San Diego Padres: Preseason Top 30 Prospects going into 2020

For fans of the San Diego Padres this is the time of year where hope does indeed spring eternal. This article will take a look at the consensus number one farm system in all of baseball.

It is that time of year again, baseball fans. From Florida to the desert in Arizona, the smell of fresh-cut grass, the sound of the ball hitting the mitt, and the sound of the ball smashing off of the bat, that makes this one of the best times of the year for all baseball enthusiasts. For fans of the San Diego Padres, this usually means prospects, prospects, prospects.

Having the best farm system in baseball for what seems like forever depending on what publication you desire to read, the Friars again are well stocked in this area. Publications from Baseball America, MLB.com to Fangraphs have all started to release their versions of this season’s prospects lists, and we here at Friars on Base are no different.

This is my favorite write-up each year, and just like the new season approaching the anticipation of what is to come for this team in the long and short term of things is super exciting.

Considering the names that have graduated off of this from last year, you may think they have traded away the farm system with all the turnover. Of course, that is not the case with this team. They seem to have prospects coming out of their ears (not literally) with the talent and depth acquired.

It just goes to show though just how deep this system is with the graduations of some big-time star names that it is still in contention to be among the best in the business.

Fernando Tatis Jr., Chris Paddack, Luis Urias, Francisco Mejia, and Logan Allen are just the top five from last year’s preseason list to have graduated off the prospect tree. That is some major capital to have moved from prospect to the major leagues right there.

And to still be considered one of the best systems after all of the said turnover is a big accomplishment for A.J. Preller and his player development department.

You will see a lot of familiar names on this 2020 version that has been on past lists too, but you will also see the next wave of hot talent lava bubbling beneath the surface, trying to be the next big five to make a name for themselves.