Prospect of the Day: James Darnell

by John Sickels on Apr 20, 2011 8:00 AM EDT

Prospect of the Day:

James Darnell, 3B, San Diego Padres
One of the hottest hitters in the minor leagues so far in 2011 is James Darnell, third baseman for the Double-A San Antonio Missions of the Texas League. Through 11 games, the Padres prospect is hitting .500/.596/.750 (20-for-40) with seven doubles, a home run, 11 walks, and just one strikeout.

    A second-round pick in 2008 from the University of South Carolina, Darnell played 2010 with San Antonio, hitting .265/.348/.408. On the surface this was a disappointing season: he'd hit .311/.424/.536 in 2009 in A-ball. However there were extenuating circumstances, namely a nagging hand injury that bothered him in the first half of the season. In the second half he hit .297/.378/.441, much closer to what was expected, and was at his best late in the year, hitting .349/.432/.547 last August.

   He's maintained the hot hitting to open 2011 and I don't think it's a fluke. Darnell has outstanding plate discipline (remember 11 walks, just ONE strikeout this year) and enough bat speed to hit for at least decent power. He's now a career .307/.408/.502 hitter in 260 minor league games, and I think he'll continue to hit as he moves up.

   His main weakness is defense. Although Darnell has enough range and arm strength for third base, he simply makes too many mistakes, particularly with errant throws. He's already made three errors this year and has a career .905 fielding percentage at third base, which is quite inadequate. There has been talk of him becoming a second baseman or corner outfielder if he can't solve that problem, but so far the Padres are keeping him at third.

    Darnell's bat looks too good for Double-A right now, but there's currently no spot open for him in Triple-A, with veteran Jesus Guzman hitting well for the Tucson Padres. Darnell is likely to remain in San Antonio for awhile longer, working on his defense at the hot corner. It remains to be seen how the Padres will get him into the major league lineup, but his bat should be ready for a trial within the next year. He could also be very tasty trade bait.

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Padre hitting prospects are on fire

Between Darnell, Decker, Rizzo, Forsythe, then Galvez and Rincon down in A+. It’s been a good year for Padre minor leaguers thus far.

by walnut falcons on Apr 20, 2011 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

Don’t forget Gyorko (who’s ) and too-old-for-the-MWL Tommy Medica, who is playing the role of Jason Hagerty for the TinCaps this year.

Sadly, Darnell is currently the best defender of that group of infielders (Galvez will be ultimately, but that’s really not saying a damn thing). There are a whole lot of brick hands paired with bad instincts in that group.

by realitypolice on Apr 20, 2011 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Gyorko

…can’t handle SS (which he played in col.) but scouts have been surprised at his good glove-work at the hot corner…

-peter

by PeterF on Apr 21, 2011 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Sort of

Scouts are pleasantly surprised that he hasn’t been a complete and total abomination at third base. But there’s hardly a consensus that he can stay there defensively.

by realitypolice on Apr 21, 2011 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions

^paranthetical

(who’s outhitting Galvez at Elsinore)

by realitypolice on Apr 20, 2011 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

It seems pretty clear Darnell can't handle 3B.

Why are the Padres waiting so long to move him to the outfield? Seems like that move would be better done sooner rather than later, so they don’t have another Chase Headley/Kyle Blanks situation of a guy trying to learn a new position in AAA just before he gets called up.

Back from the dead!

by Zach (maestro876) on Apr 20, 2011 11:32 AM EDT reply actions

It was hard to watch Headley in LF

especially with how well he’s done at 3B since.

by walnut falcons on Apr 20, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Right.

Which is why, from where I’m sitting, the Padres need to move Darnell sooner rather than later.

Back from the dead!

by Zach (maestro876) on Apr 20, 2011 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

I still don't understand

why he is repeating AA. After the injury he really turned it on, even though his final line isn’t great, his home/road splits last year were pretty ridiculous with the Wolfe suppressing offense so bad. Even if Jesus Guzman is playing well, he is Jesus Guzman and this is a real prospect who needs to see better pitching.

don't panic. stay cool. dream big.

Pocket&Flask

by thepadfather on Apr 20, 2011 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

Most likely to work on defense.

Back from the dead!

by Zach (maestro876) on Apr 20, 2011 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

If you're the Padres

Are you going to get more useful information on whether a guy’s offense is on track from a month of him hitting in San Antonio/Round Rock/Frisco, or a month of Tucson/Colorado Springs/Salt Lake City?

by realitypolice on Apr 25, 2011 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions