San Diego Padres Top 20 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review

by John Sickels on Aug 16, 2025 9:00 AM EDT Comment 39 comments

This list was originally published January 6^th, 2009. This is a REVIEW of the PRE-SEASON list for 2009, not a revision of that list. This is a REVIEW of the old list. The grade listed is the OLD GRADE. With a few exceptions, I'm not doing new grades or new lists until I start writing the 2010 book.

1) Kyle Blanks, 1B, Grade B+: .283/.393/.485 in Triple-A, .240/.352/.455 in the majors. Like the power he's shown so far, expect the batting average and OBP will rise eventually.

2) Jaff Decker, OF, Grade B: hitting .302/.447/.509 in the Midwest League. Very polished bat, as expected.

3) Mat Latos, RHP, Grade B: 1.37 ERA with 73/12 K/BB in the minors, 4.02 ERA with 24/12 K/BB in 34 major league innings so far. Only concern going forward is durability.

4) Kellen Kulbacki, OF, Grade B: Hit just .201/.257/.254 in 36 games in Double-A, out since June with hamstring injury. Had a bad shoulder in April and May. Hasn't been healthy at all this year.

5) Cedric Hunter, OF, Grade B-: Hitting just .254/.289/.321 in Double-A. Unable to maintain batting average and high OBP against better pitching so far. Still makes contact but lack of power hampering him.

6) James Darnell, 3B, Grade B-: Hitting .318/.434/.552 between two levels of A-ball, excellent plate discipline.

7) Allan Dykstra, 1B, Grade B-: Hitting .206/.381/.345....87 walks for Fort Wayne in 104 games, but power disappointing. May be too passive.

8) Will Inman, RHP, Grade B-: Was getting killed in the PCL (6.71 ERA, 83 hits in 63 innings). Sent back to Double-A and pitching well again (2.72 ERA, 40/10 K/BB in 56 innings). Will get more chances but scouts have never liked him.

9) Wade LeBlanc, LHP, Grade C+: 4.25 ERA with 83/29 K/BB in 108 innings in Triple-A. Crushed in two major league starts due to wobbly command.

10) Matt Antonelli, 2B, Grade C+: .193/.294/.332 in Triple-A. I guess maybe last year WASN'T just a bizarre bad luck fluke.

11) Eric Sogard, 2B, Grade C+: Hitting .289/.370/.379 in Double-A. Good contact hitting ability with strike zone judgment.

12) Jonathan Galvez, SS, Grade C+: hitting .319/.431/.528 with 12 steals in the Arizona Rookie League. Great tools, skills look solid right now for his age, stock way up.

13) Simon Castro, RHP, Grade C+: 3.93 ERA, 133/32 K/BB in 117 innings, 107 hits in the Midwest League. Live arm, command has been good this year, stock rising.

14) Cole Figueroa, 2B, Grade C+: .339/.430/.435 in 54 games for Fort Wayne. Lack of power may be a problem at higher levels, hit just .187 in 21-game trial at Lake Elsinore.

15) Adis Portillo, RHP, Grade C+: 4.72 ERA with 42/20 k/BB in 48 games in the Arizona Rookie League, 59 hits. Not great, obviously needs time to refine his raw ability.

16) Blake Tekotte, OF, Grade C+: Hitting .270/.359/.413 for Fort Wayne, 60 walks, 12 homers, 27 steals. Does a lot of things on the field, broad skill base, but projection to higher levels remains an issue.

17) Jeremy Hefner, RHP, Grade C+: 12-5, 4.15 with a 125/34 K/BB in 126 innings for Lake Elsinore, 134 hits. Holding his own in the Cal League, good command, good strikeout rate.

18) Josh Geer, RHP, Grade C+: 5.96 ERA with 54/23 K/BB in 103 innings in the majors, 116 hits. Throws strikes but stuff is a bit too short. I think he might be better off in short stretches, used in relief.

19) Logan Forsythe, 3B, Grade C+: Hit .322/.472/.504 in the Cal League, but just .264/.362/.390 in the Texas League. Still controlling the zone well, but power slumped. Keep in mind San Antonio is a pitcher's environment.

20) Will Venable, OF, Grade C: Hitting .269/.338/.462 in the majors. A solid fourth/platoon outfielder.

There were a large mass of Grade C prospects in the system beyond this, and my general feeling entering the season was that the system was underrated by other sources. The Padres are very skill-oriented in their drafting. The standard criticism of this is that you end up with nothing but role players and few potential stars. The opposite approach, focusing on tools goofs , gets you the occasional star but also a large number of busts who look great in uniform but can't play. I think the best approach is a mixed one, bringing in both skill players with polish AND tools guys and not focusing on one or the other exclusively. Indeed, the Padres are taking steps to bring more tool players into the system, particularly from Latin America. Diversity is good.

