Each year the team at MadFriars.com comes up with a list of the Padres’ Top 20 prospects. This year, Simon Castro and Jaff Decker head the list of twenty prospects who MadFriars believes will have the greatest potential to impact the future of the Padres organization.
But where’s last year’s #1 pick, Donavan Tate? And how did last year’s #1 prospect, Cedric Hunter, fall off this year’s list altogether? After the jump, you can read the MadFriars prospect list. Below, listen to John Conniff from MadFriars.com as he joins Craig and Chris to break down the Padres’ farm system in a companion podcast:
MadFriars Top 20 for 2010
With Jason McLeod taking over as the head of the San Diego Padres’ scouting and minor league development he will inherit a system that has substantially improved each year since the last change in 2005.
A quick note on the rankings; no player that missed most, if not all, of 2009 or is projected to miss all of 2010 was eligible to be ranked.
The best way to read this ranking, or really any article on this subject, is try to find what the players do well and what they need to improve upon; which can cause them to rise or fall in the future. As anyone who has followed the Padres’ organization is aware, this could be a very different list next year.
1. Simon Castro, Starting Pitcher/RHP
After Mat Latos, Castro was the best pitching prospect for San Diego in 2009. The 6’5” Dominican has a big two-seam fastball and his four-seamer touches 94 to 95, but now, as opposed to in years past, he has a much better idea of where it is going along a developing change and slider. He doesn’t have the velocity or command of Latos yet, but he has improved by leaps and bounds each year.
2 Jaff Decker, OF
A supplemental first round pick in the 2008 draft, Decker,19, finished first in on-base and second in slugging percentages in the Midwest League. Many scouts have expressed doubts about not only Decker’s ability to become more athletic but to maintain what he has now. Decker is a truly advanced hitter that is a much better all-around player than given credit for.
3 James Darnell, 3b
Another product of the very strong 2008 draft, Darnell destroyed the Midwest and Cal Leagues with a combined fifty-nine extra base hits and a .459 on-base percentage. His defense, particularly the accuracy of his strong arm at third base, is the big negative many see with his game. If he can find a position in the field, he has a true impact bat with plus tools.
4 Cory Luebke, Starting Pitcher, LHP
The 6’4” Luebke relies on a good two-seam fast ball that comes in around 88-92, mixed in with a slider and improving change. He doesn’t have a true plus pitch but his success at future levels will be determined by his ability to improve his secondary pitches as much as his fastball developed this year. He profiles as a middle of the rotation starter.
5 Logan Forsythe, 3b
After stroking the ball extremely well in the Instructional League, Forsythe followed with an outstanding year in High-A Lake Elsinore. Promoted in mid-season his power slowed down in the Texas League, particularly at home, hitting .246/.324/.323. A solid all-around player, the only real question is if he can hit enough at third, especially with the competition in front and behind him.
6 Edinson Rincon, 3b
Rincon, 19, may have the highest ceiling of all third basemen after hitting .300/.415/.468 in Eugene. The most impressive aspect of his game is patience, which is not often seen in a young Latin American player. The big downside was 22 errors in 70 games and his ability to stay in the infield moving up.
7 Lance Zawadski, SS/2b/3b
Zawadski took a big step forward showing the potential five-tool talent that the switch-hitter possesses. Eighteen extra-base hits in thirty-six games caught everyone’s attention in the Cal League before being promoted to San Antonio, where he finished among the team leaders in extra-base hits and on-base percentage. He needs to cut down on his strikeouts and although he has a terrific arm, his footwork and balance must improve.
8 Wynn Pelzer, Starting Pitcher/RHP
Pelzer is the pitcher everyone believes is going to be better than he has shown so far, and so far has been pretty good. In Lake Elsinore he struck out nearly a batter an inning and had a 147/59 K/BB ratio. He combines a moving two-seam fastball with a wipeout slider. How fast his change-up can catch up with his other pitches will determine not only how quickly he can make the majors; but whether it will be as a starter or reliever. Pelzer is hurt by being a bit of a perfectionist, constantly tinkering with his delivery, but his mechanics have improved each season.
9 Aaron Poreda, Starting Pitcher, LHP
At 6’6” and 240 lbs. with a mid-90’s fastball; this is a prospect The problem is he frequently has no clue where the pitch is going and doesn’t have the secondary stuff to pitch effectively on the major league level as a starter. If he can regain command of his fastball along with some basic secondary pitches, he has big time potential. But that is a very big “if”.
10 Adys Portillo, Starting Pitcher, RHP
Only 17, he flashed plus stuff, a mid-90’s fastball, but also caught too much of the plate, which was evident with a 1-9 record and 5.13 ERA. Still it’s important to remember, particularly at his age and level, what he could be capable of in a few years is more important than where he is now.
The Next Ten
11. Rymer Liriano, OF, 12. Everett Williams, OF, 13. Keyvius Sampson, Starting Pitcher, RHP, 14. Jeremy McBryde, Starting Pitcher, RHP, 15. Drew Cumberland, SS, 16. Sawyer Carroll, OF, 17. Jerry Sullivan, Starting Pitcher, RHP, 18. James Needy, Starting Pitcher, RHP, 19. Anthony Bass, Starting Pitcher, RHP, 20. Jonathan Galvez, Shortstop/Second Base.
MadFriars.com is a website that covers the San Diego Padres minor league system with daily game reports, coach and player interviews, commentary from the front office and detailed prospect scouting reports. MadFriars.com visits all of the minor league affiliates throughout the season and provides two or three new pieces of content daily.
For more information on all of the Top 20 prospects visit MadFriars.com.
Craig Elsten -
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