San Diego Padres Top 20 Prospects

by John Sickels on Mar 3, 2006 12:00 PM EST in News

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Cesar Carrillo, RHP, Grade A-
George Kottaras, C, B+
Josh Barfield, 2B, B
Chase Headley, 3B, B
Clay Hensley, RHP, B
Ben Johnson, OF, B-
Nick Hundley, C, B-
Paul McAnulty, 1B-OF, C+
Cesar Ramos, LHP, C+
Ernesto Frieri, RHP, C+
Geoff Vandel, LHP, C+
Josh Geer, RHP, C+
Neil Jamison, RHP, C+
John Madden, RHP, C+
Freddy Guzman, OF, C
Kenny Baugh, RHP, C
Jared Wells, RHP, C
Leonel Rosales, RHP, C
Matt Bush, SS, C
Kyle Blanks, 1B, C

Similar to the Pirates system, in the sense that this organization could look very good a year from now if some of the C+/C guys make progress.

I love Carrillo. Kottaras has been a favorite since before everyone knew about him. Barfield is an outside candidate for Rookie of the Year. I also think that Ben Johnson is a rookie sleeper who could end up being a very effective power hitter.

Some of the Grade C guys could move up very quickly. Jared Wells has a good arm and is highly-rated by Baseball America, but I'm not sold on him just yet. His track record is erratic and I'm not wild about his component ratios. Speedster Freddy Guzman missed all of 2005 with Tommy John surgery. His speed is impressive, but I have doubts about his bat. Reliever Leo Rosales could advance rapidly if he adjust well to Double-A.

Matt Bush. . .too young and athletic to give up on, but right now he's more Matt Halloran than Khalil Greene.

Tweet Comment 31 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Mr. Big

Is Walter Young going to be BIG or is he just big?

by The Colonel on Mar 3, 2006 12:16 PM EST reply actions

Young is a 4A player

He is coming off a so-so year at Triple-A Ottawa and he's now 25. He gets a lot of attention because of his size; he has the measureables to play guard for the San Diego Chargers!

Plus, he has a lot of competition. He has to outhit both Adrian Gonzalez and Paul McAnulty to get a legit shot. Even though PMac is more of a LF at this point in his career.

by sdbaseballfan on Mar 3, 2006 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

Young

Walter was a bigtime recruit out of Mississippi in football. My LSU Tigers signed him, but he surprised everyone by signing a baseball contract. He looked like he had a great future in football as a defensive tackle. Baseball looks now to have been a poor choice, but of course he could have been injured in football or just not developed.

by eastin on Mar 3, 2006 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

...What about Daryl Jones?....

...I know he struggled in short-season ball last year, but his size and youth are too much for me to ignore....has anyone seen him play or heard any scouts' opinions on him? I believe he's still only 19...he must have some major holes in his swing for no major publications to be mentioning him...I know he didn't make BA's top 30...

by daveh33 on Mar 3, 2006 12:34 PM EST reply actions

jones

I have not seen him, but the report I have is that he is totally helpless against breaking balls. The numbers would support that.

by John Sickels on Mar 3, 2006 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks John....

...apparently, he suffers the from the same disease as Edgardo Baez, who is my favorite sleeper who can't hit anything that curves...What is the severity of this problem for a young power hitter? Does being helpless against breaking pitches for a young slugger= tommy john surgery for a young pitcher? Or is TJS better because it is medical and not mental?

by daveh33 on Mar 3, 2006 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

I propose a name for that disorder:

Pedro Serrano Disease

by Brickhaus on Mar 3, 2006 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

Or

Or PiSseD, for short

by hunteralan on Mar 3, 2006 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

Curveballs

Are you saying President David Palmer couldn't hit a curveball?

by Hurley on Mar 3, 2006 2:05 PM EST up reply actions

sigh

Unfortunately, President Palmer couldn't dodge bullets, specifically ones aimed at his torso or head area...

