San Diego Padres: Players Projected For An Improved 2019

Looking over the projected individual performances for 2019, which San Diego Padres players are expected to take a big leap forward next season?

What will a successful 2109 season look like for the San Diego Padres? Depending on who you ask, you are sure to receive very different answers. Some fans may say anything less than playoff contention would be considered a failure. Most fans just want to see an improved record and something other than a last-place finish in the National League West. For others, the team record isn’t necessarily important, instead they want to see individual players take the next step forward.

Let’s go with the final thought there, seeing players take the next step forward. Which Padres players are primed to rebound from 2018 seasons that were, for lack of a better word, bad?

Here’s what I did. Using Fangraphs WAR calculations from 2018 and Steamer’s projections for 2019, I looked at which players on the current roster are projected to put up much better seasons in 2019. There are three players who stand out when comparing these two numbers for individual players. Over the next three slides, you will see a brief review of each of these players and their 2018 seasons and whether or not their positive projections for 2019 are reasonable or not.

First up, a San Diego Padres center fielder who will have to first earn a starting job.