Quote from fenn68 on April 8, 2022, 10:29 am

Saw the note that Ethan Elliott has retired. Apparently injury driven. Too bad since he was in the teens of the Padres’ Top 30 and had quite a good run as a LHP in his limited time in the system.

Quote from fenn68 on April 8, 2022, 3:20 pm

Minor league rosters are still being adjusted.

Bit of a surprise ... SS Justin Lopez was sent down to FW from SA ... so a repeat High A for him.

SA announced the activation of Howell the prospect they got in the Caratini trade ... as a SS (missed that position designation in the trade write-ups).

SA also announced that Cantu (a veteran minor league catcher) will be put on the "development squad" ... which I guess is like the taxi squad.

SA also sent LHP Perez up to EP ... El Paso now has more pitchers listed than one would think allowed ... so we should see some more IL or releases or demotions to SA.

Quote from Randy Manese on April 8, 2022, 3:24 pm

Justin Lopez to Ft. Wayne. again!  With Angeles traded, apparently wanted to start the season with a veteran in the position.  Not sure who will be the starting SS in San Antonio but we'll find out soon.  Could be Givin or Howell but that seems like a temporary fix.

Quote from fenn68 on April 8, 2022, 3:35 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on April 8, 2022, 3:24 pm

Justin Lopez to Ft. Wayne. again!  With Angeles traded, apparently wanted to start the season with a veteran in the position.  Not sure who will be the starting SS in San Antonio but we'll find out soon.  Could be Givin or Howell but that seems like a temporary fix.

Guessing it will be Howell ... he played 2B/SS/3B in A+/AA last season (no one position dominant) ... but at least was in AA for a month and had OK AA (but not good) stats. In High A decent OBP/SLG.

Can't see anyone dropping down from EP for SS ,,, maybe they find someone off the waiver wire or MiL FA trimmed by another organization.

Quote from Randy Manese on April 8, 2022, 11:11 pm

Merrill and Wood made it look really easy for Lake Elsinore.  Wood's swing looked very easy and compact and resulted in 2 HR's on a 3 for 5 night unlike Mears, who struck out 4 of 5 times at the plate.  Hawkins and Iriarte also were impressive in the way they commanded the strike zone.

El Paso and San Antonio probably had their worst pitchers on the mound and it showed; I thought both Hernandez and Perez were candidates for release after 2021 but they are left-handers - actually Perez was rushed to Round Rock from San Antonio to start the game but did not show much.

Ft. Wayne almost came all the way back and it should be a good club this year; not so sure about San Antonio.

 

Quote from WindsorUK on April 9, 2022, 12:41 am

What's the potential of Garrett Hawkins down at Lake Elsinore?

Big kid! Does he have big man heat?

And what's the latest on Reggie Lawson? Is he finally healthy? A possible 2023 invitee to SD?

Quote from Randy Manese on April 9, 2022, 1:54 am

I probably missed a few pitches,  but I charted Hawkins with 15 swings/misses (primarily off his FB) that resulted in 5 of his 6 K's.  He had another 12 called strikes and got his other K in that manner.  He also had 12 foul balls and only bounced one in the dirt.  Announcers said his FB was in the mid-90's, running up to 96 consistently.  Lives in the high part of the zone, mostly over the plate but generally good location, especially inside to LH hitters. Throws occasional change-up and another off-speed pitch but not that often.  Because some hitters still can get to heat, did give up a couple of loud hits/outs but walked no one.

Iriarte, who is about the same size, also looked very good.  He was more sinker/slider and FB down in the zone and maybe just a tad less mph.  I got him with 6 called strikes with all of his 3 K's swinging of his 4 swing and miss strikes.  He also had 5 balls fouled off and did get some loud outs when he missed besides giving up one hit.

These are two guys to watch if you go to see this team in LE.  Both looked better than Gasser in his Ft. Wayne debut but that is Hi A, so he might take a little longer to adjust.

Quote from fenn68 on April 9, 2022, 2:58 am

Hawkins will be a good story line if he makes it to the ML. Pitched is somewhat obscurity for University of British Colombia (small NAIA school) but lost their entire season due to COVID and Hawkins went to the MLB Draft showcase league where the Padres saw him and made him a 9th round pick.

Only 21 and a physically big guy with a good FB and control.

He has the potential to be a real sleeper pick out of Canada.

Quote from fenn68 on April 9, 2022, 3:11 am

Last I read on Lawson was that he may be pitching again mid-season … and the Padres still look at him as a SP.

If he is halfway decent in his return this year … given the potential SP departures via FA (Clevinger, Musgrove, and Martinez) and the trade of Paddack … he likely would get called to ML ST camp.

Since he was drafted in 2016 … not sure of his status next winter (considering he was on the ML roster at one point). Likely R5 eligible or even a minor league FA.

Padres could return him to the 40 man if he really looks good (he has 2 minor league options remaining I think) and is “only” 25. No idea the competition for a 40 man roster slot next winter … way too early to guess.