Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the The 2022 Prospect Digest Handbook here!
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1. C.J. Abrams, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50/60 | 35/45 | 60 | 50 | 60 | 60 |
Background: The opening 12 picks in the 2019 draft have a chance to go down in history as a special collection of talent: Adley Rutschman, Bobby Witt Jr., Riley Greene, CJ Abrams, Nick Lodolo, Josh Jung, Shea Langeliers, and Brett Baty are all Top 100 consensus prospects – most of which reside among the Top 25 in all of baseball. Andrew Vaughn, the third overall selection that year, already has 127 big league games on his resume, and Toronto right-hander Alek Manoah, 11th pick that year, finished eighth in the Rookie of the Year voting – despite only throwing 111.2 innings. Abrams, a sweet, lefty-swinging shortstop, became the Padres’ first sixth overall pick since the club selected Kevin McReynolds out of the University of Arkansas all the way back 1981 – 19 years before Abrams was even born. Well known on the scouting circuit for several years heading into the draft, Abrams has not only lived up to, but he’s exceeded even the loftiest of expectations since stepping foot onto a professional diamond. Standing 6-foot-2 and 185-pounds, the young middle infielder looked like the second coming of Ted Williams during his debut in the Arizona Summer League three years ago, slugging an impressive .401/.442/.662 with 12 doubles, eight triples, and three homeruns. He also appeared in a pair of games in Low-A, as well. Despite losing a year of development due to the COVID-imposed shutdown and only appearing in two games above the domestic rookie leagues, the front office aggressively pushed the baby-faced shortstop straight into the minors’ toughest challenge – Double-A. The results were impressive – he batted a rock solid .296/.363/.420 with 14 doubles and a pair of homeruns to go along with 13 stolen bases – and only a severe injury was able to slow him. A fractured left tibia and a sprained MCL, a result of a collision at second base, prematurely ended his year on June 30th. Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, Abrams overall production topped the league average mark by 12%.
Snippet from The 2020 Prospect Digest Handbook: The hit tool has the makings of a plus weapon to match his elite speed with average power.
Scouting Report: While the same size is a touch too small, a touch too unreliable, consider the following – just for fun:
- Since 2006, only two 20-year-old hitters posted a 107 to 117 wRC+ total, a 18% to21% strikeout rate, and a 7% to 9% walk rate in Double-A (min. 175 PA): Brett Lawrie and – of course – CJ Abrams. Lawrie, by the way, owned a career 100 wRC+ mark in 588 big league games.
A potential franchise cornerstone – in a franchise with several cornerstones already in place – Abrams projects to a dynamic table setter for the Padres for the better part of decade. Plus speed. Plus hit tool. Solid patience. Above-average to plus middle infield glove. The lefty-swinging Abrams also shows no weaknesses against fellow southpaws either. The lone knock – for the time being – is Abrams lack of pop, but his improving groundball rates and batted ball data suggest at least 45-grade power is brewing, perhaps peaking in the 12- to 15-homerun range. He’s going to be a dynamo at second base or shortstop. Future star. His big league ceiling: .310/.370/.450.
Ceiling: 5.0-win player
Risk: Low toModerate
MLB ETA: 2022
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2. Robert Hassell, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45/55 | 40/55 | 60 | 60 | 50 | 60 |
Background: With the club’s selection of Robert Hassell as the eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft, it marked the fifth consecutive time the front office owned a Top 8 pick in the July amateur draft – a streak, by the way, that would eventually be snapped in 2021. Hassell, a toolsy center fielder out of Independence High School, agreed to terms with the Padres on a hefty $4.3 million deal. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound prospect put on a five-tool show in Low-A West last season, his first taste of professional ball. In 92 games with the Lake Elsinore Storm, Hassell slugged .323/.415/.482 with 31 doubles, three triples, and seven homeruns. He also swiped 31 bags in 37 total attempts. Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, his overall production at the level was 39% above the league average. Hassell was promoted up to High-A at the end of the year, though he struggled against the more advanced pitching (.205/.287/.410).
Scouting Report: Just for fun, here’s Hassell’s production in Low-A prorated for a full 162-game season: 55 doubles, five triples, 12 homeruns, and 55 stolen bases. Not too shabby. With regard to his work at the level, consider the following:
- Since 2006, only three 19-year-old hitters posted a 135 to 145 wRC+, a sub-20% strikeout rate, and a double-digit walk rate in Low-A (min 400 PA): Christian Yelich, Jesse Winker, and – of course – the lone player drafted out of Tennessee-based Independence High School, Robert Hassell III.
- For those counting at home: Yelich owns a career 120 wRC+ mark and Winker’s actually been better, at 132 wRC+.
