Summary: It was a challenging year in the Sun City as the El Paso Chihuahuas finished with a 62-88 record to stay one game out of last place in the Pacific Coast League East. In 2021, San Diego emptied much of what could have been their upper-level minor-league strength this year, so in 2021. For most of the year, the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate fielded a mix of minor league free agents with a few potential prospects sprinkled in.
Matt Waldron was much better in San Diego than El Paso this season. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
There were some highlights this year; Matthew Batten and Eguy Rosario contributed to the big league roster later in the season. While Jay Groome and Anderson Espinoza were the preseason choices to fill big league rotation spots, Matt Waldron and Pedro Avila earned the opportunities in San Diego. They put themselves in discussion for a back-of-the-rotation slot for next year’s big league club.
Overview: We use a simple formula for the awards. Whichever team the player appeared for most is where he is eligible. For the top prospect, we consider not just what the player did this year but his age and potential impact in the major leagues.
We lean toward more of a middle-of-the-road evaluation, relying on a couple of questions to filter through it: (1) how old is the prospect compared to the competition; (2) how raw or developed is the prospect heading into a full-season ball; and (3) is he making the necessary adjustments in terms of mechanics and approach?
Level: Triple-A is a unique crossroads in professional baseball, with rosters often featuring as many players looking to get one last shot in the big leagues as those hoping to get their first taste. The PCL remains one of the most favorable hitting environments in professional baseball, and El Paso is among the most offense-friendly venues on the circuit. The 2023 club’s results certainly bear that out. Eguy Rosario, Jay Groome, Matt Waldron and Pedro Avila were all included in our pre-season Top 20.
Ray-Patrick Didder put up some numbers for the Chihuahuas. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Player of the Year: INF-OF Ray-Patrick Didder (David Jay, Kevin Charity & Mark Wilkens); First Base/Corner Outfield Alfonso Rivas (Ben Davey); Outfield/First Base Taylor Kohlwey (John Conniff)
Alfonso Rivas had some big flys in 2023. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
It’s telling that only one of the three top performers for the year remains in the system. After hitting .198/.337/.350 in 54 games in San Antonio to open the year, 28-year old Aruba native Ray-Patrick Didder was much better in the Sun City. In 48 Triple-A games, he hit .288/.426/.491 with 19 extra-base hits – 12 of them home runs – and stole 19 bases in 23 attempts. Didder spent the majority of his career in the Atlanta Braves organization but also has spent time in the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Angels systems. He was placed on the inactive list before the season’s final series, but was resigned for next year. With San Diego’s surplus of talent in the middle infield, it’s tough to see where he could fit in with the big club.
La Jolla Country Day and the University of Arizona’s Alfonso Rivas, 27, signed as a minor league free agent last winter and put up substantial numbers in his 58 games with El Paso, hitting .332 with a 1.043 OPS before getting a brief call-up to San Diego. He was included to Pittsburgh with Jackson Wolf in the unsuccessful trade for Rich Hill and Ji Man Choi and posted a .741 OPS in 106 plate appearances with the Pirates.
Taylor Kohlwey, 28, got his first big league call-up and had a pair of hits in his five-game cup of coffee. He spent his fourth year in El Paso and finished with a .826 OPS; in 2022, it was .832, and in 2021, it was .837. After 360 games in Triple-A, his best opportunities for another shot at the big leagues will be in another organization. While he can hit and has defensive versatility, the big question has always been, can he produce enough offense for left field and first base, his best positions. He was outrighted off the 40-player roster this November and is now a free agent.
