Here are the Padres' 2019 Top 30 Prospects
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For a second straight year, the San Diego Padres have MLB Pipeline¡¯s top-ranked farm system.
Of course, that probably doesn¡¯t come as a total surprise after the organization placed an MLB Pipeline-record 10 players on our list of the Top 100 prospects for 2019.
The Padres had three players graduate off last year¡¯s list, with Joey Lucchesi, Franchy Cordero and Eric Lauer all emerging as big leaguers in 2018. That number is sure to grow during the ¡¯19 season, and it¡¯s a safe bet that the Padres Top 30 will have a much different look one year from now.
The offseason addition of free agent Manny Machado, who signed a historic 10-year, $300 million deal, means the future is now for a Padres organization that has spent the last several years accumulating top prospects via trades, the Draft and the international market.
It shouldn¡¯t be long until Machado is joined on the left side of San Diego¡¯s infield by shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 2 overall prospect. And while Luis Urias and Francisco Mejia don¡¯t have a line on regular playing time to begin the year, they¡¯re both going to take on key roles for the club in some capacity as the season unfolds.
The real difference-maker, however, will be the arrival of the organization¡¯s first wave of young arms. At the forefront of that group is righty Chris Paddack, who is already making a bid for a spot in the Opening Day rotation despite having never pitched above the Double-A level. He¡¯s poised to make an impact very soon, with the likes of Logan Allen, Cal Quantrill and Jacob Nix, to name a few, close behind.
Looking ahead, the Padres should continue to produce impact big leaguers long after the likes of Tatis and Co. have graduated. 19-year-old right-hander Luis Patino, currently No. 48 on the Top 100, could be among the game¡¯s best pitching prospects a year from now, and the same can be said about the bright futures of 2017 first-rounder MacKenzie Gore and Cuban lefty Adrian Morejon.
Meanwhile, Padres fans will want to keep a close eye on the development of teenage middle infielders Xavier Edwards and Tucupita Marcano in the coming years, as they headline the next wave of young, high-ceiling talent set to rise through the system.
MLB's Top 10 farm systems
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1. | San Diego Padres |
| 2. | Tampa Bay Rays |
| 3. | Atlanta Braves |
| 4. | Chicago White Sox |
| 5. | Toronto Blue Jays |
| 6. | Houston Astros |
| 7. | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 8. | Minnesota Twins |
| 9. | Cincinnati Reds |
| 10. | Detroit Tigers |
| Preseason: 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
| Midseason: 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
Here's a look at the Padres' top prospects:
1) Fernando Tatis Jr., SS
2) MacKenzie Gore, LHP
3) Luis Urias, SS/2B
4) Francisco Mejia, C/OF
5) Chris Paddack, RHP
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2018 preseason list to the 2019 preseason list.
Jump: Luis Patino, RHP (2018: NR | 2019: 6) -- Pushed aggressively, the teenager dominated in his full-season debut in '18.
Fall: Gabriel Arias, SS (2018: 11 | 2019: 26) -- The 18-year-old struggled during his first-half in full-season ball but finished on a high note.
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 70 -- Luis Urias
Power: 60 -- Fernando Tatis Jr.
Run: 70 -- Xavier Edwards (Buddy Reed)
Arm: 70 -- Francisco Mejia
Defense: 65 -- Buddy Reed
Fastball: 80 -- Andres Munoz
Curveball: 60 -- MacKenzie Gore (Adrian Morejon, Jacob Nix)
Slider: 60 -- Luis Patino
Changeup: 70 -- Chris Paddack
Control: 65 - Chris Paddack
How they were built
Draft: 12 | International: 10 | Trade: 8
Breakdown by ETA
2019: 10 | 2020: 8 | 2021: 11 | 2022: 1
Breakdown by position
C: 4 | 1B: 0 | 2B: 2 | 3B: 1 | SS: 4 | INF: 1 | OF: 5 | RHP: 8 | LHP: 5