A Minor Review of 2015: San Diego Padres

Welcome to the annual series: ‘A Minor (League) Review of 2015.” This series is a great way to receive a quick recap of the ’15 minor league season for your favorite club(s), while also receiving a brief look toward the 2016 season and beyond. It can also be a handy feature for fantasy baseball players in keeper and Dynasty leagues.

A Minor Review of 2015: San Diego Padres

The Graduate: Austin Hedges, C: This young catcher parlayed defensive acumen into a second round selection in the 2011 draft. His defence continued to be ahead of his offence while ascending through the minors and it completely took a backseat during his MLB debut in 2015. With offensive-minded Derek Norris also on hand in San Diego, Hedges will likely be relegated to a back-up role — or more time in Triple-A to try and find at least a little more authority in his swing.

The Riser: Ruddy Giron, SS: The Craig Kimbrel trade with Boston brought in some high ceiling offensive talent and shortstop Javier Guerra represents a little competition for Giron, who had a breakout 2015 season in Low-A ball. There is a good chance that both players will spend the ’16 season in High-A ball while splitting time between the two middle infield positions (although Giron is more likely to be a second baseman for the long term than Guerra). Either way, Giron will be a teenager playing in High-A ball, which is kind of exciting if you’re a Padres fan.

The Tumbler: Franchy Cordero, SS/OF: Cordero got some people excited in 2013 and ’14 but took a bit step backward in ’15, both offensively and defensively. He’s now seen Ruddy Giron pass him on the depth chart, as well as the newly-acquired Javier Guerra. Luckily for him, the Padres are now trying him in the outfield where there’s not quite as much competition. The 2016 season just might be a make or break year for the young player.

The ’15 Draft Pick: Jacob Nix, RHP: Nix was caught up in that ugly 2014 snafu between the Houston Astros and their draft class, which resulted in a lot of unhappy young baseball players who had been eager to begin their pro careers. Things worked out OK for this right hander and he went to the Padres in the third round — with a $900,000 bonus. He’s a projectable arm that could be a steal but might end up as more of a high-leverage reliever rather than a front-end starter.

The Lottery Ticket: Jose Castillo, LHP: Acquired from the Rays in 2014, Castillo is a former large-dollar Latin signee with a strong fastball from the left side. He’s missed development time due to injuries and his secondary stuff lags behind his heater. He has the sturdy frame that suggests he could develop into an innings-eating starter and, at 19, has lots of time to improve the consistency of his offerings.