San Diego Padres top ten prospects for 2020
By David Hill
2. Luis Patino
Minors (A+, AA)
Luis Patino may have been overlooked when he signed with the San Diego Padres, but that is no longer the case.
A part of the Padres impressive 2016 international spending spree, Patino did not garner the type of attention that was lavished upon Adrian Morejon and Michael Baez. In fact, he was a shortstop that would make occasional forays to the mound before the Padres turned him into a full time pitcher. Now, he may be the best prospect out of that group.
An impressively athletic specimen on the mound, Patino has a solid four pitch mix that he uses with great effect. His fastball easily sits in the mid 90s with late movement, and has topped out at 98 MPH. He has a power slider that sits in the upper 80s and is a true strikeout pitch. Patino flashes a plus curve, which could be the key to his development. He also has the vestiges of a changeup, but is already showing an ability to improve the offering.
An incredibly intelligent youngster, he has proven that he can take coaching and quickly apply it to the mound. Patino has begun varying his windup to mess with hitter’s timing, and has an advanced feel for his stuff. His attitude and infectious personality are bound to make him a fan favorite.
Even though Luis Patino barely made a ripple when signed, he could prove to be the best prospect from the Padres splurges that offseason.