San Diego Padres: Update On The System’s Top Pitching Prospects

In April we took an in-depth look at the San Diego Padres top pitching prospects. With the recent promotions of Jacob Nix and Brett Kennedy, let’s revisit some of those top prospects and also take a look at the new players that enter our list.

Luis Patino No. 9 Padres Pitching Prospect, ETA 2021. Age: 18

Luis Patino has quickly opened the eyes of many, ever since being signed out of Colombia. Last season was his first year pitching in pro ball and his numbers were very impressive. In 13 starts, Patino was able to compile a 58/18 K/BB ratio, all while holding a 2.25 ERA in 56 innings between the Dominican Summer League and the Arizona League.

Patino stands six-feet and192 lbs but has the strength and demeanor of someone much larger. He has shown the ability to flash a 98 MPH fastball and compliments its nicely with a mid-80s slider. The changeup is still a work in progress and could be a crucial pitch for him to develop as all his other offerings seem to play as “power pitches.”

This season, Patino has been able to produce more of that same success, pitching in Low-A and holding his own as a ripe 18-year-old. In 66 innings, Patino holds a 2.43 ERA and boasts a 77/18 K/BB. Patino has shown he’s been able to avoid big innings by limiting walks and averaging a 1.05 WHIP. That’s a very mature characteristic for an 18-year-old pitcher to possess.

Although Patino seems to be handling Low-A ball just fine at the age of 18, he still has ways to go before we see him in a Padres uniform. This is just his second full year of pro ball, and I’d imagine the Padres are looking to let the young player grow into his innings. It’ll be interesting to see if he will still be able to sustain such great command of the strike zone as he progresses through the upper levels of the minor leagues.

Anderson Espinosa: No. 8 (Previous Rank No. 5) Padres Pitching Prospect, ETA Late 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 Tommy John surgery in June of 2017.

He has yet to throw a pitch for the Padres with an affiliated team, 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.

Espinoza will need to have a big year next season if he plans to be apart of the Padres’ future plans. The Padres continue to be flooded with tons of pitching prospects, and Espinoza may get passed up.

Logan Allen No. 5 (Previous Rank No. 6) Padres Pitching Prospect, ETA 2019. Age: 21

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 as part of the prospect package sent over by the Red Sox in the Craig Kimbrel trade that also included Manuel Margot and Carlos Asuaje.

Allen has certainly put together a superb season so far. Across 121 innings in AA, Allen has compiled 125/38 K/BB ratio, hitters are batting .208 against him, and he carries a 1.05 WHIP.

His impressive season has earned him a promotion to AAA. It’ll be interesting to see if Allen carries  this momentum into El Paso as he could also earn another promotion to San Diego in September. Regardless if he makes it to San Diego or not this year, Allen will certainly have a chance to make the starting rotation out of spring training next season.

Michel Baez No. 4 (Previous Rank No. 3) Padres Pitching prospect, ETA  Late 2019, Age: 22

Michel Baez certainly makes his presence felt on the mound, standing at 6’8″ and 220 pounds, and a 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.

Baez is another pitcher within the Padres’ system who is having a fantastic season. In 17 starts so far in High-A, Baez has been able to gather 86 innings, carry a 92/33 K/BB ratio, and hold a 2.91 ERA. His pitches are missing plenty of barrels as he continues to total a high number of strikeouts and limit batters to a .229 BAA.

This season has proved that Baez has been able to command his pitches. Young pitchers who throw hard seem to always have a tendency to have control issues. If, for whatever reason, Baez does have control issues and can’t make it as a starter, he could certainly fit in the Padres bullpen.

Adrian Morejon No. 3 (Previous Rank 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.

Morejon is a left-handed pitcher who possess three above-average pitches, mid-90’s fastball, straight change-up, and a curve. In High-A this year, Morejon has taken a step forward in his development. This was his second full year pitching in pro-ball and definitely has proved he deserves to be apart of the Padres’ starting rotation of the future.

Throughout thirteen starts this year, Morejon has pitched 62 innings and has put up a 3.30 ERA. He continues to take command of the strike zone which is always a plus with a 19-year-old pitcher. Morejon’s WHIP this year sits at 1.24 and has only allowed 24 walks.

He was recently placed on the disabled list with a tricep issue and will be severely limited over the final few weeks of the regular season.

Chris Paddack No. 2 Padres Pitching Prospect, ETA Mid-2019, Age: 22

Chris Paddack has certainly been the surprise pitcher this year in the Padres’ system. Acquired by Miami in 2016 via the Fernando Rodney trade, Paddack has put all concerns about his health in the rear-view mirror.  Paddack missed the entire 2017 season due to having Tommy John surgery.

Regardless of whether he’s pitching in either High-A or AA, Paddack has assuredly made his presence felt. Across 85 innings, his K/BB ratio reads 114/7. Yes, seven walks!

Paddack doesn’t dance around hitters and his bulldog mentality should allow him to continue to shoot up the minor league system. In nine starts this year Paddack holds an ERA of 1.91, a dominating WHIP of 0.76, and is averaging 12.1 Ks/9.

Paddack recently earned a promotion to AA and if he continues this domination, he could throw himself into the hat of names that could earn a spot in the starting rotation for 2019.

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 last year’s June 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.

Gore’s first full season hasn’t exactly been how most envisioned it. His record stands at 1-5 and has an ERA of 4.41 in fourteen starts. Experiencing what it’s like to struggle may be the best thing for his development. Gore hasn’t struggled in baseball in over five years. His senior year pitching line in high school was 158 Ks, five walks, and a 0.19 ERA.

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The toughest part of the development process for all young prospects is learning how to deal with failure. All players face failure throughout their careers, and those who are successful are the ones who learned how to not let failure bring them down. Failure is the number one factor when it comes to a player being a “bust.” No, I don’t think Gore will be a bust, but I think this is a crucial part of his development.

Repeated blister issues limited the amount of action he saw early on in 2018. However, the North Carolina native has rebounded well and is finishing the season on a positive note. Over his last ten outings, Gore has 52 strikeouts in 41 innings, including a ten strikeout performance (five innings) on July 15th.

If the lefty begins next season in Lake Elsinore, he may not be there long.

Gore still has a few more years in the minor leagues, but once he arrives in San Diego, he will certainly become a force in the rotation for years to come.