Strong contact hitter who sprays the ball from foul line to foul line, shows an advanced feel for hitting, a terrific eye at the plate, and plus speed. He’s also showing the trademarks of above-average power as well. Like lefty-swinging CJ Abrams, Hassell showed no bias against southpaws as well. Throw in a solid glove and the ability to stay in center field, and Hassell – like Abrams – looks like a potential superstar.
Ceiling: 5.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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3. Luis Campusano, C
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55 | 50/55 | 30 | 50 | 45 | 55 |
Background: With their first six selections in the 2017 draft, the Padres honed in on high end prep talent, like a heat-seeking missile. They nabbed big time lefty MacKenzie Gore with the third overall pick, and followed that up by grabbing prep backstop Luis Campusano 36 selections later. The front office, essentially, threw out the old adage about the only prospect that’s more volatile than a young arm, is a young backstop. At the ripe ol’ age of 22, Campusano, a product Cross Creek High School, made the leap from High-A in 2019 all the way up to Triple-A. And he did so without so much as missing a beat. In 81 games with the El Paso Chihuahuas, the stocky backstop slugged .295/.365/.541 with 21 doubles, three triples, and 15 homeruns. His overall production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 22%. In addition, he appeared in 11 games with the Friars, batting a lowly .088/.184/.088 in 38 plate appearances.
Snippet from The 2020 Prospect Digest Handbook: His offensive firepower wasn’t the only development; his defense showed tremendous leaps forward as well.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only three 22-year-old posted a 117 to 127 wRC+ with a 19% to 21% strikeout rate and a 8% to 11% strikeout rate in Triple-A with one org. (min. 300 PA): Wladimir Balentien, Ian Stewart, and Luis Campusano.
A consistent producer at a premium position – which is ideal because Campusano owns a 45-grade glove and rarely throws any potential base thieves out. Campusano owns an above-average bat, power that may creep into above-average territory, and strong contact skills. The most impressive part of Campusano’s debut showing in Triple-A: after an absolutely atrocious start to the year, Campusano, who batted .215/.302/.323 over his first 25 games, slugged .332/.395/.645 over his remaining 56 contests. His production, during that period, topped the league average mark by a whopping 52%. In terms of a big league ceiling, think .280/.350/.490.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: Debuted in 2021
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4. MacKenzie Gore, LHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 55 | 45/50 | 55 | 40/45 | 55 |
Background: As minor league baseball returned to life after the COVID-imposed lost season, the eye test alone proved that there were unexpected down seasons, a few surprising ones, and – what it felt like – an uptick in pitching injuries. Most of which seemed predictable. One thing that no one outside of the Padres’ organization could have predicted, though, was MacKenzie Gore’s implosion in 2021. Not only the darling of one of baseball’s best farm systems, but he was one of the best – if not the best – pitching prospect in the entire game. The third overall pick in 2017, Gore dazzled during his 2019 campaign, reaching Double-A for five solid starts at only 20-years-old. He finished the year by averaging 12.0 strikeouts and 2.5 walks per nine innings to go along with a sparkling 1.69 ERA. Heading into last season Gore seemed poised – at least from the outside – to play a major role in the Padres’ push for a World Series title. Then he struggled in Triple-A, disappeared for two months in an effort to correct mechanical issues, and reappeared all the back in the rookie complex league. From there he would make three starts, get bounced up to High-A for a game, and then on to Double-A for two more starts. When the dust had finally settled on his first disappointing professional season – as well as amateur, likely – Gore had tallied just 50.1 innings, averaging 10.9 strikeouts and a whopping 5.0 walks per nine innings. He popped up in the Arizona Fall League as well, fanning eight and walking six in 11.1 innings.
Snippet from The 2020 Prospect Digest Handbook: He’s a bonafide, legitimate budding ace who likely ascends to true ace-dom. In terms of ceiling, think an in-his-prime Zack Greinke when he averaged 9.5 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 for the Royals in 2009.
