San Diego Padres Offseason Update: Liga Mexicana del Pacifico

There may not be a headlining core of San Diego Padres prospects playing in Mexico this offseason, but there are a few worth keeping an eye on.

There aren’t very many San Diego Padres players calling Mexico their home for the 2018 offseason, but there are a number of pitchers getting their winter work in the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico.

One week into the regular season, Houston Astros pitching prospect Jose Hernandez is excelling in his hometown of Mazatlan, Mexico. He has made two starts, throwing a combined 10 innings of shutout baseball over this first appearances while limiting opponents to just two hits and zero walks. He leads the league with 12 strikeouts.

As for San Diego Padres prospects, let’s begin with pitcher Adrian Martinez of the Aguilas de Mexicali. Martinez spent his 2018 season with the Fort Wayne TinCaps and Tri-City Dust Devils, going 4-6 with a combined ERA of 6.90 between the two levels. He recorded 78 strikeouts in 74 innings but allowed a .340 batting average and 1.86 WHIP.

In Mexicali, Martinez has made one relief appearance, throwing 3.2 shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three. He issued zero free passes during his debut outing. After a rough outing in Fort Wayne, look for Martinez to limit baserunners this offseason, out of the bullpen. A positive winter experience can help put Martinez on the right path in 2019 as he tries to establish himself as a relief pitcher.

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After taking a big step back in 2018, Chris Huffman is attempting to get back on the right track by pitching for the Caneros de Los Mochis in Mexico this winter. The former James Madison University pitcher has made one start, giving up four earned runs on five hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out just one in his start against the Tomateros de Culiacan, coached by fellow James Madison University product, Lorenzo Bundy.

Next up is another interesting relief pitching prospect, Gerardo Reyes. Reyes was a part of the trade that brought Wil Myers over to San Diego and is coming off a solid season with the Lake Elsinore Storm and San Antonio Missions (55 IP, 2.77 ERA, 69 K, 1 HR allowed). He has made three relief appearances for the Yaquis de Obregon, giving up no runs on one hit in 2.2 innings of work. Reyes has struck out four, issued one free pass, and has largely kept the ball on the ground. At 25 years of age, Reyes is a name to watch as someone who could make an appearance with the San Diego Padres at some point in 2019.

The San Diego Padres also have pitcher Jorge Leo on the Naranjeros de Hermosillo roster but he has yet to appear in a game. Leo is a 20-year-old pitcher in the Padres system who played in the Dominican Summer League in 2018. He made 22 relief appearances, going 4-4 with a 2.43 ERA, 27 strikeouts, three walks, and converted four of five save opportunities.