San Diego Padres: A look at preseason top 30 prospects

Baseball is back Friar faithful, and what a time it is for us fans with the hot stove finally catching fire after a deep winter thaw! For the San Diego Padres this has been an off-season of unexpected wonders.

Hope springs eternal this time of year, not only for fans of the San Diego Padres, but for all baseball fans from Florida to Arizona and everywhere in between.

There is hope in this town that we haven’t seen in some time, and not just because we signed a certain generational talent to (for the 2nd year in a row) a record-breaking contract. With one signing this ownership group has cast an exorcism on the ghosts of front office pasts!

As a fan of this team I must give a very big THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS to Ron Fowler, Peter Seidler, A.J. Preller, Erik Greupner and the entire Friar franchise and family.

This was supposed to be and has been one of the funnest and most anticipated Spring Seasons in memory, with all the “Hot Talent Lava” coming to camp. Now it could go down as being franchise altering.Adding arguably one of the top ten players in all of baseball kinda has that effect.

Since we have now filled our biggest hole on the field for the present and future. This article will show just what that future could look like.

Considering the Friars have the consensus #1 system in baseball, let’s get to meet the Lava that will be playing alongside our generational talent for the next decade.

This article will have the player name, a guess at the team affiliate he will play with this season, position on the diamond, his estimated time of arrival to the major leagues, and his earlier spot on last years end of season list. (NR) will denote not being on the previous list.

Friar faithful, here is our San Diego Padres top 30 prospects.

1) Fernando Tatis Jr., El Paso Chihuahuas, SS, ETA 2019, (1). The crown jewel of the best farm system in baseball, Tatis will be in the big leagues at some point in the 2019 season. If it weren’t for service time issues he’d probably be the starting shortstop on opening day. Have patience Friar family, it’s just a little longer till we get to see our dream come true, left side of the infield.

2) Chris Paddack, El Paso Chihuahuas, RH-SP, ETA 2019, (5). This time last year not a lot of people outside of San Diego knew the name Chris Paddack. However, after dominating the minor leagues with filth flarn filth which we haven’t seen in San Diego since the likes of Jake Peavy. Expect more video game type numbers for one of the fastest rising prospects in the game.

3) Luis Urias, San Diego Padres, 2B/SS, ETA 2019, (4). The number # 2 ranked second base prospect in baseball should only be on this for a little while longer. With nothing left to prove in the minors, Urias will be the first of the up the middle duo that we can see for years to come.

4) Francisco Mejia, San Diego Padres, C, ETA 2019, (3). The number # 2 catching prospect (starting to see a theme here) in the game had a brief but memorable cup of coffee with the big squad last year. Hitting two home runs in his first start while also delivering a walk off grand slam. Known mostly for his bat, this kid has one of the best arms of any catcher in the game.

5) Logan Allen, El Paso Chihuahuas, LH-SP, ETA 2019, (6). Another pitcher who wasn’t on any top 100 prospects list this time last year, Allen has also shot up the rankings in the last year. After being named the Texas league pitcher of the year, Allen had even better success after his promotion to El Paso.

6) Luis Patino, Lake Elsinore Storm, RH-SP, ETA 2020-21, (12). This will sound like a broken record, but here is yet another prospect that has vaulted into the top 100 overall. Getting comps to teammate and fellow prospect MacKenzie Gore for their high leg kick and nasty stuff, this could be an important year in the development for this 2016 international signee.

7) MacKenzie Gore, Fort Wayne Tin Caps, LH-SP, ETA 2021, (2). You might be wondering why a former number #1 draft pick and number three overall (2017) has taken a few steps back on this list. It’s not his talent but more of players being closer to big league ready, having better seasons than he last year, and his recurring blister issues stunting his development. I have a feeling the next time we see him on this list he’ll be at the top.

8) Josh Naylor, El Paso Chihuahuas, OF/1B, ETA 2019-20, (10).  A former number #1 draft pick and top ten prospect in the Marlins organization, Naylor is coming off  his most complete season in 2018. He is also a past two-time participant in the Futures game. More than likely would be a top five prospect in any other system.

9) Adrian Morejon, Amarillo Sod Poodles, LH-SP, ETA 2020-21, (8). Morejon was the biggest catch of the Padres 2016-17 record-setting international signing class. With an abundance of pitching in this deep system, this could be an important year in his development and future within the organization. A healthy season will be key for that progress.

10) Michel Baez, Amarillo Sod Poodles, RH-SP, ETA 2020-21, (7). Another one of the big international signings from that same class as Morejon, Baez looked great in his first taste of high-A ball, but struggled dearly after a promotion to double-AA. 2019 could be a very important year in his development/progression.

11) Anderson Espinoza, Fort Wayne Tin Caps, RH-SP, ETA 2021-22, (14)

12) Ryan Weathers, Fort Wayne Tin Caps, LH-SP, ETA 2021-22, (16).

13) Jacob Nix, El Paso Chihuahuas, RH-SP, ETA 2019, (9).

14) Cal Quantrill, El Paso Chihuahuas, RH-SP, ETA 2019-20, (11).

15) Austin Allen, El Paso Chihuahuas, C, ETA 2019-20, (17).

16) Buddy Reed, Amarillo Sod Poodles, OF, ETA 2020-21, (19).

17) Hudson Potts, Amarillo Sod Poodles, 3B, ETA 2020-21, (18).

18) Andres Munoz, El Paso Chihuahuas, RH-RP, ETA 2019-20, (13).

19) Osvaldo Hernandez, Lake Elsinore Storm, LH-SP, ETA 2020-21, (15).

20) Owen Miller, Amarillo Sod Poodles, SS/2B, ETA 2020-21, (22).

21) Edward Olivares, Amarillo Sod Poodles, OF, ETA 2020-21, (21)

22) Xavier Edwards, Fort Wayne Tin Caps, SS, ETA 2021-22, (27).

23) Brad Wieck, El Paso Chihuahuas, LH-RP, ETA 2019-20, (NR)

24) Ty France, El Paso Chihuahuas, 3B, ETA 2019-20. (30)

25) Nick Margevicius, Amarillo Sod Poodles, LH-SP, ETA 2020-21, (25).

26) Gerardo Reyes, El Paso Chihuahuas, RH-RP, ETA 2019-20, (NR).

27) Esteury Ruiz, Lake Elsinore Storm, 2B, ETA 2021-22, (23).

28) Robbie Podorsky, Lake Elsinore Storm, OF, ETA 2021-22, (26).

29) Luis Campusano, Lake Elsinore Storm, C, ETA 2021-22. (24).

30) Tirso Ornelas, Lake Elsinore Storm, OF, ETA 2021-22. (28)

• Dropped: OF-Jeisson Rosario, RH-SP-Brett Kennedy

And there is your 2019 San Diego Padres preseason top 30 prospects.

What do you think Friar faithful? Does this list match up with what your top 30 list would look like? Please leave any thoughts, comments, opinions, and what your top 30 list would look like.

We’ve started a new era in Padres baseball, Friar family. Hopefully these prospects get to shine bright like a diamond. Let’s just pray it’s the diamond at Petco Park where they shine brightest.