2015 Minor League Preview: San Diego Padres

Organizational Talent Rankings via Baseball America
2014 (6) | 2013 (14) | 2012 (8) | 2011 (8) | 2010 (20)

2014 Affiliate Records
MLB: [77-85] NL West
AAA: [72-72] Pacific Coast League – Tucson
AA: [68-72] Texas League – San Antonio
A+: [75-65] California League – Lake Elsinore
A: [63-76] Midwest League – Fort Wayne
A(ss): [30-46] Northwest League – Eugene (2015: Tri-City)

Graduated Prospects
Jesse Hahn, RHP (traded to OAK)

The Gist
New general manager A.J. Preller wasted no time turning the league’s worst offense into the land of 1,000 outfielders this offseason. At the price of a few good prospects, Upton, Myers, and Kemp make up the new Padres starting outfield. Trea Turner, last year’s first round pick, is in a unique situation in that he’s technically been traded to the Nationals but will remain in the Padres’ minor league system until June. He ended up in top ten list limbo, but you can find some notes on him in the NL East roundup. Yangervis Solarte is projected to lead off and play third for San Diego, but both Will Middlebrooks and Cory Spangenberg could see time there this year. Keep them on the radar for NL-only leagues or deeper mixed formats. Spangenberg is technically still a prospect and as a utility infielder could also spell Gyorko at second base.

Top Ten Fantasy Prospects

1. Hunter Renfroe, OF | Age: 23 | ETA: 2016

The potential for double-plus power coupled with enough speed to get to double-digit steals is why Renfroe tops this list and cracks my Top 50 overall. Obviously Petco isn’t the ideal destination once he arrives, but there’s enough talent here to trump the park. With the trio of outfielders currently in San Diego, the Padres can afford to wait on the 23-year-old Renfroe, who has only logged 60 games at Double-A to this point. He struggled in his first go at the level, which is normal. He’ll return to Double-A in 2015 to refine his approach against better pitching. 2016 is a logical ETA with Justin Upton set for free agency.

2. Rymer Liriano, OF | Age: 23 | ETA: 2015

Like Renfroe, Liriano is going to have more time to cook now that the Padres have a fully-stocked major league outfield. He was expected to take one of the gigs this season from the get-go, but instead he’ll likely spend most of the year at Triple-A. That’s not a bad thing, since there are still some kinks to iron out in his approach despite the toolsy profile. Liriano has plus power and speed, giving him 20-20 potential at his peak. Expect him to get another cup of coffee later this year and to be in the mix for a starting outfield role in 2016.

3. Michael Gettys, OF | Age: 19 | ETA: 2019

Gettys is a toolsy outfielder with double-plus speed and above average power at center field. I might be junk-tuck-put-on-some-Goodbye-Horses crazy to rank him third with that ETA, but the only thing standing in his way is contact. If he can figure out how to make better contact, everything else will come into focus and we’ll be looking at a really nice fantasy prospect. He’s all upside at this point, but if you don’t mind a gamble he’s a good pick in the 20-30 range of dynasty league first-year player drafts. If high strikeout rates make you sick to your stomach, he’s not for you.

4. Matt Wisler, RHP | Age: 22 | ETA: 2015

Safe and boring, but useful in fantasy. That about sums up Wisler. He’s close to the majors and he’ll call one of the best pitcher’s parks his home once he arrives. Wisler’s arsenal includes a plus fastball and a plus changeup with good control of both. 2014 was the first season he walked more than 2.5 batters per nine, and he’s managed to strike out more than eight batters per nine at each stop of the minors as well. The lower strikeout numbers and mid-rotation ceiling limit his overall upside, but the low risk and proximity balance it all out.

5. Franchy Cordero, SS | Age: 20 | ETA: 2018

Signed back in 2011 at 17 years old, Cordero gets the edge over fellow shortstop Rondon thanks to better power potential. In fact, the 20-year-old has enough power to shift over to a corner position. The ceiling is 20+ homers from a starter while the floor is a utility infielder with some pop. If you’re in a league with deep farms, Cordero is a nice infield prospect to gamble on when some of the sexier names are off the board. Like Gettys, you’re taking upside and in exchange you have the longer wait.

6. Jose Rondon, SS | Age: 21 | ETA: 2016

Rondon’s profile isn’t as interesting as Cordero for fantasy, but he’s got the quicker ETA and less risk attached. He was a piece in the Huston Street trade with the Angels last year and unlike Cordero, he’s a much better bet to stay at shorstop thanks to a smaller body and better defense. He makes good contact with at least average speed, and there’s room to grow into some power. The 21-year-old will get his first taste of Double-A in 2015.

7. Jordan Paroubeck, OF | Age: 20 | ETA: 2018

Here’s another toolsy outfielder to keep an eye on. Paroubeck was a 3rd round pick back in 2013, but he has plus power and speed. Thanks to a shoulder injury, he only has 157 minor league plate appearances under his belt, so there’s a good chance he’s not owned yet in most dynasty leagues. He’s a better gamble in deeper leagues right now, but could see his stock climb with a solid showing in his first full season. I guess I can’t call him a sleeper ranking him 7th, but I think he has the chance to make the biggest jump on this list.

8. Fernando Perez, INF | Age: 21 | ETA: 2017

Perez has more offense than defense, so we’ll forget trying to project his defensive home and just focus on the fantasy goodness that could come from his bat. He led the Midwest League in runs batted in last year and in 2015 he’ll get to work in the hitter-friendly California League. With a plus hit tool and at least average power, he’s a good bet to enter the top five in this system by this time next year. By then we may have a better idea of where he’ll play on the diamond.

9. Taylor Lindsey, 2B | Age: 23 | ETA: 2015

A yawnstipating profile, pitcher-friendly home park, and a young MLB player blocking his current path at second make Lindsey less than ideal for fantasy. The 23-year-old came over from the Angels in the Huston Street deal. Even though he struggled at Triple-A in 2014, Lindsey still projects to have above average hitting ability with batting averages in the neighborhood of .280. He’s a good contact hitter, but doesn’t combine that with the power or speed to make him a good choice in fantasy.

10. Austin Hedges, C | Age: 22 | ETA: 2016

Hedges gets the love on traditional lists, but he’s pretty much on the fringe of relevancy in fantasy. Best saved for the deepest dynasties, Hedges probably tops out at double digit homers and an average in the .260-.270 range. That’s not terrible, but if that’s the ceiling and he’s going to hit in Petco than we can do better. Hedges is safe to ignore in mixed leagues and the offensive floor could be low enough to make him borderline even in some of the deeper formats.

Padres Previews: 2014 | 2013

NL T10 Prospects Index