Kulbacki is an injury casualty and gets a mulligan, but at this point I don't see a lot of hope for Antonelli. Keep an eye on Wynn Pelzer and Ernesto Frieri, two intriguing RHP.

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Read More: Matt Antonelli (2B - SDP), Cedric Hunter (CF - SDP), Kyle Blanks (RF - SDP), San Diego Padres

Comments

Just a thought

The recent drafts have been characterized by signing those guys who seemingly were skills based guys, but with Moorad having let Grady Fuson a little more leeway, it seems that Fuson’s past drafts may have been a little bit more based on skills and signability, and that is saying a lot. This year’s draft shapes up as something much more exciting for the fanbase, with the Tate selection, the Everett Williams pick, and Keyvius Sampson to a lesser degree. Hopefully, these picks will pan out, nd the fans will have something to be excited to come out and see…….

by thomasps3 on Aug 16, 2025 9:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tate, if he signs, goes where?

I’m thinking 2 or 3?

by apoxonbothyourhouses on Aug 16, 2025 10:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

depends on Latos

If Latos is shut down prior to 50 IP (I think he will) then Latos will be #1 and Tate will slide in at #2. Otherwise, Tate should be #1 overall in the org.

by pffriberg on Aug 16, 2025 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Padres don't draft athletes - really?

I find it hilarious that the Padres are ridiculed for not drafting athletes

Matt Antonelli - 2006 (1)
Kyler Burke (traded to the Cubs) 2006 (1S)
Drew Cumberland - 2007 (1S)
James Darnell - 2008 2008 (2)

Then, this year, they went big on athletes with Tate & Williams… This list doesn’t include other less known athletic ball-players or later round selections…

by pffriberg on Aug 16, 2025 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

clear

in case it wasn’t clear (and it might not be, i was really tired yesterday when i wrote this), I like the Padres system and I think it is underrated.

by John Sickels on Aug 16, 2025 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

understood

I understood you said it was under-rated - and I agree - my comment was in reference to people in general (not you specifically John) I think people still believe that the Padres generally draft unathletic walks/power guys almost exclusively and it’s just not the case.

by pffriberg on Aug 16, 2025 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

antonelli, darnell?

athletes?

by ScottAZ on Aug 17, 2025 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Darnell

Considered a borderline 5-tool guy out of SC, and the most athletic of their top three draftees that year (Smoak, Havens being the other two).

by blackoutyears on Aug 17, 2025 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Smoak is a great player

But is being considered more athletic than him that much of an accomplishment?

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by OldProspects on Aug 17, 2025 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Point?

How about, whether in comparison to Smoak or Havens or just himself, Darnell was tabbed as a 5-tool guy? Way to hone in on the latter half of the sentence and miss the inescapable implications of the first. I don’t remember this place being so tiresomely literal-minded.

by blackoutyears on Aug 18, 2025 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Antonelli

was player of the year as a high school senior in 2 sports and runner up in a 3rd (he placed 2nd in baseball), he’s a “70” runner (when drafted people speculated about a move to CF)

by pffriberg on Aug 17, 2025 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

re

baseball/hockey split in poy. an accomplishment, but i would hardly consider antonelli a “tools” guy. he was more of a safe polished college bat coming out of Wake Forrest than a “toolsie” player.

as a side note, I would be willing to bet that 90% of all MLB players were allstate players in multiple sports in high school. I have numerous friends that were drafted in past year and just about everyone of them were allstate and even state player of the years in other sports. Hell, even i was allstate in two sports and all conference in a 3rd and I would never dare to call myself a “toolsie” player when it came to baseball

by ScottAZ on Aug 18, 2025 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by richieabernathy on Aug 18, 2025 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not All State

Player of the Year…

Antonelli is a RIDICULOUS athlete

From his BA draft scouting report:

“Antonelli earned his keep at Wake Forest as an exceptional athlete…” And, "His athleticism is excellent, and he puts it to use on the basepaths and on the field. " Lastly, “His soft hands, good lateral quickness and solid range should allow for a seamless move to second base, while his speed and arm strength could handle left and center fields and possibly right field.”

by pffriberg on Aug 18, 2025 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that the organization's young talent is underrated

I never understood why the media keeps blasting the narrative that this is a horrible system. Is it great? No, but there’s enough young upside and a decent group of upper level talent. Not suggesting that the organization will make a turnaround really quick at the MLB level, as that would require a lot of things going right for them, but I could see them having a competitive club by 2011. Part of it does depend on what happens to AGon and Heath, but that’s a sword that can cut both ways in this discussion.

