. He was then quickly acquired by the Padres by being apart of the prospect package sent over by the Red Sox in the Craig Kimbrel trade that also included Manuel Margot and Carlos Asuaje.

Between pitching in both High-A and Double-A last year, Allen posted a 7-9 record with a solid 2.95 ERA, along with a mature 142/44 K/BB.

Allen possesses a low-90s fastball and compliments it with a nice curveball and changeup combo.

Still only 20 years old, the organization may want to take it slow with Logan Allen. He threw 125 innings last year which is by far the most he has ever thrown through his pro-ball career.

Allen will pitch in Double-A this year and I’m sure the Friars will continue to monitor his progress closely.

Anderson Espinosa No. 5 Padres Pitching Prospect, ETA 2020, Age: 20

Acquired by the Padres in the messy Drew Pomeranz trade with the Red Sox in 2016, Anderson Espinosa will spend the entire year rehabbing due to having Tommy John surgery in June of 2017.

He has yet to throw a pitch for the Padres with any affiliated teams, but the stuff is there for this young man.

Espinosa’s arsenal includes a heavy fastball that has the ability to hit 100 MPH, a respectable changeup, and a work in progress curveball.

Once the Padres’ number one pitching prospect, Anderson Espinoza’s biggest question mark is his health.

He has all the makings to become a front of the line starter, but depending on how he responds from surgery will determine what adjustments he will have to make to get back to pitching at a high level.

Adrian Morejon No. 4 Padres Pitching Prospect, ETA 2020 Age: 19

After having a very successful amateur career pitching Cuba, the Padres signed Adrian Morejon for a franchise-record $11 million in 2016.

Morejon certainly has the ability to live up to his big bonus due to the fact all of his pitches project to be above-average. His fastball already sits at 96 MPH and with only being 6’0″ ft, 175 pounds, there is still room to grow physically

Last year was Morejon’s first year in pro-ball and pitched in Low-A. He was able to compile a 3-4 record to go with a 3.86 ERA in 63 innings.

This year Morejon will find himself pitching in High-A Lake Elsinore. In three starts so far this year, Morejon has struggled. He has an ERA over 5.00, but he is still very young and only in his second full year of pro-ball.

Morejon currently projects mostly as a number-two starter in a rotation, but depending if he can constantly repeat his delivery and display being able to attack the strike zone could perhaps show he is capable of being a number-one guy.

Michel Baez No. 3 Padres Pitching prospect, ETA 2019, Age: 22

Apart from the Padres’ international spending spree, Michel Baez was signed out of Cuba for $3 million.

Baez certainly makes his presence felt on the mound, standing at 6’8″ and 220 pounds, and delivery that allows for downward tilt on his pitches, Baez certainly knows how to make opposing hitters feel uncomfortable in the batter’s box. Oh yeah, Baez also throws a 100 MPH fastball.

Last season was Baez’s first year pitching in pro-ball and boy was he impressive. Pitching in both Rookie Ball and in Low-A, Baez was able to strikeout 82 hitters and only walking eight in 63 innings pitched.

He made his season debut pitching in High-A Lake Elsinore last night and allowed an unearned run in five innings while striking out two. It will be exciting to see that kind of numbers Baez puts up this year.

It’s always exciting to have a big guy throwing 100 MPH in your minor league system, but almost all of them have trouble commanding the strike zone.

Baez’s command will dictate how long it will be till we see him in a Padres uniform. His ceiling seems to be a front-end pitcher in the rotation. If for some reason his command is spotty, he could certainly become a valuable piece in the Padres’ bullpen which could lead to him being a closer.

Cal Quantrill No. 2 Padres Pitching Prospect, ETA Late 2018, Age: 23

Drafted eighth overall by the Friars in the 2016 draft, many were surprised that Cal Quantrill was taken so early. Quantrill missed his entire junior season at Stanford University and only made three starts the year prior due to having Tommy John surgery in 2015.

Quantrill’s injury history didn’t scare the Padres though and they were confident enough in his ability to recover by signing him to a $3.9 million bonus.

Last year we saw Cal Quantrill convince the organization that his surgery and recovery were behind him as he was able to log 116 innings throughout both High-A and Double-A.

His command is certainly not an issue, as he was able to only walk 40 batters and strikeout 110. Quantrill’s arsenal includes a mid-90s fastball, slider, curveball, and a wipeout changeup. Some scouts believe he may have the best changeup in the entire minor leagues.

Quantrill is by far the most mature and big league ready pitcher on this list. He has done everything the Padres have asked him and there seems to be no concern over his injury history.

If Bryan Mitchell continues to struggle, Quantrill may find himself with Luchessi and Lauer at some point this year in the big-league rotation

MacKenzie Gore No. 1 Padres Pitching Prospect, ETA 2020, Age: 19

MacKenzie Gore is the one of the best, if not the best, pitching prospect the Padres have ever had.

Drafted third overall in this past June’s draft, Mackenzie Gore is already receiving comparisons of other lefty pitchers like Clayton Kershaw, Cole Hamels, and Jon Lester. That is some pretty top-notch company.

After being signed, Gore reported to Rookie Ball and absolutely dominated. In 21 innings Gore punched out 34 hitters, allowed only three earned runs and walked only one batter.

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Opposing hitters couldn’t touch Gore as they batted a mere .184 against him. Gore’s fastball sits between 92-95 MPH and he throws a knee-buckling curveball along with a slider and changeup.

All of his pitches project to be above-average offerings.

The team certainly want Gore in a Padres uniform soon, as they likely want him to gather innings in the minor leagues to continue getting a feel of pro-ball.

He’d be better suited to grow his innings/pitch counts steadily now, rather than asking him to throw over 190 innings for the first time once he gets to the big leagues.

Gore is without question a number-one starter and future-ace.

As you can see the Padres are loaded with pitching prospects. If someone like Bryan Mitchell continues to struggle, the Padres have plenty of options to replace him.

The current rotation for the big club may not be what we, as fans, want it to be, but the future is bright. The future rotation could be one of the best in baseball once it includes Gore, Quantrill, Morejon, and others.

Next: Lauer Wasn't the First Friars Hurler to Bomb in Debut

We have gotten a glimpse of Luchessi, and tonight we saw the potential of Eric Lauer. Be ready Padres fans, the future is coming.

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San Diego Padres: Lucchesi And Lauer Are Here, Who’s Next?