San Diego Padres 2019 top 30 prospects at midseason

20) Anderson Espinoza, RHP, San Diego Padres, ETA 2022. (11)

Espinoza has fallen down the San Diego Padres’ prospect list thanks to some tough luck. He battled back from (Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss two full years, only to have to do it again in 2019. When he’s healthy, his arm is incredible, but durability issues will be a concern until proven otherwise. He could possibly move to the bullpen to protect his arm, though he’s still on San Diego’s 40-man roster.

19) Osvaldo Hernandez, LHP, Arizona Rookie League Padres, ETA 2021. (19)

Speaking of injuries, Hernandez is just starting his 2019 season due to an injury. He was excellent last season pitching for Fort Wayne, but the lack of play time this season keeps him in the lower half of the prospect list. It will be interesting to see how San Diego’s front office decides to bring him along in the second half of the season, given that he’s now got just a half-season to get his work in.

18) Edward Olivares, CF, Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, ETA 2020. (21)

Acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for Yangervis Solarte before the beginning of the 2018 season, Olivares has the power and speed combination that scouts love. He’s similar to Esteury Ruiz, but with more power. Olivares is a good defender in the outfield and just needs to refine his approach at the plate to take the next step in his development.

17) Adrian Morejon, LHP, Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, ETA 2020. (9)

A lot of movement in the San Diego Padres’ farm system has been dictated by the injury bug. Morejon is another prospect who’s struggled to stay healthy. He’s been on the Injured List again in 2019; that’s the second season in a row. And when he has been available to pitch, he hasn’t been pitching well. Has he hit his ceiling already?

16) Michel Baez, RHP, Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, ETA 2020. (10)

Like Morejon, Baez has been beset by injuries throughout his minor league career. He’ll also be looking to bounce back in what’s left of the 2019 MLB season, although he recently transitioned from being a starter to pitching in relief.

15) Owen Miller, SS/2B, Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, ETA 2020. (20)

A more recent draft pick (third round in the 2018 MLB Draft), Miller has leaped up the San Diego Padres’ prospect rankings. Already in Double-A and hitting over .300, look for Miller to make an impact sooner rather than later when he arrives in Triple-A. He can play shortstop or second base, so he has some versatility to offer the Padres’ infield, too.

14) Ty France, 3B/1B, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, ETA 2019. (24)

Another 2015 draft pick still toiling away for that big league opportunity, and he’s just a step away. France crushed Triple-A pitching all season, developing his power hitting once he began starting on a regular basis. He briefly earned a promotion to the big club and held his own over 98 at-bats, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he gets another look from the Padres near the end of the 2019 season.

13) Austin Allen, C, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, ETA 2019. (15)

Another prospect who made his MLB debut in San Diego this season, and is now working to join the Padres permanently. A .289 career hitter in the minors, Allen hit a respectable .262 in a brief 42 at-bat stint with the Friars. Though he didn’t display any of the power that he was drafted for, it would seem to be only a matter of time until he gets a longer major league call-up.

12) Jacob Nix, RHP, San Diego Padres, ETA 2019. (13)

San Diego Padres fans would have more than likely have seen Nix in a Padres uniform this season if not for yet another injury. He was well on his way to being part of the starting rotation, until he was hurt during Spring Training. He’s currently on the 60-day Injured List and might have surgery that would end his season. If he doesn’t and manages to recover, he could still pop up by the end of the year.

11) Cal Quantrill, RHP, San Diego Padres, ETA 2019. (14)

Quantrill could have made the opening day roster with a good finish to his spring, but was hit hard at the end of Spring Training, and thus sent back to the minors for more development. He’s been moving back and forth between the San Diego Padres and their farm system ever since, though there’s some argument for making him a starting pitcher in a major league corps that needs new blood.