The best farm system in baseball belongs to the San Diego Padres. They are incredibly deep and it pained me to rank some of their prospects as top 6-10 guys when I know they would rank as top 5 guys in almost every other system out there.
Below are my top 16 prospects with 2012 opening day age, position, and comments on each player. Below the top 16 is a small list of additional notable names. Enjoy.
| Player | Comments | |
| 1 | Casey Kelly (22-RHP) | He is close to contributing to the San Diego rotation and brings a good frame (with room to still add muscle) and a mid-90s fastball. He also has an above-average curveball and change-up and above-average control. He keeps the ball down and a strong AAA showing could push him into the rotation by mid-year. |
| 2 | Rymer Liriano (20-OF) | I admit I did not know much about him before last season when he exploded and jumped on everyone’s radar. He has above-average-to-plus tools across the board and improved his walk rate to nearly 10%. He has the speed and range to stay in CF but if he adds muscle he can hit 20+ HR and will lose speed but has plenty of arm to move to RF and should have plus range for the position. His hit tool is potentially plus. |
| 3 | Yonder Alonso (25-1B) | MLB ready now with a high probability of him being a solid player. He should hit for average, some power, and a lot of doubles with adequate defense at 1B and draw some walks. Doesn’t have the ceiling of some in the org but you know what you get and he is ready. |
| 4 | Yasmani Grandal (23-C) | I was a fan when he was in high school and am still one today. There have been some concerns about his receiving skills but the bat is All-Star level even if he is below-average behind the plate and he has a solid approach at the plate. He has an above-average arm, though, and I really believe he can be an All-Star at the top level. |
| 5 | Robbie Erlin (22-LHP) | Erlin has plus control to go with deception and a solid 4-pitch arsenal that includes a potentially plus change-up and potentially above-average curveball. His fastball is not bad either, with low-90s speed and pinpoint control. He should join the San Diego rotation shortly after Kelly. |
| 6 | Jedd Gyorko (23-3B) | Despite scouts hating his body and giving them a bad first impression he continues to hit and has a great approach at the plate. He squares the ball up well and has above-average power with the chance to hit for a high average. With average defense at 3B he could be a potential All-Star. |
| 7 | Joe Ross (19-RHP) | The upside may be the highest of any arm in the system. He has a mid-90s fastball and a similar frame to Kelly with room to add muscle. He has a curveball and change-up that both have plus potential but need refinement. He could be a fast mover due to a good approach if his secondary offerings gain consistency. |
| 8 | Austin Hedges (19-C) | His defense is said to be so good that he may already be the best defensive catcher in the minors and could play in the Bigs right now. His bat is much further away but he has bat speed and the ability for some power. He needs to refine his approach and discipline at the plate if he wants to be a star but the potential is there. |
| 9 | Joe Wieland (22-RHP) | The other pitcher acquired in the Mike Adams trade is similar to Erlin in that he has near plus control of a 4-pitch arsenal. His fastball is similar but peaks at a higher velocity and his change-up and curveball are both potentially above-average offerings. |
| 10 | Cory Spangenberg (21-2B) | I hate that he ranks 10th here because he could be top 5 in almost every other organization. He has quick hands and a great approach at the plate with well above-average speed. He should hit for a good average and get on-base at a high clip and steal 30+ bases. He lacks power and is there some concern about his ability to take to 2B but he has the tools to do so and could be an All-Star there. |
| 11 | Jaff Decker (22-OF) | Another guy that I hate having to rank this low. He has 25+ HR power and has already shown the ability to draw over 100 walks in a season. His problem is that he is below-average in LF and simply takes too many pitches, letting hittable pitches go simply for the sake of taking pitches. If he can hit .260 he could put up a .400 OBP at the top level. |
| 12 | Keyvius Sampson (21-RHP) | Injuries, size, and the need for a 3rd pitch make me doubt he can stay as a starter but if he can continue to improve his control his low-to-mid-90s fastball and plus change-up will look nicely at the back of San Diego’s rotation. If not, he could be a high-leverage reliever. |
| 13 | Reymond Fuentes (21-OF) | Fuentes has yet to fill out his frame so he has not added power to his game that already includes too many strikeouts but he improved his patience last season to add to his plus-plus speed and potential Gold Glove in CF. Even if his bat never reaches average status he can be a valuable player thanks to his defense and speed. I still hold hope and wouldn’t be surprised to see him make some huge adjustments and wow us. |
| 14 | Jace Peterson (21-SS) | Extreme athlete with loads of speed and tons of patience at the plate walking in over 15% of his PAs in his pro debut. He is still raw but could be a riser on prospect boards if he proves he can stay at SS and improves the hit tool. |
| 15 | James Darnell (25-3B/OF) | A permanent move to the OF looks likely but the bat could play there. He is not the potential star I once thought he could be in college but he could be a solid regular for a long time if he can be at least average in the OF. |
| 16 | Brad Boxberger (23-RHP) | Acquired with Alonso and Grandal in the Mat Latos deal, he is a pen arm but a potential high-leverage one that is ready to contribute now with a mid-90s fastball and potentially plus slider. Could close games in San Diego this year if Huston Street or Luke Gregerson are dealt or injured. |
A few more names to watch: Matt Lollis (RHP), Donavan Tate (OF), Blake Tekotte (OF)
-Jonathan C. Mitchell can be found writing about the Tampa Bay Rays at DRaysBay and the Florida Marlins at ESPN’s SweetSpot site Marlins Daily. You can follow him on twitter at @FigureFilbert. Be sure to follow MLBdirt at @MLBdirt
