A Brief Look at the Padres Top Four Prospects
Credit: AP Photo
As you probably already know, the San Diego Padres have a very bright future.
Recently, Keith Law of ESPN.com ranked the Padres’ farm system third in all of baseball.
The Padres’ farm system is very diverse and filled with talent at all positions. In fact, the Padres have four prospects in MLB.com’s list of the top one hundred prospects, including Manuel Margot, Anderson Espinoza, Hunter Renfroe, and Cal Quantrill. In a few years, or in Margot and Renfroe’s case, this year, these players will join the likes of youngsters Wil Myers, Alex Dickerson, Travis Jankowski, Cory Spangenberg, Austin Hedges, Luis Perdomo, and many others on the young roster of the Padres.
Andy Green will have youth and versatility throughout the roster for years to come. Here is a breakdown of each of the four young prospects, just in case you didn’t know who they are.
Manny Margot is the MLB’s number 23 overall prospect. Margot is a twenty-two year old outfielder who was acquired in the Craig Kimbrel trade with the Red Sox in 2015. He was signed by the Red Sox in the 2011 international signing period out of the Dominican Republic.
He hits and throws right-handed, weighs 180 pounds, and stands five-foot eleven inches tall. Margot has a solid bat, hitting .304 for the El Paso Chihuahuas last year, and has the potential to develop some power. He is one of the quickest prospects in all of baseball. Consequently, he managed to swipe 30 bags last year in Triple-A. Covering ground in the vast outfield of Petco Park will come easy to him. Margot is a tremendous fielder, as you will see in this clip from the 2016 MLB All-Star Futures Game, in none other than Petco Park.
Margot will likely start the year in Triple-A El Paso and make his way up to the big leagues later on in the season. Margot has high upside and it will be fun to see him man the outfield and step up to the plate for the Padres for many years to come. He could be very special.
Anderson Espinoza is MLB”s number 25 overall prospect currently. Espinoza is an eighteen year old pitcher, who was acquired in the Drew Pomeranz trade with the Red Sox. He was signed by the Red Sox in the 2014 international signing period out of Venezuela. Espinoza throws right-handed, weighs 160 pounds, and stands six-foot tall.
Espinoza is the sixth best right-handed pitching prospect according to MLB.com. He is an all around solid pitcher, but his fastball is his best and most consistent pitch at the moment. His smooth delivery and quick arm action produce a heater that has touched triple digits, but is usually between 94 and 97 miles per hour. His curveball and changeup have some room to improve, but definitely have potential. Espinoza wore down slightly late in the season last year while playing for the Fort Wayne TinCaps. He will need to develop some more stamina if he plans on making another affiliate jump for the Padres. All in all, Anderson Espinoza has some time to develop, and the Padres think he will do just that. Espinoza will likely start 2017 in Single-A Lake Elsinore.
Not at all surprising, Hunter Renfroe makes the list of the top one hundred prospects. To be precise, Renfroe is the MLB’s number 42 overall prospect. He is a twenty-five year old right fielder, who was drafted thirteenth overall by the Padres in the 2013 MLB draft. Born in Jackson, Mississippi, this slugger bats and throws right, weighs 220 pounds and stands at six-foot two inches tall.
Renfroe is a balanced player who excels in all aspects of the game. He won the PCL MVP while playing for the El Paso Chihuahuas last year. He had a .306 batting average, 30 home runs, and 105 RBI. He did, however, have 115 strikeouts on the season. Plate discipline will be high on Hunter’s agenda entering spring training. To add to his fantastic bat, Renfroe is also a plus fielder. His arm strength is nearly as impressive as his power, which makes him a great fit for right field. In fact, he has notched an impressive 43 assists since 2014. He runs well for his size, stealing five bases last year, and also has a good range in the outfield. Renfroe seems like a shoe-in for the major league right field spot. Hunter Renfroe will be a very exciting player to watch in 2017 for not just Padres fans, but the entire MLB community.
Cal Quantrill is the number 90 prospect in all of baseball. He was born in Toronto, Canada to Paul and Alyson Quantrill in 1995. His father Paul Quantrill was a major league pitcher that played a total of 14 seasons including one, in 2005, with the Padres. Cal is a 22-year-old right handed pitcher from Stanford University, who was drafted eighth overall by the Padres in the most recent draft. The selection was said to be a reach by some experts due the fact the young pitcher had Tommy John surgery in 2015. Quantrill, however, was able to throw multiple bullpen sessions for teams prior to the draft.
The Padres are very pleased with their selection based on his abilities as a starting pitcher. He has three quality pitches with a fastball, slider, and changeup in his repertoire. Cal’s fastball falls into the 92 to 96 miles per hour range, and he locates it very well. His changeup is said to be one of the best in the minor leagues currently. A quality put-away pitch is key for a developing pitcher. If he can develop his slider and maybe add another pitch or two to his arsenal, hitters will come to fear Cal Quantrill. The right-hander will likely start at Single-A Lake Elsinore. The Padres will monitor Quantrill and likely limit his pitches since he had Tommy John surgery in mid 2016. If Cal Quantrill can overcome this setback and develop a few of his pitches, he can be a real force in the MLB very soon.
I expect Anderson Espinoza and Cal Quantrill to rise through the ranks of minor league baseball and join Hunter Renfroe and Manny Margot in an already young Padres’ roster in the near future. The mix of young players that are currently on the Padres, as well as these prospects, will hopefully make the Padres contenders for years to come. With the amount of young talent the Padres currently have in their system, who knows what is in store.
Campbell is a senior in High School. He has been a San Diego sports fan all his life and forever will be. Fan of the Padres, Chargers (undecided), Aztecs, Lightning, Bayern Munich, USMNT, and the future San Diego MLS club. He hopes to spread his knowledge and love for San Diego sports to as many people he can.
good article, but too much fluff. especially toward the end. you’re a journalist, write like one. less is more. ten sentences fewer and this piece has some traction. lots of potential.
I see what you’re saying. Thanks for the input.