Scouting Report: “Stuff-wise”, Gore looked like a reasonable facsimile of his 2019 body of work. His fastball looked more explosive than in years past, with nearly every hitter showing difficulty getting around on it. He didn’t have issues throwing his above-average curveball for strikes. But his final two offerings – a slider and changeup – didn’t look as crisp as in years past. During one of his final starts of the year, Gore struggled with the slider and couldn’t quite get a feel for it, but it did flash average at times – which is where I had in 2019. The changeup, previously his second plus offering, was downgraded to a 55. The repertoire was – and still is – very solid. The differentiator for Gore was his command and pitch-ability, both of which he struggled with in 2021. As he stands now, based on the late season game I scouted, he looks like a future #4, but there were glimpses of his former self that would shine through every now and then.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2022
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5. Eurbiel Angeles, IF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55/60 | 35/40 | 50 | 50 | 55 | 50 |
Background: An under-the-radar signing out of Higuey, Dominican Republic, during the summer of 2018. San Diego inked the teenage infielder to a relatively sizeable deal, handing him $300,000. Angeles made his debut in the foreign rookie league the following year, batting a solid .301/.359/.376 with nine doubles and a pair of triples to go along with 17 stolen bases. San Diego sent the then-19-year-old infielder to Low-A West to begin 2021. And Angeles came out firing on all cylinders. In 87 games with the Lake Elsinore Storm, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect slugged a scorching .343/.397/.461 with 22 doubles, six triples, and three homeruns. He also swiped 18 stolen bases in 24 attempts. His production in Low-A, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus, was 28% better than the league average mark. Angeles spent the last several weeks in High-A, hitting a solid .264/.369/.361 in 18 games. Angeles finished the year with an aggregate .329/.392/.445 slash line, belting out 26 doubles, six triples, and four dingers with 19 stolen bases.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only four players posted 123 to 133 wRC+ with a sub-17.0% strikeout rate and a walk rate between 7% and 9% in Low-A with one organization (min. 350 PA): Mike Moustakas, Jorge Polanco, Manuel Margot, and – of course – Euribiel Angeles.
- For those counting at home: Moustakas owns a career 99 wRC+; Polanco is sporting a 109 wRC+ mark; and Margot is checking in at 87.
Ignoring his first couple weeks of the season, Angeles slugged a scorching .372/.428/.490 over his final 71 games in Low-A, good enough for a 145 wRC+. Angeles take a high-contact approach at the plate and doesn’t project to hit for much power. But he’s willing to take a walk, shows a solid glove at shortstop, second or third bases, and can run. There’s some sneaky upside here.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023/2024
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6. Samuel Zavala, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 35/55 | 35/55 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Background: Thanks to a later birthday, Zavala hit the 2021 international free agency market and would make his debut a few months later as a 16-year-old. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound center fielder signed with San Diego for a hefty $1.2 million bonus. A native of Caracas, Venezuela, the twitchy teenager appeared in 55 games with the club’s Dominican Summer League, slugging an impressive .297/.400/.487 with 16 doubles, six triples, and three homeruns. He also swiped 11 bags, though it did take 18 total attempts. His overall production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by an extraordinary 44%.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- There were 190 qualified hitters in the Dominican Summer League in 2021. Zavala’s 144 wRC+ ranked as the 22nd best total in the league.
- Comparatively speaking, there were three other 16-year-old hitters in the DSL. Zavala’s 144 wRC+ paced the group. The runner-up, Baltimore’s Samuel Basallo, tallied only a 109 wRC+.
- Going all the way back to 2006, here’s the list of 16-year-old hitters to post a equal or top wRC+ mark than Zavala’s: Orlando Arcia (144 wRC+), Alexander Mojica (182 wRC+), Rayner Santana (170 wRC+), and Michael De La Cruz (148 wRC+).
Really good looking swing with some potential to develop above-average thunder in his bat. It’s short, compact, and quick to the plate. And despite his youth, Zavala showed a mature approach at the plate during his debut as well. There’s a lot of intrigue here. He could shoot up several lists within in the next 12 months.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: High
MLB ETA: 2025
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7. Jackson Merrill, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40/50 | 30/45 | 50 | 45/50 | 55 | 50 |
Background: Starring for Severna Park High School, Merrill was one of the few helium guys to float up to the opening night of the MLB Draft in 2021. Standing a wiry 6-foot-3 and 160 pounds heading into his junior campaign for the Maryland prep school, the lefty-swinging shortstop, according to a variety of reports, put on a ton of weight while focusing on adding strength during the offseason. The eventual first round pick, now tipping the scales as a more solid 195 pounds, batted a scorching .500 with 13 homeruns and 39 RBIs during his final amateur campaign. The Capital Gazette named Merrill the Maryland Player of the Year. San Diego signed him to a deal worth $1.8 million, saving the club nearly $800,000 based on the slot value for the 27th overall pick. Merrill appeared in 31 games in the Arizona Complex League affiliate, hitting .280/.339/.383 with seven doubles and a pair of homeruns.
Scouting Report: Per the usual, here’s my post-draft write-up:
“Really love the swing. It’s silky smooth with plenty of bat speed and enough natural loft to belt out 15 or so homeruns during his peak. Good opposite field power. Defensively, he’s fluid and should have no issues staying at the position long term. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Merrill’s defense grades out as above-average.”
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
MLB ETA: 2025
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8. James Wood, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 35/45 | 40/65 | 50/40 | 55 | 50 | 50 |
Background: After selecting prep shortstop Jackson Merrill at the end of the first round last July, the Padres took another high ceiling teenager with their second pick. A product of baseball hotbed IMG Academy, massive outfielder James Wood was chosen in the second round, 62nd overall, and signed for a hefty $2.6 million. After joining the organization, the 6-foot-7, 240-pound center fielder slugged his way through the Arizona Complex League, posting a Ruthian .372/.465/.535 with five doubles and three homeruns. Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, his production topped the league average mark by a whopping 66%.
