Padres invite trio of top prospects to camp

San Diego boasted six top-100 prospects in their Minor League system in 2017. Half of them will have the opportunity to impress the organization further this spring.
Shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. -- the son of former Major League third baseman Fernando Tatis -- and fellow middle infielder Luis Urías both earned invitations to the Padres' Spring Training facility in Peoria, Arizona, along with right-hander Cal Quantrill, who also has big league bloodlines as the son of former hurler Paul Quantrill. The trio, each of whom is ranked among the team's top four prospects behind 18-year-old left-hander MacKenzie Gore, finished last season at Double-A San Antonio.

Tatis was one of 10 Minor Leaguers to hit at least 20 home runs and steal at least 20 bases in 2017, while his .390 OBP and .910 OPS over 117 games with Fort Wayne led the Class A Midwest League. He projects as an above-average hitter with plus power once he fills out his 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame and improved as the season went along. After managing a .766 OPS and 77-to-27 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the first half, he posted a .996 OPS with 64 strikeouts and 50 walks after the All-Star break.
The 19-year-old's length and athleticism, along with a plus arm, give him a high ceiling defensively as well, although there is some thought among scouts that he'll be forced to move to third base as he fills out physically.

Urias split time between shortstop (60 games) and second base (55 games) with the Missions in 2017 but profiles over the long term as a second baseman. At the plate, the 20-year-old's best trait is easily his 70-grade hit tool -- he's a career .310 hitter after hitting .296 last season while leading the Texas League with a .398 OBP and walking 68 times against 65 strikeouts.
Quantrill, the elder statesman of the trio at 22, was drafted by the Padres in the first round in 2016, despite the fact that he lost his final season at Stanford due to Tommy John surgery. He reached Double-A in July of last year and posted a 3.80 ERA and 110-to-40 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 116 frames, though he failed to top 6 2/3 innings in any of his 22 starts.
His fastball tops out at 97 mph, and he possesses one of the Minors' best changeups along with a developing slider.