Down on the Farm: Winter League Roundup- Overall Numbers Thus Far on 24 Players
The San Diego Padres are well represented in the winter league seasons around the globe.
There are a total of 24 players currently participating in action. From Fernando Tatis to Diego Goris, the talent pool is plenty.
Here is how each player has done so far in their respected leagues.
The numbers are pretty impressive for most of these young men. Take note that the Australian Winter League begins soon, so there will be four more players added to this list. Buddy Reed, Gabriel Arias, Lake Bachar and Felipe Blanco will all be playing for Canberra Cavalry.
PEORIA JAVELINAS
Javier Guerra– With a .286/.306/.457 slash line, he has shown signs of progression. However those numbers are in 35 at bats and the young shortstop has much to improve on. He has struck out 10 times, opposed to walking only once. The plate discipline is an issue for him. Defensively, he has looked better in his sporadic time on the field.
Josh Naylor– An AFL “Fall Star”, Naylor has been productive in the desert. He has put up a .296/.324/.493 batting line so far, and his numbers were much better last week (a recent slump has brought them down a bit). The first baseman has slugged three homers and driven in 13 runs in 71 at bats.
Franmil Reyes– The big outfielder has not received much playing time in Arizona. He is 5-30 (.167) with one home run. He reportedly has an issue with his hand. He reports to me that he is fine, but it does not look like he will play again this season in the desert.
Luis Urias– The young middle infielder made the “Fall Star” game this year as well and was very impressive. He hit a home run, and made a spectacular grab playing shortstop. Urias has put up a .333/.472/.513 batting line in 39 at bats. The incredible plate discipline continues as he has walked 12 times, while striking out three times.
David Bednar– He is throwing well in the desert. The young right hander has only made six appearances and holds a 1.29 ERA and an incredible 0.14 WHIP. He has only allowed a solo home run in his seven innings pitched. Bednar has also not walked a batter, while striking out seven. Full speed ahead for this young man.
Jerry Keel-This pitcher is doing his thing in Arizona, where he is off to a 1.80 ERA in his first 10 innings pitched. The lefty has struck out nine and walked four in his five games pitched (one start). Keel could start the 2018 season in the Storm’ rotation.
Andrew Lockett– He has been knocked around this winter. His ERA is at 7.71 for the year and he has amassed a 1.93 WHIP. The right handed pitcher has allowed 23 hits and 15 runs in his 14 innings pitched and has a long ways to go. Lockett has thrown six wild pitches and walked four batters, while striking out 11.
Andres Munoz– This right handed pitcher has a very high ceiling. He throws really hard and repeats his motion well. So far in seven games and 6.2 innings pitched he has a 1.35 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP. His command is developing as he has only walked two batters, opposed to the eight strikeouts he has recorded.
T.J. Weir– Another solid bullpen option is Weir. The right handed has thrown 5.2 innings and only allowed one earned run to score. He has struck out five and has yet to walk a batter so far in the desert. Weir has also recorded a save for the Javelinas.
DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE
Franchy Cordero– With 73 at bats in the DR, Cordero has had plenty of time on the field. He hits third on most nights for his team and is playing a very steady center field. Cordero has a .288/.342/.370 batting line with three stolen bases. He has struck out 20 times, so there is some concern there moving forward.
Diego Goris– He has barely gotten any playing time in the Dominican Republic. Goris is 3-14 with four strikeouts.
Webster Rivas– This young catcher has only had five at bats so far. He is 1-5 in four games with his DR team. Looks like he is strictly being used as a backup.
Fernando Tatis Jr.- All eyes are on this young man. He has tapered off after a hot start and is now at .245/.373/.388 with his batting line. In 49 at bats, he has struck out five times while walking nine times. Defensively he has had issues at short where he has committed six errors in his last five games played. Gulp.
Hansel Rodriguez– The young closer has just started play and allowed two earned runs in his first two appearances. His 9.00 ERA will surely go down as he throws more innings.
Eric Yardley– Throwing from the side has paid dividends in the DR, as Yardley holds a 0.71 ERA in his first 12.2 innings pitched. He has struck out six in that time while walking four.
MEXICAN WINTER LEAGUE
Fernando Perez– This corner infielder has been on fire in Mexico. His 1.066 OPS leads all Padre hitters. He has put up a .368/.419/.647 batting line in 68 at bats. He has four homers, five doubles and a triple so far, but has struck out 15 times.
Kyle Lloyd– The right handed pitcher has made one start, going three innings without allowing a run.
Gerardo Reyes– Surprisingly, this right handed pitcher has been hit around in the Mexican League. He has allowed three earned runs and given up nine hits in 6.1 innings pitched and has a 4.26 ERA and 1.89 WHIP.
Cesar Vargas– Remember him? In 2016, he showed some flashes of being a very productive pitcher. In eight games and two starts in Mexico, he has recorded a 3.15 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in 20 innings pitched. The right hander has struck out 27 and walked four in that time.
VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE
Rafael Ortega– He has only played nine games, but this outfielder has been productive recording a .872 OPS. He is 10-31 while walking nine times. He is a pretty decent outfielder, but has a long road ahead of him for playing time in a crowded Padre outfield.
Luis Torrens– Of all the Padres prospects, he has received the most at bats. That is a good thing as he sat on the bench for most of the 2017 season. Torrens has put up a .284/.341/.346 batting line, but has K’d 14 times in 81 at bats.
Jose Castillo– This left-handed pitcher has been roughed up a bit in a few outings. Castillo has thrown 4.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits. His 6.23 ERA should decrease in time as he has very good stuff.
Trevor Frank– The local kid has had a tough time in Venezuela. He currently owns a 6.75 ERA, as he has allowed six earned runs on 10 hits in eight innings pitched.
Jose Ruiz– The right handed hurler has thrown 8.1 innings so far this year and presently has a 4.32 ERA. He has allowed four earned runs on nine hits in his 8.1 innings pitched.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.
You seem very critical of Strikeouts and get very excited about prospects who post an OPS of close to .700. In today’s baseball, players tend to strikeout more than in the past. But IMO, an OPS of around .700 is not good enough.
The Padres are fat on middle infielders who can’t hit well, fielding is average, a few have plus speed. Most look to be 2nd baseman type, who were drafted as SS. Then we have the same problem in the OF, everyone is a CF type. Lack Power, are not run producers. I guess we are trying to set a record for developing 8 Hole hitters, we have like 40 such players in the minors now.
Then we reward Will Meyers (Brian Giles 2.0) with the biggest contract in Franchise history. He hits RH, plays 1B, and has attitude issues, fielding problems, and most months can’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. If he does get a hit, it is an afterthought, late in a game that is already decided.
I am very concerned with the lack of LH bats currently being developed in our organization. Do we have anyone that can hit .320+? Can any of these hitters handle the 2 hole in the Padres lineup consistently. Can we develop a lineup that can manufacture runs. Do we have a coach that can turn these plus speed guys into decent base stealers?
What equivalent minor league level to you think each of these winter leagues are at? A+ to AA?
We gotta give Tatis some slack. Its been a loooong season. Full season in A/AA and then fall baseball. Even at 18, that’s a lot of playing time
Agreed, that’s why I am saying putting him Double-A to begin the year is a little much. We will see.