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.

San Diego Padres Prospects # 30-21

30) Reginald Preciado, SS, AZL Rookie Padres, 2024. (NR)

The best prospect out of Panama in this year’s class, Preciado, is a lean and athletic shortstop with a large frame and a projectable body. He has the types of tools that can make an impact on both sides of the ball and tons of upside. The 16-year-old signed with the Padres for $1.3 million at the outset of the July 2 signing period after he ranked as the No. 22 prospect on MLB Pipeline list of the Top 30 international prospects.

29) Ismael Mena, OF, AZL Rookie Padres, 2024. (NR)

Big, athletic, wiry, and full of potential, Mena has drawn comparisons to young Gregory Polanco. That combination of tools and ceiling earned Mena a spot as the No. 15 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s list of the Top 30 international prospects, not to mention a $2.2 million bonus from the Padres at the outset of the July 2 signing period. Mena is all projection right now, but scouts agree that the 16-year-old outfielder has the ingredients needed to become a special player.

28) Joshua Mears, OF, Low-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, 2023. (NR)

Mears was a relatively unknown high school player from the Pacific Northwest until he showed off some outstanding tools at the Area Code Games in California last summer. That performance put him firmly on the Draft radar of all 30 teams, and the Padres swooped with their second-round selection, No. 48 overall. Mears would later sign for $1 million, slightly below his slot’s value, and he put forth a strong display in Rookie ball, batting .253/.354/.440 with seven home runs.

27) Ethan Elliott, LHP, Low-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, 2023. (NR)

A tenth round pick in the 2019 draft, Elliott had an outstanding pro debut with the short-season Tri-City Dust Devils. In an abbreviated 35.2 innings, Elliott had an ERA of 1.77 in twelve starts to go along with 38 Strikeouts and a whip of 0.87 while allowing a batting average of just .205. He might not have the name recognition of others on this list, but the kid can flat out pitch. He reminds of others who have come from nowhere to dominate a la Joey Cantillo and Omar Cruz, to name a few.

26) Hudson Head, OF, Low-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, 2023. (NR)

Head wasn’t on many scouts’ radars because he wasn’t a regular on the summer showcase circuit and didn’t stand out at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship in the fall. Seeing an opportunity to add an ultra-athletic, five-tool player to an already loaded system, the Padres went all-in in their pursuit of Head, taking him in the third round and then signing him for $3 million, a record bonus for a third-round pick. Look for him to move fast through this loaded system.

25) Efrain Contreras, RHP, High-A Lake Elsinore Storm, 2022. (29)

A part of the 2017 International class, Contreras is showing that despite his age, he knows how to pitch. Just 20 years old, he shows good command and poise for someone so young. Even though there are pitchers with a higher pedigree on his team, he’s showing how deep the pitching in this farm system is. Will be apart of a very talented pitching staff in Lake Elsinore this season. He went 6-6 with an ERA of 3.61 in 22 starts and had 121 strikeouts in 109.2 innings pitched.

24) Omar Cruz, LHP, Low-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, 2022-23. (NR)

Another pitcher from the same international class in 2017 as Contreras, all Cruz has done since turning pro is dominated. He should be the “Ace” on a TinCaps pitching staff that will have some young but serious talent this season. If the 12 starts in the Midwest League last season is any indication of why he could be the number one on that staff this year, 2-3 2.73 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 50 IP, we should see even better numbers in his second stint in the league.

23) Aaron Leasher, LHP, Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, 2021. (NR)

In 19 starts in the hitter-friendly California League last year Leasher had a better than average season. He compiled a 10-7 record to go along with an ERA of 3.15 with 113 strikeouts in 120 IP.  Although not flashy or overpowering and perhaps does not possess the highest of ceilings in comparison to others on this list, he knows how to get hitters out with what he does have in his arsenal. Leasher will be at the back end of one of the most potent rotations in all of the minor leagues this year.

22) Osvaldo Hernandez, LHP, High-A Lake Elsinore Storm, 2022. (19)

Hernandez started his 2019 season late due to an injury. He was excellent in 2018 pitching for Fort Wayne, but the lack of playing time this past season keeps him in the lower half of the prospect list. When healthy, however, he does have one of the more intriguing upsides. In 2018 he nearly won the ERA title at Fort Wayne with a 1.81 in the Midwest League. Similar to Leasher, in that he doesn’t overpower you, he changes speeds and arm angles to create deception.

21) Reggie Lawson, RHP, Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, 2021. (NR)

Lawson endeared himself to scouts with his lightning-quick arm, and even though he endured a side injury during his senior season, the Padres gambled on his upside. They gave the right-hander $1.9 million, more than twice slot value, after selecting him with the 71st overall pick in the 2016 Draft. In his two full Minor League seasons, Lawson has yet to find any measure of consistency, with an ERA hovering around 5. But all the while, he’s continued to flash promising stuff and a high ceiling. Looked like he might have turned the corner with a dominant performance in the Arizona Fall League.

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.

San Diego Padres Prospects # 10-6

10) Gabriel Arias, SS, Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, 2022. (NR)

Arias, one of the top prospects in the 2016-17 international class, received $1.9 million as the Padres blew past their spending pool during the signing period. At age 17, he was promoted to Class A Fort Wayne and held his own.  Arias remained with Fort Wayne for the entirety of the ’18 season, and he slumped to a .654 OPS. However, he might have finally had the year the front office was hoping for in 2019, breaking out with a .302 batting average to go along with 17 home runs and 77 RBI.

9) Owen Miller, SS, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, 2021. (15) 

Miller made his professional debut with Class A Short-Season Tri-City, and he tore through the league with a .335 batting average and .835 OPS. He was promoted to Class A Fort Wayne for its run to the playoffs, and he starred there, too, upping his average to .336 and his OPS to .846. He then skipped High-A ball altogether in 2019 and was on the Amarillo Championship team hitting .290 with 13 HR and 68 RBI. Miller is in spring training with the big league club to begin the 2020 season but more than likely start the year in Triple-A.

8) Edward Olivares, OF, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, 2020-21. (18)

Signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2014, Olivares produced mixed results early in his career. The Padres’ took note of a solid 2017 campaign, in which Olivares finally tapped into his power and launched 17 home runs between Class A and Class A Advanced. They acquired him in a trade for Yangervis Solarte the following January. He had another outstanding year last season posting a line of .283 18 HR 77 RBI while stealing 35 bases too. His power-speed combo is unmatched by few in the deep San Diego Padres system.

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7) Adrian Morejon, LHP, Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, 2020-21. (17)

Morejon signed with the Padres for a franchise-record $11 million the day after he was declared a free agent. He made an impressive stateside debut the next year, then took a big step forward in 2018 with a dominant first half at Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore that earned him All-Star honors in the California League. He made only two starts during the second half, though, as the left-hander missed time due to flexor soreness and then triceps discomfort. Morejon made his Major league debut for the Padres at the end of 2019 before being shut down to injury once again.

6) Michel Baez, RHP, Double-A Amarillo sod Poodles, 2020-21. (16)

The Padres landed Baez during their 2016 international bonus-pool-shattering spending spree, signing the then-20-year-old Cuban righty for $3 million in December.  Behind a combination of physicality and stuff, he continued to climb the ladder in 2018, beginning the season in the Class A California League and then earning a promotion to Double-A at age 22. Was promoted to the Padres on July 21st last year and in 24 games more than held his own going 1-1 in 24 games with an ERA of 3.03 while striking out 28 batters in 29.1 innings.