San Diego Padres: Preseason Top 30 Prospects going into 2020

San Diego Padres Prospects # 20-11

20) Michael Gettys, CF, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, 2020-21. (NR)

A second-round pick of the Padres way back in the 2014 draft, Gettys has teased with his power-speed combo throughout his minor league career. In his first full season in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Gettys set career highs in both home runs and RBI with 33 and 91 respectively while also stealing 14 bases. He plays good defense too. However, he also struck out 168 times to go along with only 33 walks. If he can finally learn to take more walks and strikeout less, we could see him jump up prospect leader boards.

19) Ivan Castillo, 2B, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, 2020-21. (NR)

All Castillo did in his first season with the organization was win the Texas League batting title with a batting avg of .313. He also had 15 stolen bases to go along with eight home runs and 57 RBI. Signed as a minor league free agent last winter, Castillo showed well enough in that sample size for the Padres to re-sign him to another minor league deal this winter. It will be a tough road for him to reach the majors; however, with so many higher-rated prospects in the pecking order.

18) Esteban Quiroz, 2B, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, 2020-21. (NR)

Picked up last off-season in what had appeared to be a roster crunch move with the Red Sox for pitcher Colten Brewer, Quiroz crushed Pacific Coast League pitching to the tune of .271 .384 .539 to go along with 19 home runs and 66 RBI, albeit in just 96 games played. A former Mexican League star, Quiroz is a little bit older than most prospects at 27 but has all the makings of a future big-league player. He has a chance to show what he can do with an invite to big league camp this spring.

17) Javy Guerra, RHP, Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, 2020. (NR)

Originally traded to the Padres as part of the Craig Kimbrel trade during the 2015 hot stove season, Guerra was once looked upon as the shortstop of the future for the Friars. However, after struggling mightily with the bat, the team decided to turn him into a pitcher last spring with the hopes of hitting big with his arm. And he did not disappoint. In 21.1 innings split between High-A and Double-A Guerra impressed with an ERA of 3.38 with 30 strikeouts. He is out of minor league options, however, so he will have to have an exceptional spring to make the 26-man roster.

16) Ryan Weathers, LHP, High-A Lake Elsinore Storm, 2022-23. (8)

The son of former Major League pitcher David Weathers, Ryan lacks a true out pitch, but he has three solid offerings and mixes them well. His fastball sits at 90-93 mph and tops out at 95.  the Padres took him with No. 7 overall pick in June 2018, marking the second straight year that the club had selected the Gatorade National Baseball High School Player of the Year, following MacKenzie Gore, the No. 3 pick in 2017. Had an injury-plagued full-season debut with the TinCaps last season and will look to stay healthy in 2020.

15) Pedro Avila, RHP, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, 2020. (24)

Avila was part of the Nationals’ July 2 international signing class in 2014, agreeing to a deal for $50,000. But he joined the Padres two years later in the trade that sent Derek Norris to Washington. Avila’s 2017 organizational debut was a strong one. Splitting time between Class A Fort Wayne and Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore in 2017, Avila led all Padres farmhands with 170 strikeouts, and he needed just 129 innings to do so. He posted a 3.70 ERA as a 20-year-old. However, his status is in question after having arm troubles to end last season.

14) Jacob Nix, RHP, El Paso Chihuahuas, 2020. (12)

Nix had his development halted in 2019 by a torn UCL that he suffered during Spring Training. He opted for a platelet-rich plasma injection and subsequent rehab instead of Tommy John surgery and finally returned to the mound in late July. His star also took a bit of a hit when he and a teammate were both arrested for a drunken incident while playing in the Arizona fall league. This season could be a make or break year for him in the Padres organization.

13) Ronald Bolanos, RHP, El Paso Chihuahuas, 2020. (NR)

A late addition to A.J. Preller’s fabled 2016-17 international class, after defecting from Cuba, Bolaños signed a $2 million deal with the Padres at age 19 on Aug. 2. He had spent the previous season playing professionally in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, where he posted a 4.78 ERA as one of its youngest players. Had the breakout campaign the organization was hoping for last year going a combined 13-7 with an ERA of 3.66 with 142 strikeouts in 132.1 IP slit between High-A and Double-A ball.

12) Jake Cronenworth, INF/RHP, San Diego Padres, 2020. (NR)

The Rays took him in the seventh round of the 2015 Draft, and Cronenworth made a steady climb through Tampa Bay’s system before breaking out in 2019 at Triple-A, where he showcased some newfound power to go along with an improved feel to hit while winning the international league MVP. He also opened eyes in his return to the mound, despite having not pitched competitively in four years. The Rays then packaged him with Tommy Pham to San Diego in December to acquire Hunter Renfroe, Xavier Edwards, and a player to be named later.

11) Joey Cantillo, LHP, Lake Elsinore Storm, 2022, (22)

A 16th-round selection from Kailua High School in Hawaii, the left-hander was one of the youngest players in the 2017 Draft. As an 18-year-old in rookie ball in 2018, Cantillo struck out 58 hitters over 45 1/3 innings while notching a 2.18 ERA. He finished the year with a singular start at Class A Fort Wayne, and he opened the ’19 campaign there before a mid-season promotion to High-A, where he continued to post excellent strikeout numbers with 144 in 111.2 IP while posting a record of 10-4 with an ERA of 2.26 combined between the two affiliates.