Padres minor league depth (Relief Pitchers)
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Youth with Upside
Chris Lincoln– AZL Padres/Tri-City (2-0) 1.90 ERA/0.887 WHIP 23.2 IP/6 BB/23 K 2 saves
6-foot-4, right-handed pitcher Chris Lincoln closed in college and should be a high-leverage reliever for the Padres. The 5th-round pick in 2019 saved 13 games for UC Santa Barbara last year. There is a lot to like about his arm and upside. Lincoln should start in Single-A and, at the age of 22, seems to have a very nice future.
Matt Brash– AZL Padres/Fort Wayne (0-0) 1.69 ERA/0.750 WHIP 5.1 IP/0 BB/8 K
Canadian Matt Brash may still pitch in the rotation, but the bullpen seems to be his likely landing spot. There is a lot to like about his arm as he has terrific arm speed and velocity with his fastball. The 21-year-old right-hander will likely start the season in Fort Wayne and is a very interesting prospect.
Sam Ballard– AZL Padres (1-1) 4.13 ERA/1.417 WHIP 24 IP/16 BB/25 K
Ballard was taken out of the 28th-round in 2019. This 22-year-old needs to throw strikes. The left-handed pitcher may still refinement to make it onto a full-season squad this coming season. Ballard is a low pick, and it will likely take him time to hone his craft.
Sam Williams– AZL Padres/Lake Ellsinore/Amarillo (2-0) 4.64 ERA/1.212 WHIP 33 IP/7 BB/34 K
This left-handed pitcher had a fantastic 2019 season. The 22-year-old went undrafted out of college but made it to Amarillo in the Texas League. The Padres seemed to have rectified an issue with his mechanics as Williams struggled mightily at Eastern Kentucky.
Blake Baker– AZL Padres (1-1) 2.35 ERA/1.217 WHIP 23 IP/13 BB/34 K 8 saves
Another late-round pick from this past season’s draft is this 21-year-old right-hander. The 25th-round pick recorded eight saves last year in the AZL, showing a real positive fastball. There is a chance the pitcher starts the season as the TinCaps closer. He is flourishing under major league coaching.
Jose Geraldo– AZL Padres (0-1) 3.09 ERA/1.286 WHIP 23.1 IP/8 BB/27 K 2 saves
21-year-old Jose Geraldo has three saves pitching for the Padres in the desert over the past two seasons. The Dominican native has good size, and the right-handed pitcher could be serviceable in time for the Padres. He will look to make the roster in Fort Wayne to begin 2020.
Cody Tyler– Fort Wayne/Lake Elsinore/El Paso (3-3) 3.46 ERA/1.256 WHIP 67.2 IP/13 BB/71 K 5 saves
32nd-round pick Cody Tyler is proving to be a useful lefty for the Padres. The 2018 draft pick made it to El Paso in 2019, which is very impressive. He will likely start in Amarillo in 2020 but could be a factor eventually for the major league squad.
Starlin Cordero– Tri-City (2-0) 4.54 ERA/1.574 WHIP 33.2 IP/23 BB/50 K
This big pitcher throws hard but has no idea where the ball is going. The 6-foot-7 Dominican is still very young and could eventually prove to be serviceable. The 21-year-old right-hander owns a career 4.67 ERA in 123 minor league innings. With 158 strikeouts during that span, there is a lot to love. The 99 walks are the issue that needs to be solved, though.
Dan Dallas– Tri-City/Fort Wayne (2-2) 3.59 ERA/1.552 WHIP 47.2 IP/27 BB/58 K 2 saves
It feels as though Dallas has been in the system for a long time. The 7th-round pick in 2016 out of a high school in Buffalo is left-handed and has an excellent arm. The 22-year-old saw significant time in Fort Wayne last year and could begin there or start in Lake Elsinore for the 2020 season.
Seth Mayberry– AZL Padres/Tri-City (3-1) 2.54 ERA/1.341 WHIP 28.1 IP/17 BB/33 K 3 saves
A 39th-round pick in 2018, Mayberry has plenty of work to do to become a top prospect in the system. The right-handed pitcher has good size but will need to throw strikes to continue to move through the system. He will battle for a spot on a Single-A roster this spring.
Wen-Hua Sung– Tri-City (4-1) 3.05 ERA/1.113 WHIP 41.1 IP/14 BB/59 K
This Taiwanese pitcher spent the last two seasons in Tri-City and could eventually be a factor in the bullpen for San Diego. The 23-year-old right-hander may need some more time to develop but has shown flashes of something special in the last year.
Deacon Medders– Tri-City (1-5) 4.84 ERA/1.472 WHIP 35.1 IP/18 BB/43 K 4 saves
Drafted out of the University of Alabama in 2019 with a 20th round pick, Medders could be a real factor for the team eventually. The 23-year-old has good size and could start the 2020 season with the TinCaps.
Jose Quezada– Fort Wayne (6-4) 4.09 ERA/1.564 WHIP 70.1 IP/37 BB/89 K 1 save
This Mexican pitcher may not be the largest pitcher (listed at 5-foot-9), but he does have a great arm. The 10th round pick out of Texas Tech in 2018 could be a factor in Lake Elsinore in 2020. The 24-year-old is a durable strikeout pitcher.
Felix Minjarez– Tri-City/Lake Elsinore (3-2) 2.53 ERA/1.219 WHIP 53.1 IP/16 BB/ 54 K 1 save
Minjarez went undrafted out of the Universit of Redlands and ended up with the Padres. The right-handed pitcher owns a 2.19 ERA and a 1.214 WHIP in 82.1 minor league innings. There is an ability to throw strikes and pound the zone with Minjarez, who should begin 2020 with the Storm.
Nick Rios– DSL Padres (0-3) 2.41 ERA/1.446 WHIP- 18.2 IP/4 BB/9 K
19-year-old Nick Rios posted great numbers in two seasons at the DSL level. He owns a 1.65 ERA and a 1.255 WHIP 32.2 innings pitched to begin his pro career. There is a chance that he pitches in the States this year for the Padres.
Edwuin Bencomo– AZL/Low & High Single-A (2-1) 4.23 ERA/1.567 WHIP- 44.2 IP/15 BB/48 K
At the age of 20, this Venezuelan pitcher has progressed nicely. The right-handed pitcher owns 16 career saves and is a pitcher who could eventually be used in high-leverage situations. Bencomo should begin the 2020 season in Lake Elsinore.
Franklin Van Gurp– Four Teams (3-5) 4.66 ERA/1.463 WHIP 67.2 IP/31 BB/84 K 5 saves
The native of Sint Maarten was acquired from the Giants last year for Alex Dickerson. There is some upside with the right-handed pitcher who has recorded 11 minor league saves throughout his career. He will likely start the season in Lake Elsinore, where the 24-year-old will further his development.
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Andrew Dean– AZL Padres/Fort Wayne (3-0) 3.19 ERA/1.065 WHIP 31 IP/8 BB/30 K
Left-handed pitcher Andrew Dean may still be a starter to begin the 2020 season. The 18th-round pick in 2019 impressed the Padres this past summer, showing a very good mix of pitches. Dean will likely start the season in Single-A with the TinCaps.
Fred Schlichtholz– Lake Elsinore (1-0) 3.97 ERA/1.552 WHIP 47.2 IP/24 BB/63 K 1 save
Born in Chula Vista and from Coronado high school, this left-handed pitcher was selected in the 13th round in 2017. The 24-year-old has good size but needs to throw strikes to advance in the system. There is time for him to get better.
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