San Diego Padres Projected 25-Man Rosters: Fort Wayne TinCaps

This article will be the first in a series of five in which we will project the four full-season minor affiliates as well as the San Diego Padres 25-man rosters for the 2019 season.

However, this will have restrictions. For instance, we will not include any potential free agent signings or trade possibilities. This roster will only include players on the current  40-man roster as well as players on minor league affiliates for the San Diego Padres. Today, we’ll look at the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

Although I’m sure there will be plenty of movement in the coming days and weeks within the rosters, this will be a fun exercise that shows how much talent and depth the minor league system truly has.

Projecting these rosters and looking deeper into how they could all fit into this roster exercise, definitely heightened my excitement for the future of this franchise.

This organization is scary-deep with prospects, and as you soon will see, especially deep from sixty feet six inches.

The first team we will discuss in this roster projection exercise will be the Friars full season Low-A team, the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

Coming off of a good but not great season and barely missing out on a playoff berth (on the last day of the season) the TinCaps had some good performances, as well as team moments.

Finishing both halves exactly at 32-37 and an overall record of 64-74, the TinCaps had a mid-season injury bug that prevented them from not only a playoff berth and winning record, but important development for some key prospects as well.

Losing three everyday pieces to the lineup, as well as many starts from key pieces of the rotation were too much to overcome.

Missing everyday pieces were starting catcher Luis Campusano, left-fielder Robbie Podorsky, and right fielder Tirso Ornelas.

Missing multiple rotation starts were left-hander MacKenzie Gore, right-hander Mason Thompson, and more near the end of the year, left-hander Osvaldo Hernandez.

With last years team now moving on, what will the San Diego Padres low-A team look like this season?

They will have a few players left-over from last year’s team, with graduates from short-season Tri-City, and may have some rookie-ball in the mix. We could also see a surprise or two with players that might play at a level higher or lower than expected.

Those are just a few teasers.

DISCLAIMER: This is just for fun and to show the talent and depth A.J. Preller and company have acquired for us Friar Fans.

Let’s get your first look at what the Fort Wayne TinCaps could look like come opening day 2019.

Fort Wayne Tin Caps 25-man roster

Starting Lineup and Batting Order:

1. Xavier Edwards – SS
2. Tucapita Marcano – 2B
3. Agustin Ruiz – RF
4. Jalen Washington -1B
5. Dwanya Williams-Sutton – LF
6.  Olivier Basabe – 3B
7.  Blake Hunt – C
8.  Grant Little – CF

Bench:

• C – Juan Fernandez
• IF – Justin Lopez
• Utility – Kelvin Melean
• OF – Tre Carter
• OF – Tyler Benson

Starting Rotation:

1. MacKenzie Gore – LH
2. Anderson Espinoza – RH
3. Ryan Weathers – LH
4. Mason Thompson – RH
5. Ronald Bolanos – RH
6. Tom Cosgrove – RH (Spot-Starter/Long-Man)

Bullpen:

• MR-Austin Smith – RH
• MR-Joe Galindo – RH
• MR-Fred Schlictholz – LH
• SU-Gabe Mosser – RH
• SU-Tom Colletti – RH
• CL-Jordan Guerrero – RH

And there is your first look at a 2019 Roster projection for the San Diego Padres full-season low-A affiliate the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Most of the rotation decisions picked were because of the depth or due to past injuries.

It’s better for some players to ease their way into the season and gain some confidence along the way before a mid-season promotion, especially players like Gore, Espinoza, and Thompson. Everything else about this roster could make sense though.

What do you think San Diego Padres fans? Have we done well? Please leave your thoughts, comments, opinions, and what your 2019 Fort Wayne Tin Caps 25-man rosters could look like.

Next up: Lake Elsinore Storm