San Diego Padres Discussion

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 10:00 AM EST

I am now working on the Cardinals. Here is a discussion thread for the next team, the San Diego Padres.

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Padres' system has poor rep.

The Padres’ system is generally regarded as a mid-to-below average system… I would arge that they should rank in the 10-15 range… The system system is chaulk-full of hitters (though a bit short of hitters at SS). And unfortunately, most of top arms are in the lower levels. But this is a DEEP system.

by pffriberg on Jan 3, 2026 11:00 AM EST reply reply 0 recs

You think the Padres are a border line top 10 system right now?

by jfish26101 on Jan 4, 2026 12:46 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Yes...

I don’t know any system that has a comparable depth of hitters (Blanks, Kulbacki, Hunter, Decker, Sogard, Darnell, Dykstra, Huffman, Cumberland, Canham, Carvajal, Venable, Forsythe, Tekotte, Galvez, etc.)… They’re not as deep in pitching (especially power arms) but they’re improving in that area as well (Latos, Castro, Pelzer, Bass, and of course Portillo). Unforntunately, none of the power arms have yet to reach High-A.

by pffriberg on Jan 4, 2026 10:47 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

I like this system

Guys like Jaff Decker and Allan Dykstra who are known, but alotta guys who fall below the radar in Simon Castro, Wynn Pelzer, Jonathan Galvez and Mitch Canham are solid. Petco plays so odd I think the Padres are drafting guys to play Petco

by NYSOX on Jan 3, 2026 11:16 AM EST reply reply 0 recs

Solid?

Canham is solid, Galvez is spectacular

by pffriberg on Jan 3, 2026 12:26 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Galvez

I can’t wait to see him play outside of the DSL. I’m hoping he lives up to the hype. Depodesta has built him up pretty good.

1-10-DEN 18 (9:52) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 19-E.Royal INTERCEPTED by 93-L.Castillo (95-S.Phillips) at DEN 18. 93-L.Castillo to DEN 14 for 4 yards (62-C.Wiegmann). 6-J.Cutler pouts ob to DEN 25 for 11 yards.

by Wonko on Jan 3, 2026 3:51 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

DePo's blog

Yeah, I remember reading Depodesta’s blog posting about Galvez and immediately adding him to my player tracker. Certainly an interesting prospect.

by jibs on Jan 4, 2026 1:27 AM EST up reply reply 0 recs

I enjoyed that blog a good deal for some time but it seems to really be lacking as of late. It’s to bad so many good sites struggle to stick around for even a full season. Saber Scouting was great as well and has all but closed it’s doors. :(

by jfish26101 on Jan 4, 2026 12:47 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

+1 on Saber Scouting

They had some really good stuff on the site. Don’t Know what happened but hopefully it will start up again this spring maybe.

by Kazmir2657 on Jan 4, 2026 8:58 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Mat Latos

I think he’s going to have a big ’09 season. he showed dominant control in ’08 with a high K rate. i know john will keep his grade low because of the injury (i expect B-), but it (and the subsequent reinjury from coming back too soon) was really unlucky and had nothing to do with his arm. one of the few i see in the minors with true #1 potential.

by Wheelhouse on Jan 3, 2026 11:27 AM EST reply reply 0 recs

Actually...

Latos wasn’t ANYWHERE near as dominant in ’08 as he was in ’07…

In 2007 against NWL he had a 11.8 K/9
In 2008, up one level in the MWL, he had a 8.5 K/9 - now overall he had 11.1 K/9 but the dominace came as he dropped down to rookie-level Arizona (23 K in 14 IP) and helped the NWL Emeralds (23 K in 17 IP) for a playoff push…

I like Latos and I’m not writing him off but its worrisome…

by pffriberg on Jan 3, 2026 12:22 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

dominant control

he dropped his BB rate from 3.5 BB/9 to 2.09 BB/9 (2.9 BB/9 if you want to look at only fort wayne)

if he would have been healthy all year there isn’t any doubt in my mind that he would have brought that 8.5 K/9 up to the 11 K/9 range…..he was absolutely locked in once he returned to 100% health

his numbers from august 18th (in the AZL and NWL of course - don’t ask me why they sent him there):

22.1 IP, 2 ER, 13 H, 3 BB, 32 K

now that is dominance - clearly showed he didn’t belong at those levels……just need to see him stay healthy and get his innings up to 130-150 next year……..if he can do that i think we are looking at a top 5 pitching prospect this time next year

by Wheelhouse on Jan 3, 2026 1:31 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

No question...

…the biggest thing was his health, so I agree that he would likely improve those numbers. My thing wasn’t even a criticism but more a temporing of enthusiasm. Next year will tell us more.