Scouting Report: Another of the raw, high ceiling prospects that the organization seems to focus on in recent years. Like 2019 second round pick Joshua Mears, James Wood is absolutely loaded with loud tools. The club’s most recent second rounder owns some of the best power potential – and raw power – in the minor leagues. However, that comes at the price of gaudy strikeout numbers. Wood whiffed in nearly 32% of his plate appearances during his debut. Short compact swing, solid bat speed, but Wood seems to be susceptible to offspeed low and away. If he can chew several percentage points off of his whiff rate, Wood has the potential to be a legitimate middle-of-the-order thumper.
Ceiling: 1.5- to 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2025
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9. Eguy Rosario, IF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 45 | 60 | 50 | 45 | 45 |
Background: Sometimes it just takes a while for a prospect to get going. Rosario, one of the longest tenured prospects in the San Diego system, signed all the way back at the end of the 2015 summer. Almost immediately the diminutive infielder made a fantastic impression; he slugged a scorching .346/.423/.472 in 60 games during his debut, most of which was spent in the foreign rookie league. The club pushed the then-17-year-old up to the Midwest League to begin the 2017, but after hitting a disappointing .206/.296/.278 through 50 games, he was demoted back down to the Arizona Summer League where he regained his stroke. Undeterred by the lack of success in Low-A, the front office – inexplicably – pushed Rosario straight up to High-A to begin 2018. And it went as one would expect – poorly. He batted .239/.307/.363. Unsurprisingly, Rosario found himself back in High-A for the 2019 season. This time, though, the results were significantly improved: .278/.331/.412. Last year, with the return of minor league action, Rosario put together his finest professional season since his debut – and it came at the most important level, Double-A. In 114 games with San Antonio, he slugged .281/.360/.455 with 31 doubles, three triples, and 12 homeruns. He also swiped 30 bags in 44 attempts. Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, his production topped the league average mark by 18%.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only four 21-year-old hitters met the following criteria in Double-A with one organization (min. 350 PA): 113 to 123 wRC+, 9% to 11% walk rate, and a strikeout rate between 21% and 24%. Those four hitters: Nick Gordon, Ji-hwan Bae, Bobby Bradley, and Eguy Rosario.
Like a lot of prospects last season – especially in the San Diego system – Rosario got off to slow start as he made the leap up to Double-A; he batted .180/.254/.246 over his first 17 games, but slugged .298/.378/.490 the remainder of the year. The Dominican-born infielder is a bit of a vagabond, spending time at second and third bases, and shortstop. The glove’s – typically – been below average and last season was no different. Rosario’s only listed at 5-foot-9 and 150-pounds, but he’s rock solid and maxed out physically. Strong lower half. Impressive bat speed. Last season, he shaved off several percentage points on his groundball rate and that coincided with a career best power surge. Low end starting material, unless the hit tool develops better than expected. Very good utility guy, though.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2022
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10. Victor Acosta, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40/50 | 40/45 | 60 | 50 | 45/50 | 50 |
Background: Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the 19th overall prospect on the international market during 2020. San Diego ponied up a sizeable bonus – $1.8 million, to be exact – to sign the 5-foot-11, 170-pound middle infielder in early 2021. Hailing from El Limon, Dominican Republic, Acosta spent the last season making his professional debut with the organization’s foreign rookie league affiliate. In 56 games, the teenage shortstop batted a respectable .285/.431/.484 with 12 doubles, five triples, and five homeruns. He also swiped 26 bags in 33 total attempts. Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, his overall production topped the league average threshold by a whopping 53% – the 13th best total among all qualified bats in the league that summer.
Scouting Report: Only four 17-year-old hitters topped Acosta’s 153 wRC+ total in the Dominican Summer League last season: Cubs’ Pedro Ramirez (155 wRC+), teammate Daniel Montesino (160 wRC+), Tigers’ Cristian Santana (161 wRC+), and Reds’ Carlos Jorge (174 wRC+). Showcased in one of the better produced free agent videos I’ve ever seen, Acosta is long and projectable. He shows a natural feel for hitting, though – mechanically speaking – there’s work to be done. His weight transfer, prior to signing, was off. He was hitting purely off of his front foot and not utilizing his lower half at all from the left side. Good arm strength. Above-average or better speed. He’ll shoot balls from gap-to-gap and should develop 15 or so homerun thump.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: High
MLB ETA: 2025
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All statistics were provided via the following website: Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, TheBaseballCube, BaseballProspectus, and ClayDavenport.com