Saddest day in TV history. At least until Jack bauer dies...

by Jgaztambide on Mar 3, 2006 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

Not necessarily

Killing Jack Bauer doesn't make him dead. It just makes him angry.

by drjayphd on Mar 3, 2006 2:36 PM EST up reply actions

My favorite

Jack Bauer was never addicted to heroin. Heroin was addicted to Jack Bauer.

by Hurley on Mar 3, 2006 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

hehehe

Jack bauer is the man

However, Kiefer Sutherland has publicly said that Jack Bauer needs to die in order for the show to be succesful. He said the writers are undecided on which direction to go in, but it's his opinion that Bauer should die...

Jakc Bauer doens't torture, he freedom tickles

by Jgaztambide on Mar 3, 2006 4:29 PM EST up reply actions

If you like 24

You should check out the BBC show "Spooks" called "Mi-5" in the U.S. Rent it on Netflix. Great show and it seems 24 lifted a few things from it (Mi-5 came first).

by The Colonel on Mar 4, 2006 3:06 AM EST up reply actions

is

there any talk about making Bush a pitcher? if I remember right he had a pretty strong arm in college.

by Trenchtown on Mar 3, 2006 1:52 PM EST reply actions

College?

Someone must have invented a time machine. Bush was that most wonderful of draft picks, a high schooler without a lot of upside. Terrific!

Schooling aside, Bush does have a strong arm and did pitch in high school. There's a San Diego sports columnist who thinks Bush will end up on the mound, but it seems like they'd have to make that switch soon.

by Hurley on Mar 3, 2006 1:57 PM EST up reply actions

doh!

I meant highschool, my bad.

by Trenchtown on Mar 3, 2006 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

No comment ABOUT Bush can be as bad....

...as actually picking him.

by Hurley on Mar 3, 2006 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

Fabian Jimenez and Colt Morton

Where would they fall on an expanded list? I'd probably take Morton over Bush. I just don't see the athleticism/upside or the performance to rank Bush in the Top 20, even in a weak system.

by Hurley on Mar 3, 2006 2:15 PM EST reply actions

fjcm

Jimenez was awful last year. I can see him in the 21-30 range due to raw tools, but not in the top 20.

Morton...yeah, you can make a case for him ahead of Bush.

by John Sickels on Mar 3, 2006 3:39 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks

Quick on the acronyms.

by Hurley on Mar 3, 2006 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

Mr. Sickels

You didn't conduct a report on Morton in your new book. What is your assessment of his status?

by sdbaseballfan on Mar 3, 2006 3:55 PM EST up reply actions

morton

I should have put him in the book. I need to make a list of guys who should be in the book and who deserve reports. Would be a good thing to put in the newsletter, updates on these guys.

Morton has good power and reportedly made progress with the glove last year. Problems include age (24 in April) and a higher than ideal strikeout rate. His transition to Double-A will tell us a lot this spring. Grade C/C+.

by John Sickels on Mar 3, 2006 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

Headley

Is he Kevin Youkilis version 2.0 or does he have enough power potential to be better than Youks?

by jspearlj1 on Mar 3, 2006 3:01 PM EST reply actions

headley

Good question. We just don't know yet.

by John Sickels on Mar 3, 2006 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

wheres...

drew macias at? i think he should be somewhere in the top 20

by taggartd on Mar 3, 2006 3:44 PM EST reply actions

What about...

Adrian Gonzalez? Is he off the list completely, or did he get too many ABs (150) last year to still be considered a prospect?

If the latter is the case, what grade do you think Gonzalez would have received if he were still eligible?

by DrunkIrish on Mar 3, 2006 7:21 PM EST reply actions

ab

too many AB.

I haven't really thought about where he would rank. B or B+ probably.

by John Sickels on Mar 3, 2006 7:46 PM EST up reply actions

Freddy Guzman

Out of all the prospects listed, Guzman will have the most impact on the big league team. He hits like Jose Reyes of the Mets and will steal just as many bases.

I dont know if that says how underestimated Guzman is or how bad the Padres farm system is.

by Jeremy1Esq on Mar 3, 2006 10:37 PM EST reply actions