Good point on the BBs. I hadn’t noticed that.

by pffriberg on Jan 4, 2026 1:06 AM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Joe Thatcher

I’m curious as to what people think of this guy. John rated him a C+ last year. Is he just a LOOGY or is there the possibility for more?

by vetsurg on Jan 3, 2026 12:51 PM EST reply reply 0 recs

He is barely a LOOGY at this point

The guy had a horrific time throwing strikes in the majors. He was the punch line of many a joke on Padres blogs as he failed to show any competency in any bullpen role in 2008, but Black kept running him out there. He probably has to show something 2009 or he won’t be a Padre in 2010.

by Wonko on Jan 3, 2026 3:54 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Depth Chart

The system has a lot of players that project to a average everyday players, but there seems to be the lack of true impact talent beyond Blanks and Latos.

San Diego is certainly stocking up interesting power arms, and I like their depth at 2B.

Catcher
Mitch Canham

1st Base
Kyle Blanks
Allan Dykstra

2nd Base
Matt Antonelli
Travis Denker
Eric Sogard

Shortstop
Andrew Cumberland
Stephen Figueroa
Jonathan Galvez

3rd Base
James Darnell
Logan Forsythe

Outfield
Cedric Hunter
Kellen Kulbacki
Jaff Decker
Chad Huffman
Blake Tekotte
Mike Baxter

Left Handed Starter
Wade LeBlanc
Steve Garrison (labrum surgery)
Nick Schmidt
Cesar Ramos
Michael Watt

Right Handed Starter
Mat Latos
Will Inman
Cesar Carillo
Jeremy McBryde
Jeremy Hefner
Wynn Pelzer
Matt Buschmann
Drew Miller
Anthony Bass
Simon Castro
Chris Wilkes

Reliever
Mark Worrell
Chad Reinke
Carlos Guevara
Ivan Nova
Will Startup
Matt Bush

by gunkdog on Jan 3, 2026 1:13 PM EST reply reply 0 recs

Impact Players?

…But there seems to be the lack of true impact talent beyond Blanks and Latos.

Um no…

Kulbacki hit 20 HR in 84 games in High-A (in his first full season of pro ball).
Jaff Decker, mentioned by another poster below might be the best high school hitter from the ’08 draft.
Cedric Hunter is more than legit and plays a very good CF

I think the Padres have ridiculous depth on the offense.

by pffriberg on Jan 4, 2026 1:11 AM EST up reply reply 0 recs

"Jaff Decker, mentioned by another poster below might be the best high school hitter from the ’08 draft."

Hmm…

Weeeeeee bit to early to say that don’t ya think? You know, considering the guy taken at #3 measures up to any high school hitter in the last 15 years?

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Jan 4, 2026 1:16 AM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Kulbacki

Wouldn’t he be considered a bit old at 22(just turned 23) for class A?

by Kenner's Corner on Jan 4, 2026 8:15 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Maybe...

But he only played 3 years of college ball (drafted as a col. Jr.). He was drafted in 2007 and played short-season NorthWest League. Then in 2008 he went to Low-A while the Padres had several minor league OF injuries then was in High A for the majority of last year.

He may be a touch old, but you really can’t ask him to progress much quicker. He’ll be in Double-A in his second full pro season. I think he’s one of the best hitters in ALL of minor league baseball. His career minor league numbers are interesting. He’s played in 163 games and has 591 career MiLB AB:

.303/.393/.521 with 33 2B, 3 3B, 30 HR, and a 83/127 BB/SO ratio

by pffriberg on Jan 4, 2026 10:56 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Maybe . . .

. . .. Our definition of impact player is different. I see Blanks and Latos as the top tier talent in this system who could be top 100 prospects and Major League All-Stars. I have reservations about the three players you mentioned, but certainly Kulbacki and Decker are in that next tier of Padres prospects.

I really like Decker, but I want to see him in full-season ball. He dominated the Arizona League, but I expected that as he was an advanced high school player. He came onto the scene in 2006 when he was named the Top Hitter for Team USA at the Youth Pan-Am games. Also, Decker is a typical Arizona State hitting recruit: Advanced batting eye, left-handed quick swing. Some people worry about his size.

As for Kulbacki, most college players are drafted as college juniors, and most of those college kids end up in the Northwest League where Kulbacki played well in 2007. He did have a great season in the 2008 California League, but I would like to see him more challenged before he is claimed an impact player. That’s a hitting league without The top college OFs of the 2007 draft (Borbon and LaPorta) spent a significant portion of the year in AA.

