By Padman 

Not sure how to be the first one to leave a comment, but figured I would post what I’ve been finding on these guys.  (Also thank you Mr. DePodesta for the shout out on your site).

ed. note: to be the first to comment on a post, just click on the post title and then the comment section will appear at the bottom. I’m not sure why there isn’t a comment link when there are no comments, but I don’t know how to fix it. What did DePodesta say on his site? Or are you talking about the link on the sidebar? Either way, yes, thanks Paul … and thanks for the post, Padman!

Most info from SaberScouting and DePo’s blog.

Adis Portillo-  From everything I’m reading Adis is one of the biggest gambles the Padres have ever taken.  Every scouting site I’m seeing says that he has an average MLB fastball and change with a slightly below average curve.  (Of course, a 16 year old having 2 MLB ready pitches is a really good thing).  However his big frame, hands, feet, and fingers seem to indicate that he will grow and can easily be the next Santana or Pedro.  The downside…well he’s 16, and is really unpolished.  He lacks steady control, and if he starts to get hit he looses it.  He could easily be a bust who never makes it higher than Fort Wayne.  Of course, everyone in the front office is hoping he will be the former (MLB ace) and not the latter (huge bust), but only time will tell.  Because of how raw he is, don’t expect to see him above Eugene before 2011 (probably this year and next year he will be in DSL, maybe Rookie League in Peoria, 2010 probably in Eugene… if he does find his control in the next year or so he could find himself in Elsinore or San Antonio by 2011).

Alvaro Aristy, SS, Dominican Republic-  Basically he is what everyone is saying he is.  A great defensive SS.  In terms of defensive ability, he could easily be a gold glove major leaguer, with great range, speed, and a great arm that would automatically put him to the top (defensively) for  SS in the Padres system and probably 2nd (behind Galvez) as a SS overall (as much as I like Cumberland, his defense screams position change).  However, he is not a heavy hitter, which could  be his biggest detractor from getting to the majors.  In terms of offense and defense scouts have him linked him to Brewers SS Alcides Escobar.

Escobar was signed to a pretty hefty contract by the Brewers as a 16 year old in 2003.  5 years later he finds himself in AA.  His stats .331/.359/.446/.805.  363 AB, 13 2B,4 3B, 7 HR, 22 SB, 18 BB, 55 K. (remember AA is also pitcher friendly).  Last year he hit .306/.331/.366/.697 between High A and AA.  So, yes, steady improvement. His defensive ability alone will probably get him off the island and to Peoria next year (since they aren’t eligible to play in the US until next year).  But like Escobar, don’t expect to see him in a Padres uni for 6 years.  That might seem like a long way away but he would be 22 in 6 years, which would still put him younger than most other MLB players.  If he progresses like Escobar has than he might meet DePo’s hopes (that hes similar to Tony Fernandez).

6. Luis Domoromo, OF, Venezuela- SaberScouting:

Domoromo is a change of pace from the Rodriguez’s, as more of a baseball player, with a bat teams believe in to varying degrees, but projects for more of a solid-average everyday profile and will likely end up at a corner outfield position.

From what I’m reading, they seem to differ slightly from what DePo says.  This guy has a strong arm (like Paul said), but unlike most players from the Dominican, he doesn’t have the athletic ability to make it in CF and will be moved to a corner.  Will have tremendous power, but most see that most of his power is from pulling the ball.  This doesn’t mean that he doesn’t hit the ball to all fields, but that most of his power all goes to RF.  His biggest problem right now is probably turning BP skills into game situations, like the guys at SaberScouting say.  During BP he might as well be Vlad, but in the game…well he’s nothing special (again he’s only 16).  Unlike Portillo, most scouts see him as a low risk to be an everyday MLB player.  Stardom?  Probably not.  But a guy with tremendous power, and a big strong arm would be a welcome fit to the Padres.  He will probably make his way over to the Rookie League in 2010 (when he’s 18), but you might see him in the AFL or Instructional league this upcoming year (as Galvez was last year).

Elvin Tavarez -  Can’t find much outside of ESPN and DePodesta’s blog.  Most see him as a very unpolished player with  a plus curveball (something the Padres love).   Average fastball that could easily end up above average.  If does improve his control he could easily end up as a steal for the Padres.  Look for him to take the same route (time frame) as Portillo.

Corey Adamson- Again nothing outside of DePo and ESPN.  However look for him to take a quicker path to the states, as he’s not expected to go to the DSL.  He will probably be in rookie league next year (and possibly 2010, but if he excells in Rookie could make it to Eugene/Fort Wayne in 2010)

Also the Padres signed RHP Pedro Martinez for $150,000.  I cant find anything on him outside of the Padres signing him for $150,000 and that he is another 16 year old from the Dominican.

One thing I’d like to point out though, which might be a big step in the right direction, is that players from the Dominican aren’t usually as concerned with money and playing for storied franchises as they are with being confortable.  Take Inoa who was offered nearly a million less by the A’s, than a few other franchises (Reds being one).  But he signed for 4.25 mil from the A’s because of the familiarity with the A’s.  Why?  Because he was working out in their training facility for a while and knows their staff well.  That alone gave the A’s an infinite advantage over other teams.  And that’s what the Padres are trying to do with their new facility.

Happy 4th of July, everyone.