Tim Lopes was a solid off-season pickup. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Others of Note: Matthew Batten, 28, had his worst season in Triple-A this year, but for the first time in his career, he got significant playing time at the major league level. In 33 starts at the big league level, he slashed .275/.373/.385 while filling in around the infield when Manny Machado was limited to DH-ing late in the year. He may have earned himself the utility infielder spot on next year’s big league team. … Brett Sullivan, 29, had his best year at the plate in the minor leagues hitting .328 with a .401 on-base percentage and earned his first big league call-up. He could be in the mix for a back-up catcher role in spring training. … Tim Lopes, 29, was another nice off-season pickup who finished second in the PCL with 42 stolen bases in 50 attempts. He led El Paso with 200 total bases and finished with a .799 OPS and 38 extra-base hits in 121 games. Lopes played all over the infield, but his best position was second base. … Brandon Dixon, 31, again put up some big numbers in El Paso, connecting on 15 home runs in 59 games, but once again struggled in opportunities in San Diego. The big league veteran opted for free agency after the season ended.
Ray Kerr’s fastball is a weapon. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Pitcher of the Year: LHP Ray Kerr (unanimous)
Ray Kerr, 28, posted a 6-0 record and a 2.25 ERA as he shuttled back-and-forth from one of the more difficult professional leagues to pitch in to the big leagues. He cut his PCL WHIP from 1.4 in 2022 to 1.1 in 2023 as he struck out 42 in 36 innings against only 17 walks as the Chihuahuas’ s closer. The lanky 6-foot-3, 185-pound lefty generates tremendous power with his slingshot delivery, which can hit touch over 100, but his most significant improvement this season has come in his ability to command his slider and splitter.
Pedro Avila was another pitcher who threw better when out of the PCL. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Others of Note: Matt Waldron, 26, had a 7.31 ERA in 92.1 innings with El Paso and a 4.35 in 41.1 innings in San Diego. The main reason was that he started having enough confidence to throw his knuckleball more. He’s is the only pitcher in the big leagues to feature it regularly. … Pedro Avila, 26, was also much better in the big leagues, posting a 3.22 ERA in 50.1 innings in San Diego. The big-bodied righty had an unsightly 8.57 ERA and 1-6 record in 55.2 innings in El Paso. Outside of the knuckler, Avila will throw about every other pitch in addition to cutting them and changing speeds. If he can keep the velocity on his fastball above 94, it makes his secondary pitches much more effective. … Jay Groome was the system’s biggest disappointment in 2023. After a strong second half last year in El Paso, and a solid spring training, he saw his WHIP balloon to 2.1. In 134.2 innings the 6-foot-6 lefty had an 8.89 ERA, and while he struck out 137 batters, he also walked 112 and gave up 171 hits in what was a big missed opportunity for him. He’ll only be 25 next year, but his control has to take a significant step forward and is out of options. … Anderson Espinoza returned to the San Diego organization and, like Groome, struggled with his control, issuing 73 walks in 131.2 innings on his way to a 6.15 ERA. However, he did show occasional flashes of his once-top prospect status. For the second straight offseason, he is a minor league free agent. … Aaron Leasher, 27, had much better success as a starter than coming out of the pen. In the rotation, he delivered a 4.28 ERA in 40 innings; his mark as a reliever was 7.23 in 23.2 innings. He is yet another a minor league free agent this winter.
Eguy Rosario has power and speed. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Top Position Prospect: INF Eguy Rosario (unanimous)
A broken leg last winter deprived Rosario of an opportunity to compete for a backup infield spot with the Padres coming off of his best minor league season and big league debut in 2022. He got his season started in June but had to shut down for a few more weeks with a hamstring issue, then struggled through August. He still was able to finish up with the big league club in September, showing the ability to hit the ball hard. Rosario can play all three infield positions but profiles best at second base. Only 5-foot-9, he is a very solid 200 pounds and has an excellent combination of speed and power.
Top Pitching Prospect: LHP Ray Kerr (unanimous)
Kerr’s walk rate went from 7.20 per nine innings in 2022 to 4.25 in 2023 in Triple-A, which may have been his ticket to a regular major league gig. In 27 innings this year in San Diego, with a 4.33 ERA and a 35:9 strikeout-to-base-on-base balls ratio, and should be a part of next year’s bullpen in San Diego.
This piece completes our level-by-level wrap ups for the 2023 season. We’ll have our individual Top 30 lists rolling out for subscribers starting next week, then an overall top 20 in the new year.
