3 Padres Make 2014 Baseball Prospectus Prospect List

Baseball Prospectus just released it’s 2014 Top Prospect list, with the Padres featuring 3 players cracking their top 100.  C Austin Hedges (18th), RHP Matt Wisler (47th), and LHP Max Fried (55th).

• AUSTIN HEDGES:  The 21 year old right hand hitting catcher was ranked 19th last year, and jumped up a notch after another solid season with the glove and the bat.  He was also recently ranked 24th in MLB.com’s prospect list.  When he was take in the 2nd round out of high school in the 2011 draft he was already considered the top defensive catching prospect in the entire draft class.  In 2+ years of pro ball, he’s done nothing but prove those accolades to be correct.  Having spent a lot of time the last two seasons under the tutelage of former Padres special assistant and now manager of the Detroit Tigers, Brad Ausmus, Hedges is  ranked by almost every publication in the country as the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues.  “He’s getting really close just to, mechanically, catching in the big leagues,” said Padres manager Bud Black, who saw Hedges last fall in the Arizona Fall League. “He’s checking off some boxes.”  The question mark on Hedges when drafted was his bat, but that has been coming a long as well.  He’s posted  .268 career avg. so far with15 HR’s, a .337 OBP, and .758 OPS (about average by MLB standards), showing some 2B’s power.  What I’ve heard is that while he may get challenged with the bat early at each level he seems to be able to make the adjustments which is hugely important.  What I’ve seen, in admittedly limited workouts and playing time during last year’s MLB spring training, is an athletic and poised receiver who oozes confidence behind the dish.  He reacted with relaxed instinct, and received the ball firmly yet smoothly.  Most impressive was the X factor, having a presence about him that can instill confidence in a staff, and as he fine tunes his game calling can be a true commander on the field.  He’s a guy that I would have wanted to throw to, and from all reports is maturing into that leader you want back there when the game is on the line.  I’m looking forward to seeing him get more playing time this spring, before he likely starts the season at AA San Antonio.
• MATT WISLER:  At 21 right hander had a breakout season last year starting in Lake Elsinore before being moved up to San Antonio, finishing 10-6 with a 2.78 between the two clubs.  He went relatively unnoticed his first couple of pro seasons, but was being talked about by the Pads brass as THE most interesting pitching prospect early last season, well before his impressive numbers started to get publicized.  He features a 93-95 MPH fastball, has a two seamer, curve ,slider, and change up .  He reportedly has excellent command of the FB to both sides, but really does a great job of keeping hitters off balance using the slow CB and SL, with the CH developing.  Coaches and scouts also rave about his makeup, and acumen.  He will be in his first Big League camp this spring, and while he will get a serious look he will likely start in the minors to get more seasoning, but don’t be at all surprised to see him on the mound at Petco sometime during 2014.
• MAX FRIED: The 20 year old Southpaw went to Harvard-Westlake H.S. (my alma mater) so he must be a stud!  The Pads #1 pick in the 2012 draft continues to get high praises from outside scouts and publications, and was ranked the 3rd best overall left handed pitching prospect by Baseball Prospectus, as well as on MLB.com’s list of prospects.  FB in the low 90’s that can go to mid 90’s at times, CB, CH.  He helped the Fort Wayne Tin Caps reach the playoffs last season, won a playoff start, and went 6-7 with a 3.49 ERA, and 1.34 WHIP on the season.   Easy delivery that induces a lot of ground balls, that has some inconsistencies still at times as you would expect from a young pitcher.   He is likely penciled in to start the season at Lake Elsinore.

Looking forward to seeing Hedges and Wisler show their stuff in spring training, and all three of these players continue their climb towards being impact MLB players for the Pads.

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