San Antonio prospects impressing

[jacs]

By Tom Krasovic / UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

The Padres' Double-A club in San Antonio is creating strong impressions.

“They have six or seven players who will reach the big leagues,” said an American League scout. “It's the most prospects I've seen on one team this year.”

The scout projected as future major leaguers second baseman Matt Antonelli, third baseman Chase Headley, catcher Nick Hundley, outfielders Will Venable and Chad Huffman and pitchers Wade Leblanc, Cesar Ramos and Josh Geer.

A National League scout said Hundley, who had an excessive number of passed balls and errors in the low minors, is among the best three catching prospects he has seen this year, but needs to focus better on defense in games when his bat fails.

Evaluations vary on Will Inman, the Double-A pitcher obtained from the Brewers in the Scott Linebrink trade. Three scouts not involved in the trade said Inman, 20, will reach the majors. Two viewed him as a future No. 4 starter. Another projected him as “at best, a No. 5 on a second-division club.”

Padres analysts believe a minor league pitcher's ability to suppress home runs is a key indicator. Joe Thatcher, the left-hander obtained from the Brewers and promoted into the Padres' bullpen, hadn't allowed a home run this year in either Double-A or the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Commenting on the three minor league pitchers the Padres got for Linebrink, a major league executive said, “We liked all three, but they graded better statistically than the scouting report.”

The scout said Padres rookie Kevin Cameron, drafted out of Minnesota's system in December, also graded better statistically than he did scouting-wise – but Cameron developed a cut fastball that has handcuffed big leaguers.

Padres farm overseer Grady Fuson said Matt Bush's second arm ailment, the elbow flareup that shut him down last week, isn't serious and that Bush should pitch again this summer. Thwarted earlier this month by a shoulder ailment, Bush last pitched July 5.

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[padrefanforever]

Isn't it nice to read lots of positives about this teams FARM system...........my god have we really ever had that here.........it's been so long I can't remember ever being this excited about this many players all at the sametime in our system.........one or two maybe......but we have so many guys all with huge potential......very good time to be a Friars fan