San Diego Padres: Final Stretch For Prospects In Arizona

A number of San Diego Padres prospects have been having a phenomenal season in the Arizona Fall League.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there are just three days left in the Arizona Fall League regular season before the league conducts its championship game on Saturday (November 17) at 1:08 pm MST. One of the teams competing in that title game will be the Peoria Javelinas, consisting of prospects from the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, and our beloved San Diego Padres.

At 19-9, the Javelinas will be the home team on Saturday, having locked the top overall record in the AFL and currently leading the West division by eight games, and counting. As far as Padres prospects are concerned, it has been a very successful fall season for the majority of players sent to Arizona.

Below is a quick rundown of updated stats and notes on each of the San Diego Padres prospects playing for Peoria.

Hitting prospects continue to impress evaluators.

One of the top offensive performers for Peoria has been outfielder Buddy Reed. The MVP of the Fall Stars game, Reed has impressed evaluators with his quick bat speed and skills on the basepaths. Many have noted how his long swing could be something that holds Reed back, however, his hot offseason just might be exactly what he needed after struggling in his promotion to Double-A last season.

Reed is currently third on the team in hits, compiling a .344 average and .408 OBP in his 16 games of action. He’s amassed one home run, five doubles, one triple, and five stolen bases. His K/BB ratio is at 13/7, giving Reed one of the smallest strikeout totals among all hitters on the team with a minimum of 40 at-bats.

Riding a five-game winning streak, third base prospect Hudson Potts is another name that has impressed evaluators in the AFL.

Potts is slashing .247/.353/.397 with two home runs, five doubles, and 13 runs driven in. He does lead the team with 25 strikeouts, however, he has drawn 11 walks which is also among the team leaders. Impressive numbers for a 19-year-old playing against some of the most elite pitching prospects in baseball.

Last but not least, there’s catcher Austin Allen. Allen has put up a quiet fall league campaign but has rebounded from his slow start. With 53 at-bats under his belt, Allen is hitting .245 with two home runs and three doubles. He is getting on base at a 35% clip and has posted a .764 OPS.

San Diego Padres pitching prospects have been equally as impressive.

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After beginning the season as one of the top starting pitchers in the AFL and showcasing his sweeping slider in the Fall Stars game, Miguel Diaz took a stumble, allowing eight earned runs  in 6.1 innings. Diaz rebounded on Monday with three shutout innings against Salt River, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three.

Overall, Diaz is 2-1 with a 4.87 ERA and 19 strikeouts in six AFL starts. He has struggled against left-handed hitters (.289 average, seven walks in nine innings), something to keep an eye on in 2019 as the Padres figure out whether he is a starter or reliever at the major league level. He may come in as a reliever in Saturday’s championship game, but don’t be surprised if his AFL appearances are done.

The most impressive performance on the mound may be from Travis Radke. Radke is one of many prospects who the Padres must make a decision on before the Rule-5 draft takes place and he is making a strong case, either for a roster spot with the Padres or another team. In seven appearances, Radke has a 2.81 ERA and a 17/7 K/BB ratio in 16 innings. Across one impressive stretch, Radke struck out eight and didn’t allow a single run in 7.2 outings (three separate outings).

As for the rest of the San Diego bullpen arms in Peoria:

• Dauris Valdez: 1-0, 5.00 ERA, 14 K, 2 BB, 10 H, 9 IP
• Blake Rogers: 0-0, 1.50 ERA, 5 K, 2 BB, 6 H, 6 IP

The Arizona Fall League will finish their regular season with games Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday before having an off day on Friday to prepare for Saturday’s championship game.