2017 Chihuahuas Roster Could Be Filled with Prospects and Vets

Spring Training is underway in Major League Baseball and the San Diego Padres have added a mix of veterans and young prospects to their roster. Although it is too early to predict which players will end up in El Paso in April, here is my best guess as to six players Chihuahuas fans will be seeing this upcoming season.

RHP Zach Lee at one time was a top pitching prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers system. However, his stuff did not develop into a frontline starter, and he was dealt to Seattle at the trading deadline last season. The Padres claimed him on waivers and the 25-year old still profiles as a back-end MLB starting pitcher.

RHP Craig Stammen pitched with the Washington Nationals from 2009-2015 and the 32-year old could be a nice veteran anchor to the Chihuahuas starting rotation in 2017.

SS Jose Rondon is in the mix for the Padres' starting job, but the 22-year old has only had 82 plate appearances at Triple-A. The Venezuelan native is a glove-first shortstop, but he is a career .290 hitter in the minors. Rondon does not possess much power (only 12 career home runs), but that could change in the hitter-friendly PCL.

SS Javier Guerra was supposed to be the Padres' shortstop of the future. In fact, he was the key player in the Craig Kimbrel trade that also sent Manny Margot and Carlos Asuaje from Boston to San Diego. However, Guerra bombed out last season in the California League, and that sent his prospect status falling. He might start 2017 back in High-A, but if he hits like he did in 2015, do not be surprised if the 21-year old gets a chance in El Paso before September.

OF Collin Cowgill has bounced around five big league clubs since 2011, but the 30-year old outfielder would give the Chihuahuas a solid glove and veteran presence in the clubhouse. He is a career .284 hitter in nine Minor League seasons.

OF Franchy Cordero was once a shortstop prospect in the Padres system before being moved to outfield. The 22-year old hit 11 home runs between stops in Lake Elsinore and San Antonio, and he played four games for the Chihuahuas last season. However, he is not likely to get to San Diego anytime soon, since the Padres have a stacked outfield with guys like Margot, Hunter Renfroe,
Alex Dickerson, and Travis Jankowski. In fact, Jabari Blash might also be back in El Paso to start the season,