Hefner and Castro are both very intriguing arms, and I remember Fuson said in an interview that they had huge expectations for Castro, or something like that.

by toonsterwu on Aug 16, 2025 11:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Where does Kyle Blanks end up?

Right Field? Left Field? First Base? AL DH? I’ve heard all of these as possible landing zones, but I all know is that the dude is STRONG, and he sure can hit a baseball.

Who is a fair comp for this guy?

Adoptive parent of Kyle Nicholson

by gore51 on Aug 16, 2025 1:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Matt Stairs with speed?

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Aug 16, 2025 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and right handed and tall

I guess that one doesn’t fly.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Aug 16, 2025 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

how bout

Aubrey Huff-ish in regards to expected performance?

by toonsterwu on Aug 16, 2025 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look at Ryan Howard's

minor league numbers - Howard took off as a 24 yr old in AA, Blanks is still 22 in MLB. I don’t think Blanks will end up with that many HR (esp. in Petco) but I also think he’ll have a better average and fewer strikeouts.

He can play any of the 3 defense positions now - he’s better than Headley in the OF - but he’ll probably lose a little range and thus not be ideal for RF.

by pffriberg on Aug 16, 2025 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I kind of hope he ends up at 1B

I saw him play a game there live in AZ and he looked really solid. Soft hands, and good instincts/footwork in my opinion. I think it’s better that he plays as a plus-defensive 1B than a mediocre corner outfielder.

Adoptive parent of Kyle Nicholson

by gore51 on Aug 16, 2025 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure...

…but it’s better for the Padres to have his bat in the lineup WITH Adrian’s rather than one or the other…

by pffriberg on Aug 16, 2025 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sure...

and I agree, but in the future is where I’m talking, when both aren’t on the same team.

Adoptive parent of Kyle Nicholson

by gore51 on Aug 16, 2025 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you're missing the point

I believe Friberg’s suggesting there’s no reason they shouldn’t both be on the same team. And if that’s not what he’s saying, I’ll say it.

by realitypolice on Aug 16, 2025 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the padres have one of the best system's in baseball

I’ve heard a few people say (like John) that the padre’s system is underrated while most believe that it sucks. I on the other hand can’t understand how anyone can think theat their system sucks. I mean honestly, is there a farm system that has more future potential mlb players? When I look at the padres system I see one of, if not the best system in all of baseball.

If you disagree just look at their minor league teams, player stats, and all the success they’ve had this year. Players are exceeding expectations at every level below AAA, and their A team (Fort Wayne) is the best team in all of the minors (even after losing guys like Latos and Darnell to promotions).

Below is a list of players of their system that I believe have a good chance at playing in the majors for either the padres or someone else. FYI I left off majority of their international players since I don’t have enough information to make a conclusion on them.

Catcher: Canham and Hagerty.

1st: Blanks, Dykstra, Cooper, and Clark.

2nd: Sogard, Galvez (he’s been playing there a bit and I expect him to be moved, Antonelli, Figuera

SS: Cabrera (he’s not a prospect but the best rookie short in the majors. I just wanted to share that. He’s better than Andrus.), Cumberland (an athelte drafted in 07 that was offered a full ride as a DB to Florida State), Zadwadzki, Aristy, Kazmar, and Weems.

3rd: Darnell, Forsythe (I think both darnell and forsythe have a chance to be move to second where I project them both higher than any other minor league second baseman offensivley), Rincon.

OF: Decker, Tate, Durango (40+ SB guy), Tekotte, Venable, Kullbaki, Hunter, Huffman, Chalk, Payne, Carroll. Evert Williams if he signs.

SP: Latos, Poreda, Portillo, Gallagher, Frieri, Bass, Castro, Luebeke, Inman, Garrison, Breit, Mcbryde, Pelzer, Schmidt, and Carter. And Sampson if he signs.

