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San Diego Padres: Top 10 Rookie-Eligible Prospects for 2018

By Benjamin Chase

PEORIA, AZ - MARCH 4: An equipment bag of the San Diego Padres is seen prior to the game against the Seattle Mariners on March 4, 2015 at Peoria Stadium in Peoria, Arizona. The Mariners defeated the Padres 4-3 in 10 innings. (Photo by Rich Pilling/Getty Images)
PEORIA, AZ - MARCH 4: An equipment bag of the San Diego Padres is seen prior to the game against the Seattle Mariners on March 4, 2015 at Peoria Stadium in Peoria, Arizona. The Mariners defeated the Padres 4-3 in 10 innings. (Photo by Rich Pilling/Getty Images) /
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6. Luis Urias, 2B/SS

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/3/1997 (20)
2017 teams/levels played for: AA San Antonio Missions
2017 Stats: .296/.398/.380, 526 PA, 3 HR, 7 SB, 68/65 BB/K

Info: One of the biggest bargains possibly ever in the Latin market, the San Diego Padres bought Urias’ rights from his Mexican League team when he was 16, and he’s been much better than anyone ever could have dreamed.

Urias is a gifted hitter, making tremendous hard contact on everything he hits and rarely missing when he swings. He is a line drive hitter over a power guy, but he can yank one over the fence as well while tallying plenty of extra bases through doubles and triples.

In the field, Urias uses above-average speed to play a plus second base with excellent hands and footwork around the bag. He has the instincts and hands to work at shortstop when needed, though he’s more average there while he’d be an elite defensive player at the keystone.

Urias has jumped up the system quickly, and he’ll spend a lot of time in AAA this season before he turns 21. He could even end up the San Diego Padres starter at 2B before he celebrates his 21st birthday this June.

5. Adrian Morejon, LHP

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 2/27/1999 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: short-season A-ball Tri-City Dust Devils, low-A Fort Wayne TinCaps
2017 Stats: 13 GS, 63 IP, 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 6% BB, 21.8% K

Info: Few pitchers have come from Cuba as young as Morejon, and few have had the hype behind him when coming over from Cuba as Morejon before signing for $11 million with the San Diego Padres in July of 2016.

before (2017) spring training was over, the reports on (Morejon’s) throwing sessions were already becoming the stuff of legend

Morejon made his pro debut in 2017, and before spring training was over, the reports on his throwing sessions were already becoming the stuff of legend. Blessed with an array of pitches, Morejon leads them with a fastball that sits 91-93 and can touch 95-96 with excellent ability to manipulate the fastball for different looks.

The best of Morejon’s secondaries is his change, but that would be incorrect to say singularly as he throws multiple change ups. One is a more traditional change with good late sink and wiggle. The other is a knuckle-change with a late dive in its movement. Both flash plus but already can sit above-average, weapons for Morejon in any count. He throws a hard curve that is a fringe-plus pitch at its best, but it’s definitely the most inconsistent of his offerings.

For his age, Morejon is incredibly advanced, already showing himself more than ready for a full season, which the San Diego Padres will likely do at high-A in 2018.

Next: #3 and #4

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