Currently, I just do not believe the Cedric Hunter hype. While he is extremely young for the California League, he had an 800 OPS. The lack of power development worries me. He is excellent defensively, and if Hunter shows that he can translate that quickness into stealing bases, Hunter could end up as a lead-off hitter with that great batting eye. Right now though, I got to hold him back from “impact prospect”.

by gunkdog on Jan 5, 2026 4:23 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Evan Scribner

I’d add him to the list of relievers. A K/BB ratio of almost 10/1 has to be worth something.

by CapgrasDelusion on Jan 4, 2026 11:37 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Love Scribner!

…Just not going to cite a High-A RP as evidence of the organizational strength…

by pffriberg on Jan 5, 2026 12:32 AM EST up reply reply 0 recs

I was responding to gunkdog's depth chart

but, FWIW: I agree with you completely on the Pads system, both in terms of its depth, and potential for producing impact players further down the pipeline.

by CapgrasDelusion on Jan 5, 2026 1:09 AM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Matt Antonelli

What gives?

by The Colonel on Jan 3, 2026 2:15 PM EST reply reply 0 recs

His biggest problem was his balls kept going to defenders

He definitely had some struggles at the plate, but is strike zone control was pretty good (OBP didn’t suffer). His BABIP didn’t seem to match up with a guy who should be hitting a lot of line drives. This may have been a fluke, but it triggers the need for a close eye on him in 2009.

by Wonko on Jan 3, 2026 3:57 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Is Jaff Decker a smaller Billy Butler?

He certainly seems like the most advanced high school hitter taking in the 2008 draft with the numbers he posted. At any level, a .513 OBP is pretty insane.

Mike Newman
baseballhandyman.com

by Baseball Handyman on Jan 3, 2026 2:29 PM EST reply reply 0 recs

Interesting comp

…They are probably very similar hitters. However, Butler’s listed at 6’2", Decker is 5’10". Also, Butler was notoriously poor as a defender, conversely, Decker currently plays CF (it is highly unlikely he’ll stay there) and threw 93 off the mound in HS. He is a future above-average RF. I like the Padres own Brian Giles as a comp.

by pffriberg on Jan 4, 2026 11:41 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

never know

how a kid is going to adjust to pro ball. Decker getting on base more times than getting out in his debut is pretty remarkable.

by richieabernathy on Jan 5, 2026 3:00 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

The very solid power as an 18 year old is also nice

TheSouthWing.com - A Magazine of essays, prose and poems

by OldProspects on Jan 5, 2026 4:59 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Antonelli

Expect a big rebound boys.

www.thebaseballuniverse.blogspot.com

by prestonb1291 on Jan 3, 2026 8:28 PM EST reply reply 0 recs

can you explain why?

I know he was unlucky, but what about his #’s makes you think this?

by soxkid on Jan 4, 2026 12:06 AM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Re:

He still had excellent plate discipline with a K:BB close to 1:1 even when he struggled, which is impressive because as a player struggles, they tend to give up a lot of their discipline and press at the plate. This discipline projects well to the majors.

I also expect a reason by more than just the numbers. He is an extremely hard worker, incredible work ethic. He also demonstrated 20/20 potential.

The Pads also took him in the first round (and they drafted him in the 7th I believe out of high school, but he went to Wake Forest, could be wrong about the round), so they have faith in him, especially as they’ve been looking to cut costs. The second base job is seemingly open, and he may play a significant amount of time in the majors this next year.

www.thebaseballuniverse.blogspot.com

by prestonb1291 on Jan 4, 2026 12:34 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

*Rebound, not reason

In the second paragraph

www.thebaseballuniverse.blogspot.com

by prestonb1291 on Jan 4, 2026 12:35 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

i went to high school with antonelli

was a senior on my baseball team when i was a freshman

by soxkid on Jan 5, 2026 12:52 AM EST up reply reply 0 recs

congratulations

by richieabernathy on Jan 5, 2026 2:58 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

Padres' system has poor rep.

No they dont. They lack top of the rotation arms and high-upside talent in positon players.
The SS position is horrible. They are not rank 10-15. They are in the 15-20 range. Sorry Peter.

by golgo 13 on Jan 5, 2026 1:55 PM EST reply reply 0 recs

BA rated it

13th or 15th - i forget

by pffriberg on Jan 5, 2026 3:52 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs

BA Padres rank

Baseball America rated the Padres 13th last year. In the San Diego UT Callis

When Baseball America updated its farm system rankings last March, the Padres came out 13th of 30. And now?
"It’s slipped a little, probably in the 16-20 range," said Jim Callis, the magazine’s executive editor

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2008/oct/24/s25padres193533/

by golgo 13 on Jan 5, 2026 5:00 PM EST up reply reply 0 recs