3 prospects the San Diego Padres should be happy they held on to at the deadline

San Diego Padres prospect: LHP Robby Snelling

Robby Snelling has an ideal athletic build (6-foot-3, 210 pounds). He has been on everyone’s radar since his days as a high school two-sport star. Most major league teams thought the Reno, Nevada, native was heading to the University of Arizona to play football and baseball on a dual scholarship. But the Padres took a chance and drafted Snelling with the 39th overall pick last summer.

Preller offered him $3 million, and Snelling spurned the Arizona scholarship offer to sign with the Friars. He has paid early dividends on their investment, as Snelling has been dominating in his first professional season.

He has split his time between Single-A Lake Elsinore and Single-A+ Fort Wayne. Snelling is 8-2 with a 1.91 ERA in 16 combined starts. He has recorded 88 Ks in 75.1 innings as opposing teams are batting .218 against Snelling this season.

There were plenty of inquiries from opposing teams on his availability at the trade deadline. However, it quickly became apparent that the Padres would not part with Snelling in any potential deal. They project him to potentially become a future No.1 starter of their rotation.