San Diego Padres DSL 2018 – A Firsthand Recap
Credit: AP Photo
In late July of 2018, the author of this piece (Jeffrey Pilch) spent some time in the Dominican Republic to watch the DSL Padres play. He gained much knowledge from the trip. Here is a brief glimpse into what was found. Enjoy.
For only the third time in 14 Dominican Summer League seasons, the DSL Padres recorded a winning season in 2018, going 37-35 to finish fourth in the DSL’s Baseball City division.
The Padres were in the top 10 in most pitching categories despite having one of the youngest pitching staffs (averaging 17.9 years of age) in a league of 44 teams.
They had an ERA of 3.22, WHIP of 1.24 and BB/9 of 3.3, with the ERA marking an impressive improvement compared to recent seasons.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=015e1acb
One pitcher who may have an especially bright future is left-hander Manuel Partida, who had a 2.31 ERA and 1.01 WHIP this year. He turns 18 on Sept. 25.
Padres international scouting director Chris Kemp compared him to Jon Lester when Partida was signed out of Mexico last year for $350,000.
Here are some brief looks at him throwing in late July:
17 year old lefty hurler Manuel Partida, who Padres international scout Chris Kemp tagged as “the best left handed pitcher from Mexico” has not disappointed in his early work for the organization. #DSLPadres @sdutSanders @EVT_News pic.twitter.com/70qXphVEwM
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) July 22, 2018
DSL Padre Manuel Partida has allowed only allowed 8 free passes in 40+ innings with 44 strikeouts and a nifty .215 BAA. Here he is with one of the strikeouts in his 7/19 start. Chris Kemp recently tagged Partida as “a Jon Lester type”. @EVT_News pic.twitter.com/KqMvsTl3dK
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) July 26, 2018
Though he did have a bad outing his last time out, his first bad start since mid -June, 17 year lefty Manuel Partida has showed he can rise quickly up the organizational ladder. https://t.co/GC8I0FuYKt @EVT_News pic.twitter.com/yV4wfh7fEJ
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) July 31, 2018
Kemp assessed Partida’s stuff:
“It’s a true four-pitch mix, and he throws strikes. Fastball, slider, curve, and change with the fastball around 87-89 (mph) now. His fastball could settle in at 90-93 by the time he turns 20.”
Manuel Partida pic.twitter.com/9XxZzp56Hu
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) July 22, 2018
Brandon Valenzuela gets beat up behind the plate on a Partida pitch in the dirt and next pitch is bounced to 3b Vladimir Echaverria for the out in this late July game vs. the Diamondbacks. Partida had a great month of August – allowing only 1 earned run in 3 starts/13+ innings. pic.twitter.com/E5IsvLkjfH
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) August 26, 2018
DSL Padres pitching coach Nelson Cruz said Cuban righty Edgar Martinez, another 17-year-old, is also a top prospect. He already throws 90+ and is effective with both a slider and curve.
Matching him up today with video from two years ago, it is clear that Martinez has tightened up his mechanics.
17 year old Edgar Martinez from Cuba warms for his first inning of work while Manager Miguel Del Castillo confers with HP ump about a lineup change. @EVT_JClark pic.twitter.com/QYF0VNzlNP
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) July 20, 2018
17 year old Cuban Edgar Martinez of the DSL Padres works in a downpour vs. the DSL Diamondbacks. @EVT_News The game would be stopped shortly after & would end (suspended) deadlocked at 3. pic.twitter.com/kMR6Q9OKRA
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) July 20, 2018
Righty Miguel Rondon, 17, from Venezuela, is also liked by Padres management.
https://twitter.com/texpadres/status/1033579450116579328
Nick Rios, a $140,000 signee last year, is a left-hander from Venezuela who also had a good year, though in limited action.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rios–000nic
Rondon finished w/a 1.02 WHIP over 9 starts & 4 relief appearances with 2.52 ERA. He's 17 years old. The average pitchers age in the DSL is 18.4. The Padres DSL squad is one of the youngest in the DSL at 17.9 just a tick behind theyoungest DSL team Cardinals Red team at 17.7 https://t.co/5wiE3sB1R2
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) August 26, 2018
The ‘18 DSL Padres are at 35-35 with only 2 gms to go in their season. Only two previous DSL Pad teams over their 14 seasons in the league have been at .500 or better (2005 & 2016). This is also the best team ERA (3.30) that the DSLers have had in a season. @EVT_News @Padres pic.twitter.com/swbYqlwFoO
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) August 24, 2018
On the offensive and defensive side, there were also some bright spots with switch hitting catcher/first baseman Brandon Valenzuela having a good second half with bat (.264/.398/.363/.761).