RP: Scribner (one of my favorite mrp in the minors, Brach, Russel, Burke, Watt, Osuna, Lynch, Eckstrom, Demark, and Dehoyos

by johnnycomelately9 on Aug 16, 2025 7:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Making the big leagues and being a contributor are not the same thing

Cooper, Clark, Weems, Chalk, Bass, McBryde, Burke, Eckstrom, DeMark and DeHoyos all have a max ceiling as bench guys.
Kazmar, Huffman, Payne, Lynch are a full step below that and will never even lose their rookie status.
Kulbacki, Hunter, Payne, Frieri, Breit, Russell, Sogard, Dykstra all could conceivably put it together and produce at the big league level, but I wouldn’t want to put any money on any of them actually doing it.
Galvez will ultimately be in the outfield.

by realitypolice on Aug 16, 2025 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What I think about those players

Clark, Bass, and Huffman I think all have a chance at starting at some point.
The guys I would want to bet on our Decker, Blanks, Darnell/Forsythe, Cumberland, Cabrera, Latos, Scribner, Poreda/Carter, Schmidt, Castro, Portillo, Tate, Tekotte, and Canham.
Borderline line guys for me our players like Venable, Hunter, and Robertson.
The padres also have a ton of bench players like Weems and Cooper but with an excess of depth they should be left with multiple options, and tons of trading chips for the future.

by johnnycomelately9 on Aug 17, 2025 7:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Basic math says you lose

If you’re betting on 16 guys out of ANY system to be significant contributors as big leaguers, you’re going to owe the house a lot of money.

by realitypolice on Aug 17, 2025 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eric Sogard

Would the guy I’d bet on.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

by WayneCampbell08 on Aug 18, 2025 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

word in Chapel Hill...

is that Tate is close to signing but “it’s not done yet”. The Pads have agreed to the $6.5 million signing bonus but there’s some sticking points as to where he starts, etc.

it helps the Pads that Tate’s dad wants him to be a baseball player, referring to the NFL as the “not for long” league.

by apoxonbothyourhouses on Aug 17, 2025 4:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thoughts on Everth Cabrera?

by ETA on Aug 16, 2025 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts

Plus defender
solid hitter
Great on the base paths… I’m talking 40-60 SB a season.
A young inexperienced player that wants to learn, and shows glimpses of greatness.

by johnnycomelately9 on Aug 17, 2025 7:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What happened to Antonelli?

Anybody have any insight on what happened to this once top prospect?

"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 17, 2025 12:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's batting around 200 for the second time in AAA

With Sogard ready to move to AAA next season I’m sure he’ll get his chance sometime in 2010. Overall he isn’t hitting the ball and seems to be tinkering way too much.

by johnnycomelately9 on Aug 17, 2025 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The guy is walking, striking out, and hitting for power at pretty much the same rate that he ever did

The only difference is that his BABIP is in the .220 area. He seems like a pretty terrific bounce-back bet

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by OldProspects on Aug 17, 2025 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, Antonelli has baffled me for a couple of seasons now.

by jfish26101 on Aug 17, 2025 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i believe

Krasovic had an article awhile back where he got some input from, uh, Rettenmund?, and that one thing hindering Antonelli was that his load time was long. I’ll try to see if I can find that article later.

by toonsterwu on Aug 18, 2025 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry, blanked out for a moment

didn’t mean to say load time was long, but rather that he didn’t load his swing. For some reason I started thinking pitching delivery. anyhow, here’s the quote from his krasovic article at voiceofsandiego. Looks like I was mistaken in my memory - there was no direct reference of Rettenmund towards Antonelli.

The Padres didn’t have many hitting prospects in my time on the beat, and many that the club did tout didn’t load their swings — including Sean Burroughs, Josh Barfield, Antonelli, Kyle Blanks and Kouzmanoff. At the time, Burroughs and Barfield were amassing good, even great, numbers in the minors. Each fizzled quickly in the majors. Antonelli dazzled until he got to Triple-A.

by toonsterwu on Aug 18, 2025 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The padres don't focus on polished players, that is a myth

When Fuson joined the pads in 2005 the pads farm was rated 29th by BA, and basically had zero impact players. Due to the lack of talent throughout the system the front office decided to flood the farm with talented, high-probability prospects, until it got to a point where they had multiple options at every position. That is the reason they have more C rated prospects than other systems (also because some of those C’s are underrated), and now that they have quality players throughout their system that phase of the process is complete.

Currently their focus is more on potential, which you can see by looking at their 2009 draft and their first 3 picks Tate, Williams and Sampson. Also most analyst vastly underrate their 2007 and 2008 drafts. The facts that support this claim are their 2009 AA team that won the first half crown, their High A team that clinched a playoff spot, and their A team which is the best team in the entire minors (they already have 90 wins).

Lastly in an earlier post someone commented that you’re in trouble if you’re banking on 16 prospects, and I have to say that I couldn’t disagree more. If you have numerous options then chances are some or someone will probably make it, and just as important the competition between the prospects will breed success throughout the system.

by johnnycomelately9 on Sep 3, 2025 5:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs