San Diego Padres Top 20 Prospects in Review
This list was originally posted December 12th, 2007. THIS IS NOT A NEW LIST!!! THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE OLD LIST AND OLD GRADES!!!!!!
1) Chase Headley, 3B, Grade B+
.305/.383/.556 in Triple-A, .261/.330/.455 in the majors. Still making some adjustments but he's going to be a good one.
2) Matt Antonelli, 2B, Grade B+
.204/.329/.297 for Triple-A Portland. One of the biggest Whiskey Tango Foxtrot prospects this year. Drawing lots of walks, controlling the zone well, but no power and the base hits aren't falling. Finally got his average over the Mendoza line this month. I have no clue what to expect in the future.
3) Matt Latos, RHP, Grade B
3.28 ERA with 23/8 K/BB in 25 innings in the Midwest League. Now on rehab assignment due to an intercostal strain in the AZL Rookie league, has fanned 14 in nine innings.
4) Wade LeBlanc, LHP, Grade B
5.22 ERA with a 121/40 K/BB in 121 innings for Portland, 118 hits allowed. Numbers don't add up to a 5.22 ERA. Home run rate is somewhat high but overall he has pitched better than the ERA indicates.
5) Will Inman, RHP, Grade B
3.43 ERA with 133/62 K/BB in 123 innings for Double-A San Antonio, 106 hits allowed. Has done quite well in the Texas League, contrary to the predictions of some scouts. Still needs to lower walk rate.
6) Kellen Kulbacki, OF, Grade B
.349/.441/.622 in the California League, obviously strong performance. Want to see how that carries into a tougher environment.
7) Cedric Hunter, OF, Grade B-
.317/.360/.434 in the California League. Having a nice season, power may be marginal at higher levels but he's just 20.
8) Kyle Blanks, 1B, Grade B-
.306/.387/.471 for Double-A San Antonio. Perhaps not quite as much power as you'd like from a 6-6, 270 pound guy, but I still like him.
9) Chad Huffman, OF, Grade B-
.290/.389/.433 for San Antonio. Good plate discipline, has drawn 61 walks, but performance overall hasn't been dominant.
10) Nick Hundley, C, Grade C+
.232/.285/.451 with 12 homers for Portland, .215/.247/.367 in the majors. I have always like this guy more than I should. Can have a long career as a backup perhaps.
11) Drew Miller, RHP, Grade C+
5.70 ERA with 90/40 K/BB in 120 innings in the Cal League, 147 hits allowed. Unimpressive performance, rather disappointing overall.
12) Steve Garrison, LHP, Grade C+
3.61 ERA with 103/33 K/BB in 125 innings for San Antonio, 115 hits allowed. A solid, very competent strike-thrower.
13) Josh Geer, RHP, Grade C+
4.44 ERA with 89/39 K/BB in 148 innings in Triple-A, 162 hits allowed. Another strike-throwing inning-eater type, stuff is marginal.
14) Mitch Canham, C, Grade C+
.285/.391/.439 with 11 steals in the Cal League. Good plate discipline, athletic for a catcher, perhaps not as much power as anticipated.
15) Cory Luebke, LHP, Grade C+
6.84 ERA with 60/23 K/BB, 97 hits in 72 innings in the Cal League. Sent back to the Midwest League, 3.56 ERA with 21/7 K/BB in 30 innings, 33 hits allowed. May not have enough for higher levels.
16) Jeremy Hefner, RHP, Grade C+
3.22 ERA with 123/34 K/BB in 123 innings, 105 hits in the Midwest League. I liked him a lot pre-season and see no reason to change that, but need to check how fly ball tendency projects at higher levels.
17) Carlos Guevara, RHP, Grade C+
6.50 ERA with 20/9 K/BB in 18 innings for Portland, 5.84 ERA with 11/9 K/BB in 12 innings for the Padres. I liked him as a sleeper, but expected better than this. Health has been an issue with hamstring and leg problems.
18) Michael Gardner, RHP, Grade C+
Returned to the Yankees under Rule 5. 4.02 ERA with 42/36 K/BB in 47 innings for Double-A Trenton. Was more effective at the same level last year.
19) Corey Kluber, RHP, Grade C+
Struggled in the Cal League, 6.01 ERA with 75/34 K/BB in 85 innings, 93 hits. Sent back to the Midwest League, 4.38 ERA with 45/8 K/BB in 37 innings, 39 hits. I thought he was capable of better.
20) Ernest Frieri, RHP, Grade C+
4.23 ERA with 102/29 K/BB in 117 innings in the Cal League, 120 hits. Extreme fly ball tendency could be a problem at higher levels.
Headley looks good. I don't know what the hell is going on with Antonini. There's a reasonable mix of hitting and pitching, and while the strike-throwing inning-eater types may top out in Triple-A, they provide some leavening for the system. It will be interesting to see what Hunter and Kulbacki do in Double-A next year.
0 recs |
12 comments
Comments
Hunter
any chance he starts hitting for power? I know John once mentioned that Hunter seemed like a young Tony Gwynn type (or at least brought back memories of him).
Any insights about hunter would be appreciated.
by znyfan on Aug 14, 2025 3:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hunter
I might have been too enthusiastic about Hunter in the past, but he’s still quite young. Gwynn would be the maximum outcome.
by John Sickels on Aug 14, 2025 4:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Gwynn?
Even for maximum upside that seems extremely high.
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift
by King Billy Royal on Aug 14, 2025 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
max
Well by maximum I mean MAXIMUM!! lol…
by John Sickels on Aug 14, 2025 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boo.....urns......
That is like saying that Owings’ MAXIMUM upside is Babe Ruth. LOL!!!!
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift
by King Billy Royal on Aug 14, 2025 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's high but not quite as crazy as you might think
Tony Gwynn has decent power and a solid eye and excellent speed, but his real extraordinary skill was that he seemingly never struck out, giving him a terrific batting average. Right now, though he doesn’t have Gwynn’s speed, Hunter’s showing about as decent power, and a similar propensity for walks, and though he still strikes out more than Gwynn (everybody does), this year at least, he isn’t striking out that much more than Gwynn did. That’s especially interesting when you remember that Gwynn didn’t become Gwynn until he was 24, while Hunter’s still 20. Obviously the question is can he maintain this against stronger pitchers, and continue to improve.
www.loftylantern.com
by OldProspects on Aug 14, 2025 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Matt Buschmann
He’s not on your list, but do you think his good work thus far has earned a mention? I know he’s a bit old, but he looks like a legit prospect to me. I’d love your input (or anyone else’s here), John.
by vandystu on Aug 14, 2025 4:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Will Venable
John, what does the future hold for Venable? Is he good enough defensively to play CF in the bigs? If he can’t, will he hit enough for a corner spot? His walk rate is up this year along with the power, but his SB numbers are way down. Was there an injury issue, or is he just not running as much? Anyone with any knowledge on him would be appreciated, he’s someone who I thought might be able to breakout eventually.
"So's your mom"-David Sloane
by gatling on Aug 14, 2025 6:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
heres a sleeper
Chris Wilkes. Watch this kid, taken late because no one thought he would give up that scholarship to play QB at Ole Miss. Already big, will have to watch himself physically, but if he stays in shape solid projection left, nice mechanics, smooth easy delivery, and of course a cannon arm. Off to a solid start on rookie AZL Pads. And no I’m not a relative …
Mulder: Babe Ruth was an alien? Arthur Dales: sure; all the great ones were aliens.
by dew on Aug 14, 2025 9:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Anyone got a Matt Bush update.......?
Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.
by doublestix on Aug 15, 2025 12:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Response
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/news/2008/jul/26/former-no-1-pick-bush-hurt-another-peoria-altercat/?padres
Yep.
by mrkupe on Aug 15, 2025 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does that make him the Padres’ Ryan Leaf? Or maybe hope is not lost.
by onholliday on Aug 18, 2025 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs






