San Diego Padres Rule 5 Draft Picks

San Diego Padres Prospects

It was a successful Thursday morning for general manager A.J. Preller and the San Diego Padres, during the Rule 5 Draft, the team, walked away with short stop Allen Cordoba from the Johnson City Cardinals, as well as right hander Miguel Diaz, who was selected earlier Thursday morning by the Minnesota Twins from the Milwaukee Brewers. The Friar’s manager Preller, making a trade with the Reds for catcher Luis Torrens who was originally picked up by Cincinnati from the Yankees.

In addition the Padres selected the Valhalla High School graduate and right handed pitcher Trevor Frank who was selected for the Triple-A Phase of the Rule 5 draft from the Indians.

The Padres look to be bringing in the young guns with Cordoba, Diaz, and Torrens all under the age of 22, and all three ranked among MLB.com’s top 30 prospects.  

The 25-year old El Cajon native, Frank, not much older  finished the 2016 season with a 2.47 ERA allowing 43 strike outs in 43 and 2/3 innings pitched.

The 20-year old Torren missed the 2015 season with a torn labrunm in his shoulder; However when healthy the catcher is a force to be reckoned with. During his time with the Charleston Riverdogs and Staten Island Yankees he had a combined total of 15 runs scored in 52 games with 10 doubles and two home runs.

As for the 21- year old, Cordoba, he has not played above the rookie level yet. However his numbers prove that may not be the case for long.  Cordoba had 71 hits, 18 RBI’s and 11 steals during his 2016 season.

The 22-year old Diaz has some impressive numbers as well; he has a mid-90’s fastball and finished the 2016 season for Class-A Wisconsin with 3.17 ERA, and 91 strikeouts in 94 2/3 innings. In addition during the 2016 season he had 83 hits, 49 runs and 7 homeruns.

Could these four players be the difference between a winning 2017 season or another 94 losing season for the Padres? Only time will tell but the future looks bright for the new young prospects.

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