Forum
Forum Navigation
Minor League Discussion
#1891 · May 18, 2022, 11:46 pm
Baez continued to look good, although in the process of getting 5 K's in the 6 outs he recorded over 2 innings, he did walk a batter and hit another. It seemed he just got out of synch on those 2 batters since he did not give up a hit. Castillo had a similar kind of experience after an error extended his inning. He plunked a batter but then got out of the inning. These are the two RPs to watch from now until early June in our minors to see if they can continue to pitch well over the course of several weeks. Both have looked better in their rehab than Garcia did and they have had more opportunities to show whether or not they deserve the attention.
As for OF prospects, both E. Ruiz and Mazara did well today, Both look very comfortable at the plate and look ready to move up. I think we could DFA Alcantara and bring up Mazara to bolster our OF now that Profar has cooled and we're not really getting any consistency out of Grisham or Myers. He deserves a chance and should have been brought up vice Thompson.
LynchMob has reacted to this post.
LynchMob
#1892 · May 19, 2022, 6:50 am
Under the heading of "1 prospect for each team ready to make an impact" ...
https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/prospects-ready-to-make-impact-for-each-mlb-team
Padres: IF Matthew Batten
The obvious choices here are C.J. Abrams and Luis Campusano, both of whom have been outstanding at the upper levels of the Minor Leagues. They’re clearly a huge part of the Padres' future. Batten isn’t quite the same type of foundational piece, but he’s proven extremely valuable with his ability to play solid defense anywhere on the infield – and some corner outfield, too. There’s not exactly a need for Abrams or Campusano right now. But the Padres are short on utility pieces, and Batten – hitting .317/.426/.528 in Triple-A – just might fit the bill.
#1893 · May 19, 2022, 11:54 pm
Today was the best I've seen Lawson throw in a long long time. Around the plate with most of his pitches with only a few that got away. Don't know if it was a blister or a cut/crack in his palm, but that seemed to bother him after getting a couple outs in the 4th. I liked his easy motion and release point and he was actually jumping up and down for joy (a little bit) when he was successful with a particular pitch - you could tell he was so happy that he was having a good outing. Got to see more but this day was very encouraging for him becoming relevant again in the Padres future plans.
On the other hand, Vela had a tough day. Left a lot of. pitches up and location was not good. Gave up his first HRs of the year and seemed out of synch. Likewise, Iriarte struggled with command but his problem was more walks/wild pitches/bad location than batters getting the best of him. When he is locked into the strike zone, few hitters can barrel his stuff. Encouraged by Morejon but he only threw 12 pitches but 8 were for strikes. Don't know if they are going to extend him back into a starter or the plan is to get him in as a RP so he can go both long and in high leverage situations - can't trust him now, but maybe by late July or early August.
LynchMob has reacted to this post.
LynchMob
#1894 · May 20, 2022, 9:18 am
Apparently the Padres are not going to give Abrams reps in the outfield in AAA.
So what does that mean for his future?
IMO that means he will be involved in any big trades AJ pursues at the deadline or this off season.
Not saying he will definitely be traded…..But the only other thing that makes sense is that the plan is to move Tatis to the OF.
I guess it’s possible they may pursue moving on from Hosmer still….but I don’t like the idea of moving our All Star 2b to 1B….plus Hoz at $13 mil. Isn’t that bad.
Otherwise…there’s no spot for Abrams in S.D. barring an injury…..or it may even require “two” injuries to infielders.
Where does everyone think CJ will be and at what position in 2023?
#1895 · May 20, 2022, 9:57 am
Quote from MrPadre19 on May 20, 2022, 9:18 amApparently the Padres are not going to give Abrams reps in the outfield in AAA.
So what does that mean for his future?
IMO that means he will be involved in any big trades AJ pursues at the deadline or this off season.
Not saying he will definitely be traded…..But the only other thing that makes sense is that the plan is to move Tatis to the OF.
I guess it’s possible they may pursue moving on from Hosmer still….but I don’t like the idea of moving our All Star 2b to 1B….plus Hoz at $13 mil. Isn’t that bad.
Otherwise…there’s no spot for Abrams in S.D. barring an injury…..or it may even require “two” injuries to infielders.
Where does everyone think CJ will be and at what position in 2023?
I agree MrP, I have been saying this for months. If the SD brass doesn't move Abrams to the grass, there is no where for him in SD.
But we have seen this before, when we moved two All Stars from their positions defensively, for what proved to be a less than mediocre player, Sean Burroughs. And both displaced players were never quite the same IMO, (Nevin and Klesko).
Now, Im not saying that Abrams is going to bomb out like Burroughs, but why would displace your $325M SS and All Star 2B, for an proven rookie, unless Tatis and Crone are FULLY onboard? Especially since Tatis has clearly stated his desire to stay at SS........so why???
#1896 · May 20, 2022, 10:06 am
I agree…..which is why this came to mind.
If he isn’t playing OF in AAA…..then the plan has to be to trade him.
Which is typical Padre luck….best prospect we’ve had in a long time and no where to play him.
I guess there’s no hurry though…could just leave at SS this season and could still give him time in the OF next Spring.
🤷🏻♂️
#1897 · May 20, 2022, 10:47 am
Small developmental steps … think first they want Abrams to develop his bat without the “interference” of learning the OF. Plus his value is at its highest as a SS given his glove and minimal power. I get the sense that he is such a good athlete the Padres believe he would adjust to the OF quickly … so wait (he has been out there before).
Don’t really see Tatis to the OF (lot of reasons) but do have see Tatis actually make it through a full season (a couple of full seasons) to be confident he will be there for SS.
I would not rule out Kim as the trade chip … given a lot of teams are in need of an everyday adequate SS. If so, Abrams could be rotational INF/DH and provide superior injury coverage than Kim.
Then there is Cronenworth … he is only controlled for 3 additional years and is already in his late 20s. Not likely the want to extend a 2B in his early 30s. IF Abrams blossoms into the elite ball player we hope … don’t be shocked if Cronenworth becomes a trade chip in a couple years as his contract starts to rise.
As it stands now … if Abrams hits in AAA this year … I expect him in the Padre OF in 2023 and play fine defense.
#1898 · May 20, 2022, 10:47 am
If you look at the El Paso roster, they currently have a lot of experienced OF - Mazara, Rooker, Liberato, Akiyama and Kohlwey - but with Hinojosa injured, have few infielders. So, in the short term, it makes sense to give Abrams some ABs in the shortstop position until the OF picture clears up. I don't think they believe the adjustment to the OF will be that difficult for someone as athletic as Abrams and who has played OF on a limited basis in the past.
What you want Abrams to do is get Plate Appearances no matter where he plays and currently he's not finding it as easy as he probably thought to do what he has done in the past with the bat. He's chasing to many pitches outside the zone (particularly down and in) and letting too many good pitches in the zone go by for strikes. So, the best we can do is be patient while he learns his trade and his bat will find a place in the Padres' line-up, likely in the OF, in the long-run. Certainly, our current OF needs more improvement than our current infield, especially when Tatis comes back to his shortstop position.
#1899 · May 20, 2022, 10:54 am
Meanwhile JUAN SOTO to Padres rumblings begin... CJ+ ++++ would be my starting point
#1900 · May 20, 2022, 10:56 am
By the way
I think Merrill SS (LE) is our next legit SS prospect... why I am not too hesitant to move CJ for a young/ish stud