I've blogged on the Padres (emphasis on MiLB) on and off for 5 years (more on than off) and did a top 30 this year. Here's my report on those 4 (tne whole top 30 is posted at MadFriars.com):

7. Wade Leblanc
SP, Bats: L, Throws: L, Birthday: August 7, 1984, 6'3" 202
Hi-A (CAL): 6-5, 2,64 ERA, 92.0 IP, 72 H, 5 HR, 17/90 BB/SO ratio
AA (TEX): 7-3, 3.45 ERA, 57.1 IP, 48 H, 8 HR, 19/55 BB/SO ratio

Like virtually every lefty whose fastball doesn't regularly break 90, Leblanc gets the obligatory Glavine-comparison... Unlike most others, for Leblanc, it fits.

As a collegian, Leblanc posted an aggregate 9.11 K/9 rate. As a professional he has posted a more-than-respectable 8.51 K/9 rate. Also, as a professional, Leblanc has only once posted an ERA greater than 3.45 (he posted a 4.29 in 21.0 innings in Eugene) and has a cumulative 2.97 professional ERA.

The biggest reason for the Glavine-comp, is Leblanc's change. Baseball America called it the best changeup of the 2006 draft. Also, like Glavine, Leblanc has a mid-upper 80's fastball and decent curve.

Leblanc may not be a member of the Padres 2008 starting rotation in April, but he will likely make his MLB debut next season.

15. Nick Hundley
C, Bats: R, Throws: R, Birthday: September 8, 1983, 6'1" 210
AA (TEX): .247/.324/.475 with 23 2B, 1 3B, 20 HR, 42/74 BB/SO ratio

Nick is another guy that is hard to rate. Consider:

A.    .276/.347/.453
B.    .224/.306/.493

The "A" stats are Nick's home stats where the wind blows straight in from CF and the park favors pitchers by a wide margin. The "B" stats are the from the hitter-friendly Texas League... Here is another relevant home/road statistic: Nick's BABIP (Batting Average on Balls In Play) was .304 at home and .217 on the road.

Without having seen every game, it is hard to determine what factors might have been at play here ... A .304 BABIP is not abnormal (the San Antonio Missions as a team had .298 BABIP). The easiest (and likely, most accurate) conclusion to jump to is that Nick was unlucky on the road.

I think that Mitch Canham is going to turn out better, but Hundley is underrated should be an above average back up or average-to-slightly below average starting catcher.

17. Will Venable
OF, Bats: L, Throws: L, Birthday: October 29, 1982, 6'2" 205
AA (TEX): .278/.337/.373 with 19 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 38/84 BB/SO ratio

Venable fell more (in my book) than any other hitting prospect on this list.

When it comes to ranking prospects, one thing to look at is age. However, if a player dominates the level he is at, it should not be counted against as much (see David Freese). Last year I wrote,

[Will Venable] has much less baseball experience than most Low-A players. Now, because Will was late to baseball, he may continue to "grow" into the sport, making the outfielder's 2006 campaign [(.314/389/.477)], his first full-season of professional baseball, all the more impressive.

While Venable did skip a level his lack of power (both his lack of power-production and his lack of development) and reduced walk-rate hurt.

As a defender, the jury is out. If Venable can play above-average defense in CF, he may be able to carve out a big league career. If Will is defensively limited to a corner OF, his bat will be a liability.

27. Josh Geer
SP, Bats: R, Throws: R, Birthday: June 2, 1983, 6'3" 190
AA (TEX): 16-6, 3.20 ERA, 171.1 IP, 163 H, 9 HR, 27/101 BB/SO ratio
AAA (PCL): 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 HR, 1/6 BB/SO ratio

Josh is overlooked more than a merely good-looking woman at beauty contest. Other than going 1-1 in five games in Fort Wayne, he's had winning record at every level of professional baseball. He even went 12-4 in college at Rice.

To Geer's credit, he doesn't allow home runs; he's never allowed more than 10 in a season and has allowed only 27 over three minor league seasons. Why then don't I have him ranked higher? Two reasons: One, in 400 minor league innings, Geer has allowed 421 hits and secondly he has a 5.53 career K/9 rate. The stat that means more than anything to me is K/9 and I also don't like to see more hits than innings pitched. Geer reminds me a lot of Michael Thompson.