Padres 2018 Top Prospects
LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. - Baseball America recently published its synopsis of the Padres farm system with the annual Top 10 prospects list, which included a projected 2021 lineup, best tools, and more. Several players who made the list have recently worn the Storm eyes, while many we can hope to
LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. - Baseball America recently published its synopsis of the Padres farm system with the annual Top 10 prospects list, which included a projected 2021 lineup, best tools, and more. Several players who made the list have recently worn the Storm eyes, while many we can hope to see at The Diamond in the near future.
View Baseball America's list.
Taking the top spot on the list is shortstop
The publication tabbed Tatis Jr. as the best power hitting prospect in the system and penciled him in at shortstop for the projected Padres 2021 lineup.
Taken as the Padres top draft choice of 2017 out of high school, left-handed pitcher
Baseball America believes in Gore so much they have him as the future ace in 2021 and noted Gore as having the best slider in the system as well as the best control. He walked just seven hitters. Storm fans can hope to see him very soon if he continues to dominate at all levels below Class-A Advanced.
Coming in at the three spot is righty
He is dubbed as having the best fastball in the farm system and is penciled in as a future Padres starting pitcher in the projected 2021 lineup.
Behind Baez is
Baseball America tabbed Quantrill as having the best changeup in the system and have him penciled in as a starting pitcher along with Gore and Baez.
Following Quantrill is lefty
After continuing to consistently perform at a high level wherever he plays, middle infielder
Storm fans were treated to a California League MVP season of Urias in 2016 and Padres fans watched him excel in Double-A in 2017. The 5-foot-9 Urias hit .296 with more walks than strikeouts in 442 at-bats, earning him best tools for best hitter for average and best strike-zone discipline.
Urias performed well in the Arizona Fall League and showed good range up the middle, giving Baseball America good reason to have him listed as the Padres second baseman in 2021, sharing the middle infield with Tatis Jr.
Right-hander Anderson Espinoza comes in at seven on the list despite not throwing a single competitive pitch in 2017. Once a top prospect in the Red Sox system, Espinoza was dealt to the Padres in the middle of 2016 and finished the year in Fort Wayne.
Although listed on the Storm roster in 2017, the righty felt discomfort in his pitching arm that resulted in Tommy John surgery. A hard thrower, he is projected to serve the closer role for the Padres in 2021.
Another left-hander on the list,
Rising through the system's ranks after a breakthrough season in Lake Elsinore and San Antonio,
The fourth southpaw on the short list of ten, Lucchesi continued to dominate in San Antonio with a 5-3 record and a 1.79 ERA.
Rounding out the list is just the third position player to earn a spot. Shortstop