Padres MiLB August 25, Players of the Day

Ground-rules: you won’t see a too-old-for-his-league non-prospect get an award. The award may not go to the best performance of the previous night, but what I deem the most significant performance of the night…

Minor League Hitter of the Day

Kyle Blanks (AA): 5-6, 2 2B, HR, 2 R, 9 RBI, BB

Also-rans

Jaff Decker (Rookie): 3-4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
Jeudy Valdez (SS): 3-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, SO
Luis Durango (High-A): 3-5, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, SO, SF
Cedric Hunter (High-A): 2-4, 2B, R, BB
Mitch Canham (High-A): 4-5, R, 2 RBI
Jose Lobaton (AA): 3-4, 2 HR, 4 R, 3 RBI, BB

Minor League Pitcher(s) of the Day

Pablo Menchaca (SS): 4.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 0 HR
Cory Luebke (Low-A): 7.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR
Jackson Quezada (Low-A): 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR

Other Commentary

Over the last 11 games, Kyle Blanks has hit .465 with 5 doubles and 4 home runs with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts, scored 7 runs and driven in 21. Last week, Baseball America had Blanks at the top of their Prospect HotSheet, with the way he continues to mash, he should make a repeat appearance.

The Padres continue to insist that Blanks is strictly a first baseman, however Blanks is surprisingly athletic and I believe he should be given the opportunity to try LF.

Overall Blanks is hitting .318/.397/.503. In the first two months of the season Blanks slugged .438 and .363 respectively. Since then he has slugged .564 or better each month. Blanks is easily a top-5 prospect in the Padres system. The question is whether he can move Adrian off first base (not likely), play an outfield position (we don’t know yet), or if he is merely trade-bait.