Here is a short clip of 17 year old Brandon Valenzuela from Hermosillo, Mx. who is primarily a catcher though may have recently had some service at 1b. Coach Nelson Cruz indicated to me that he was one of the prospects to look for on the DSL squad. @EVT_News pic.twitter.com/trU8uHuR6z
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) August 2, 2018
Shortstop Yeison Santana was described by Kemp as having a “really young, live body – he has really slick actions at short. I think he can play the position, and he’s offensive minded.” Here is a short clip of him:
As @EVT_JClark posits in his recent report on Yeison Santana “he has a level swing with above average plate discipline” – watch him here show this swing & take a borderline pitch for a free pass vs. the Diamondbacks II squad on 6/19. pic.twitter.com/hyrPHBoc5W
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) July 26, 2018
Seventeen year old Emmanuel Guerra is in his second season for the DSL Padres and has shown some flashes of power.
DSL Padre Emmanuel Guerra has had a torrid second half .293/.491/.488/.979. He has an overall .848 OPS which in the DSL is impressive. Guerra has played the corner infield spots in ‘18. Here he is about to touch home after a long blast over the left center field wall. @EVT_News pic.twitter.com/5FLJIkiE13
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) August 2, 2018
DSL Padres dugout celebrates after an Emmanuel Guerra blast. @EVT_News pic.twitter.com/FYP9iItf8r
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) August 2, 2018
17 year old Emmanuel Guerra ripping a double just out of the reach of Diamondback DSL LF Gozis. Guerra homered earlier in the contest & has been the biggest Padre DSL power threat. @EVT_News pic.twitter.com/yAfFn7QAbm
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) August 3, 2018
There is more on this DSL team if you check out @texpadres, with video highlights all with the noises of the game. It was great seeing Padres executive Moises Alou at the complex teaching and instructing like a madman. The Diamondbacks staff was amazingly accommodating towards my wife and I and they run a very well-oiled machine at their Dominican Complex/Academy as well.
Moises Alou’s presence is felt in the Padres DR camp – he is very engaged in the operation in the DR – instructing during most of the game that I attended. His knowledge of the game, along with his connections, will undoubtedly make a difference.
Isn’t this why you bring Moises Alou to the Pads organization ? To teach & share his wealth of knowledge gained from 100 years of combined experience from the Alou baseball family dynasty. Here he is doing just that in background in the turquoise shirt. @dennistlin @EVT_News pic.twitter.com/TRvAZgdDxZ
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) July 22, 2018
Day #1 at Boca Chica – Baseball City. The minute I enter the complex I see Padres special assistant Moises Alou. @EVT_News @hgomez27 pic.twitter.com/QaLfBJ3D53
— Tex Padre (@texpadres) July 19, 2018
Looking forward, the Padres were still, of course, under the last year of their $300,00 signing limit.
Here was the 2018 group that they signed in July and a who we can look forward to seeing next year.
Euribel Angeles, SS, Dominican Republic — $300,000
Neifi Antunez,SS, Venezuela — $300,000
Charlie Aquino, SS, Dominican Republic –$300,000
Nerwilian Cedeno, SS, Venezuela — $300,000
Josttin Diaz, SS, Dominican Republic — $300,000
Reginald Dowston, OF, Dominican Republic — $300,000
Albert Fabian, OF, Dominican Republic — $300,000
Eduardo Hidalgo, OF, Venezuela — $300,000
Francisco Lucumi, RHP, Colombia — $300,000
Wilmert Paula, SS, Dominican Republic — $300,000
Axcel Peralta, 1B, Dominican Republic — $300,000
Alex Ramirez, C, Venezuela — $300,000
Emanuel Rodriguez, SS, Dominican Republic — $300,000
Edwin Rojas, OF, Venezuela — $300,000
Wilfredo Tovar, C, Venezuela — $300,000
Jose Miguel Velez, of, Dominican Republic — $300,000 signing bonus
Justin Diaz, ss, Dominican Republic — $300,000 signing bonus
Eddyson Moreno, of, Dominican Republic. — $100,000 signing bonus
Jeffrey grew up in Carlsbad and has been a Padres fan since the late 70’s. He is currently a Social Studies teacher at Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas.