Down on the Farm: Weekly Review June 19-25
Credit: Storm Baseball
Carter Capps– RHP, Triple-A, El Paso Chihuahuas
3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
After a rough first go-round in his rehab assignment, Capps has looked a lot better since returning to El Paso following a month in extended Spring Training to work on his form. Capps did not give up a hit or an earned run this week, although he did receive two balks called against him as well as an ejection on Sunday. The umpire was probably wrong. Anyway, it may be just a matter of time before Capps is ready for his long-awaited San Diego Padre debut.
Diego Goris– 1B, Triple-A, El Paso Chihuahuas
10-29, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 13 TB
Diego Goris has had a quiet season so far, but he had a pretty solid week all around.
Nick Torres– OF, Double-A, San Antonio Missions
7-19, 1 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI, 8 TB
I probably root for Nick Torres more than any other Padre prospect simply because of how nice of a guy Nick is. Sure, you could make that case about a lot of guys, but I had the privilege to talk to Torres for an interview last year and he was truly so humble and down to earth. He’s had to do a lot to shake the fourth outfielder label, but Torres has heated up a little after a cold period following his hot start to the season. He’s taken a step back from his 110 wRC+ at Double-A last year, but there is still plenty of time for Torres to put it together. The biggest key for Torres is still unlocking more in-game power, but he has shown flashes of positive development so far this season.
Enyel De Los Santos– RHP, Double-A, San Antonio Missions
6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Man, is De Los Santos frustrating. I know I sound like a broken record with this spiel, but De Los Santos has just been so up and down this season. It seems for every good start or two he has another bad start or two. However, over the last month, De Los Santos has seemed to be putting together more good starts than bad starts. His ERA now sits at 4.73 for the season, and he still has a lot to do to change perceptions of him within the organization and around the game.
Austin Allen– C, High-A, Lake Elsinore Storm
5-16, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 16 TB
Coming off a well-deserved break for the All-Star Game festivities, Allen has come out of the gates hot in the second half of the season. Allen may get overshadowed by his younger brother Logan (they’re not really brothers), but he has shown a great amount of pop this season, and especially in the last few games. After hitting just five home runs in nearly 200 first half at bats, Allen has now hit three in his last 16. Although it had fallen before this hot streak, Allen’s wRC+ now sits at 117 for the season. It remains to be seen if Allen can maintain that kind of performance, or raise his sagging batting average, but it appears he is getting hot.
Cal Quantrill– RHP, High-A, Lake Elsinore Storm
6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Cal Quantrill is good. We knew this. I mainly just put him on here so I could post the following series of tweets.
I wouldn’t wish a hamstring cramp on my worst enemy.
— Cal Quantrill (@cal_quantrill47) June 26, 2017
Yupp Just rolled around on the bus screaming while they all pointed and laughed.
— Cal Quantrill (@cal_quantrill47) June 26, 2017
Yup, Cal Quantrill got a hamstring cramp on the Storm team bus and his teammates just laughed at him. Awesome.
Brad Zunica– 1B, Low-A, Fort Wayne TinCaps
4-8, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 7 TB
It seems like the Padres have quite a few bat first/first base only type players in their organization. While Zunica may get overshadowed by the obviously more advanced Josh Naylor, he’s no slouch himself. Zunica’s batting average isn’t anything to write home about, but his 10 home runs and 146 wRC+ are nothing to sneeze at.
Logan Allen– LHP, Low-A, Fort Wayne TinCaps
6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
We’re still waiting for that Allen promotion to High-A. That should happen after the All-Star break. Wait, the All-Star Game already happened? Oh…
Tre Carter– CF, SS, Tri-City Dust Devils
8-24, 1 2B, 1 3B, 4 RBI, 11 TB
I really like Tre Carter a lot. Sure, he strikes out a lot, but he reminds me a lot of Michael Gettys, a player who I will always be rooting for. Carter has so many tools. He can run, he can field, he can do so many athletic things in the field. However, at the end of the day, his big league career is going to be dependent on whether he can hit enough. The same thing faces Michael Gettys. And Buddy Reed. And numerous other highly athletic outfielders the Padres have in the system.
Emmanuel Ramirez– RHP, SS, Tri-City Dust Devils
6 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Through his first two appearances, Ramirez has looked impressive, as he sports a 2.89 FIP with a 4.00 K/BB ratio. With lots of strikeouts and few walks, Ramirez has the recipe for success in short season ball.
Yordi Francisco– RF, DSL Padres
6-19, 2 2B, 2 3B, 6 RBI, 12 TB
Carlos Valenzuela– RHP, DSL Padres
6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Arizona Rookie League Weekend Action
The Arizona Rookie League kicked off action on Saturday so Padre fans will get to see, or at least hear about, some of last year’s draftees/international signings as well as this year’s draftees in their first professional game action.
Saturday June 24: AZL Mariners 3– AZL Padres (2) 7
On Saturday, the Padres second AZL team kicked off action (yes the Padres have so much young talent they had to get a second AZL team), and they did not disappoint. The Padres got the 7-3 victory behind some solid offensive performance. This year’s compensation round pick, Luis Campusano, got his professional career started with one hit and two walks over four plate appearances, as well as one run driven in. Two of last year’s international signees, Gabriel Arias and Tirso Ornelas, both got one hit in five at bats each. Emmanuel Clase gave up just one earned run on five hits in his four and one-third innings pitched, striking out six while walking three in the process. He did give up one home run, but it was altogether a good outing for the right-hander. Clase actually had a bad first outing with the short season Tri-City Dust Devils before being sent out to the Arizona Rookie League.
Sunday June 25: AZL Padres 9 – AZL White Sox 10
On Sunday, the Padres first AZL team kicked off their action with a good game against the Chicago White Sox’ AZL rookie affiliate. Fifth-round pick, Jonny Homza, collected two hits and three RBI in his first professional action, while second round pick, Blake Hunt, went hitless in four at bats. Two of last year’s international signees also made their debuts, Jeisson Rosario (three walks) and Jordy Barley (0-4). Angel Acevedo struggled on the mound, giving up six earned runs in three innings of work, and 33rd-round pick from the 2015 draft, Braxton Lorenzini, came in and had similar struggles, walking three and giving up two earned runs on only one hit in his one inning of work.
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.