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

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.