Down on the Farm: June 28
Prospect of the Day
Jacob Nix– RHP, High-A, Lake Elsinore Storm
9 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 K
In what was perhaps the best pitching performance by any Padres prospect this season (sorry Kyle Lloyd), right-hander Jacob Nix threw a complete game, two-hit shutout for the Lake Elsinore Storm Wednesday morning. After missing nearly two months to start the season, Nix had has his share of highs and lows. His low came in his last start on June 22, in which he gave up four earned runs on five hits with three walks. Nix could not have bounced back in a better way on Wednesday against Rancho Cucamonga. With names like Eric Lauer, Joey Lucchesi, and Cal Quantrill flanking him on the Storm roster, Nix can sometimes get lost in the shuffle. This start showed why doing that isn’t wise.
Trevor Cahill– RHP, Triple-A, El Paso Chihuahuas
3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
This may very well have been Trevor Cahill’s last tune-up start before he returns to the big leagues, that is if Jered Weaver doesn’t beat him to it (that was hard to say with a straight face). Anyway, with the injury to Miguel Diaz last week, the Padres are going to need someone to fill that rotation spot this weekend. Dinelson Lamet and Clayton Richard are slated to go Thursday and Friday, but the Padres have yet to announce a starter for Saturday’s game. Given Cahill pitched only three innings in El Paso, he could be ready to join the rotation, although Saturday would mean he was pitching on only two days rest. It remains to be seen which direction the Padres go, but Cahill looks ready to go.
Christian Bethancourt– RHP, Triple-A, El Paso Chihuahuas
1 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
It is getting to the point in the Christian Bethancourt pitcher experiment that you really have to start questioning whether attempting to move Bethancourt to the bullpen was the right move. After finally putting together a few solid performances in recent weeks, Wednesday night was yet another step back for the young right-hander. At this point the Padres are going to have to think long and hard about whether they want to continue trying. With the risk of further eroding Bethancourt’s confidence, it may be time to pull the plug.
Buddy Reed– CF, Low-A, Fort Wayne TinCaps
2-4, 1 3B, 1 R
Don’t look now but Buddy Reed has actually been hitting lately. When drafted in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft, the biggest knock on Reed was that he seriously could not hit. Sure, he was an athlete with all sorts of talent, but the hit tool was among the worst of anyone drafted in the first several rounds of the draft. Just over one year removed from the draft, Reed has sort of put things together a bit. He still looks slightly overmatched in certain plate appearances, but the young center fielder is slashing .316/.350/.526 over the last 10 days, which included his first career grand slam. Reed still has a lot of work to do, but there have been some signs of positive development.
Adrian De Horta– RHP, Low-A, Fort Wayne TinCaps
5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
For all the talk of all the good pitching the Padres have accumulated throughout their farm system, one guy who is flying under the radar is Adrian De Horta. Very quietly, De Horta is having a solid season. De Horta has had his issues with walks so far this year, but you can’t argue with the results to this point. In six starts this year, De Horta has consistently given up three or fewer runs, while striking out his share of batters. He hasn’t been overpowering, but the results have been encouraging.
Luis Asuncion– RF, SS, Tri-City Dust Devils
2-4, 1 2B
Given how impressive the Dust Devils have been over the first two weeks of their season, it is hard to pick just one player who has been most impressive. Luis Almanzar, Justin Lopez, and Kelvin Melean have all had their moments, but Luis Asuncion has been getting hot recently. After hitting two home runs on Monday night, Asuncion had a double on Wednesday night. At six-foot-four and over 200 pounds, Asuncion has shown himself to be a real threat in the middle of the Tri-City lineup. Despite being in the Padres organization for over three years now, Asuncion is still just 20 years old.
Adrian Morejon– LHP, SS, Tri-City Dust Devils
5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Through 13 innings pitched, Adrian Morejon has struck out 12 hitters and not walked a single hitter. Sure, his results have been somewhat hit and miss, but he’s not only striking out hitters and getting lots of swings and misses, but he is also commanding all of his pitches. Morejon has looked like a bulldog on the mound so far and he has had no trouble attacking hitters of all sorts.
Mason House- OF, AZL Padres 2
3-5, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R
Although Luis Campusano has been hot since joining the Arizona Rookie League, Mason House has been no slouch himself. House now has five hits over his first three games which includes his first career home run on Tuesday night.
Danny Tovar– RF, DSL Padres
2-4, 1 3B
Editorial and Prospect Writer for East Village Times. Twenty-five years young, Patrick has lived in San Diego for his entire life and has been a Padres fan nearly as long. Patrick lives for baseball and is always looking to learn new things about the game he loves through advanced stats.
