Four San Diego Padres Prospects named to AFL Fall Stars Game
By Joel Burdeos
San Diego, CA- Four San Diego Padres prospects have been selected to play alongside some of the best prospects in the game in Saturday’s Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game. You can watch the game Saturday at 5 p.m. on the MLB Network.
According to MLB.com, last years AFL Fall Stars Game had 23 players who played this season in the Major Leagues.
Here are the four Padres that have been selected to play in the AFL Fall Stars Game.
Peterson began the season in Triple-A El Paso and was called up to the Padres multiple times last season. Peterson has always been a solid hitter in the minor leagues, but struggled at the plate during his time with the Padres last season. Padres are hoping Peterson can improve his consistency at the plate, as he provides solid defense at shortstop, second and third base, but he will need to improve his if he wants to make the Padres opening day roster next season.
Renfroe like Trea Truner is expected to be playing in Petco Park in the next few years. Renfroe was drafted by the Padres with the 13th overall pick in the 2013 Draft and had an impressive season. Renfroe played in the Futures All Star Game and batted .267 with 21 homeruns and 75 RBI’s between High-A Lake Elsinore and Double A San Antonio.
Tayron Guerrero, 23, has been with the Padres since signing with the team out of Colombia as a non-drafted free agent in 2009. Guerrero was dominant out of the bullpen with a 1.45 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 49.2 innings between Low-A Fort Wayne and High-A Lake Elsinore.
Guerrero is 6’7 with a fastball that consistently hits 100 mph, but has spent the past four seasons in Rookie Ball and Low-Single A developing his command before breaking out this season. If Guerrero can continue to polish command of his fastball and develop decent off-speed, he could be a future reliever or closer in the Padres bullpen.
Burch Smith was out for most of last season due to a forearm strain. Smith made his Major League debut in 2013 and has an electric fastball, but lacks solid off-speed pitches to be a Major League starter. Smith still has the potential to be a solid reliever for the Padres next season.