Padres Prospect Using AFL As A Springboard To San Diego

The San Diego Padres don’t have a lot of major league-ready prospects, but they’re hoping right-handed reliever Francis Pena is the exception. According to Sam Dykstra of MLB.com, Pena is pitching so well, for Peoria in the Arizona Fall League that his next destination could well be Petco Park. 

The reliever didn’t give up an earned run in his seven games in the AFL, and it wasn’t until his eighth outing on Tuesday vs. Salt River that he finally had a tough outing and allowed three runs, with two being earned. Pena has struck out eight of his 40 batters faced for a 20 percent K rate, and he’s walked only two over 10-1/3 innings.

Pena’s age is also part of this pitching equation. He’s 25, and Pena rebounded from a poor performance in the AFL last year to have some success in the upper levels of the minors. He’s still been up and down a lot, but it’s his stuff that generates excitement, per Dykstra. 

The right-hander has touched 99.3 mph with his sinker with Peoria this fall, and only two AFL hurlers have thrown that pitch harder this year. Peña has averaged 7.2 feet of extension in Arizona, which is well above average, and he brings deception to the table as has his back to the hitter at the start of his delivery. That’s a swing-and-miss combination, and it’s getting noticed. 

Pena also had a high ground-ball rate at Double-A San Antonio, and he’s been able to get weak contact as well. 

A lot of this aligns with the pattern of the Padres bullpen and the numbers they look for, according to Dykstra. The Padres may let Adrian Morejon go in free agency, which will create a huge hole in the back end. 

The writer is one of many who focuses on advanced metrics, which is understandable given how excellent Pena’s are. Dykstra also noted that his are a hard combination to find in the modern game, and that will likely get him a look in spring training, especally if that bullpen hole comes to fruition. 

Pena was left unprotected in last year’s Rule 5 draft, and he wasn’t selected, but that won’t be a concern this year. The lockout starts in less than a month, so that event almost certainly won’t happen this year, and that could also play in Pena’s favor if he can come to camp and have a strong spring training.