Padres prospect Justin DeCriscio has the tools to give their bench a needed boost

The Padres should take their prospect Justin DeCriscio seriously. Developing a player who can handle shortstop and cover other positions around the field would help tremendously. And to add to the glove, he could give the lineup competitive at-bats. That would qualify as a useful piece of business for this organization.

We spend plenty of time discussing what San Diego’s prospects might fetch in a trade. We wouldn’t blame anyone for trying to think about what A.J. Preller would do. But putting that aside, here’s a worthwhile alternative: develop some of these prospects into players the Padres can actually use.

DeCriscio is another guy who is building that case. He climbed through three minor league levels this season, reaching Double-A San Antonio, and has continued getting work around the diamond in the Arizona Fall League. In MLB.com’s Oct. 27 update, he carried a .356 on-base percentage while earning praise for his defense at shortstop.

Justin DeCriscio gives the Padres a development success worth taking seriously

A useful utilityman makes a manager’s job easier in many ways. He can give a regular a day off or cover an injury without forcing the club to rearrange their defensive alignment. His presence can make it easier to use a pinch-hitter because somebody on the bench can handle the defensive assignment afterward. To be fair, that may be what they want out of Sung-mun Song. But they shouldn’t be banking on a big step forward after his first major league season.

This kind of job matters over a full season. The Padres should be trying to fill them from within. DeCriscio offers a sensible starting point because shortstop defense is already part of his appeal. Expanding his versatility gives San Diego more ways to fit him onto a future roster. The assignment now should be deliberate: keep sharpening his best position while giving him enough work elsewhere to become dependable.

Writing several positions next to a player’s name is easy. Trusting him at those positions is the next step. 

As for the bat, DeCriscio finished the regular season hitting .270/.358/.425 with 13 home runs across 121 games. There’s enough offensive production there to keep developing the whole player instead of treating his glove as his only path forward.

We should also keep the Fall League numbers in proportion. A .356 on-base percentage in a short stretch earns sparks interest. The harder test is sustaining competitive plate appearances as pitchers find weaknesses to attack.

The Padres should keep finding reps for him to continue playing regularly. He deserves an audition in spring, but having him serve a bunch of time on the bench won’t do either of them any favors.

Every capable reserve developed internally gives the front office another option when it spends money or considers a trade. San Diego can pursue bigger upgrades with one fewer supporting role to patch. 

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