San Diego Padres 2019 top 30 prospects at midseason

5) Luis Patino, RH-SP, High-A Lake Elsinore Storm, ETA 2020. (6)

After a slow start to 2019, Patino has looked more and more like the breakout pitcher he was in 2018. He’s still on a fast trajectory to the major leagues, and should be promoted to Double-A in short order. With other pitching prospects around him getting called up due to the dearth of good pitchers on the Padres’ current roster, Patino could also move up faster than that.

4) Logan Allen, LHP, San Diego Padres, ETA 2019. (5)

Allen made headlines recently with his stunning MLB debut, where he threw seven shutout innings in front of John Cena. He would have more than likely made the rotation out of Spring Training if it weren’t for getting hurt and then struggling when he returned. Now the question is if Allen can follow up his impressive first start with another one, and if the Padres will keep him in the rotation or send him back to the minors as they continue to juggle pitchers.

3) Josh Naylor, OF/1B, San Diego Padres, ETA 2019. (8)

Naylor has already contributed to some big wins for the Friar Faithful since joining the San Diego Padres. His hitting has been his calling card, but with an above-average arm in the outfield and consistent playing time, he could become a regular fixture in San Diego. It just depends on where he fits in once other position players become healthy. Naylor could also be trade bait at the Trade Deadline, but hopefully he stays a Padre.

2) Luis Urias, 2B/SS, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, ETA 2019. (3) 

Urias nothing at all left to prove at the minor league level and is tearing the ball off the cover, so why he hasn’t been called up yet is a bit baffling. He’s got great talent, but he’s playing positions where the Padres are currently well entrenched, with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado respectively. Urias will also be on many other teams’ watchlist as the Trade Deadline approaches, especially if the Padres become buyers for a big-name free agent.

1) MacKenzie Gore, LHP, High-A Lake Elsinore Storm, ETA 2020. (7) 

Blister issues now a thing of the past, Gore is showing why he was the number three pick overall in 2017. His numbers in the California League are reflective of what Chris Paddack was putting up there before Paddack made it to San Diego. He’s currently 6-1 with a 1.23 ERA over 13 starts. It’d be a big leap to go from Single-A to a major league start this season, but don’t rule it out with his numbers being that good and the current Padres starters being this inconsistent.

For more coverage of the San Diego Padres’ prospects and minor league farm system, check out the Minors category at Friars on Base all season long.