San Diego Padres: 6 Players Who Are Part of Friars' Future

Times will be had, and memories will be made, it's the way of the trade. But in the end, it's a business, and like the Donald says, “You’re fired!”

Baseball is a cut-throat business, and if you're sitting at the table and bringing nothing to it, then a once promising career may be stifled before it begins.

Or, in the case of the San Diego Padres, you risk the present in exchange for the future. Surrendering talent for prospects, a deal breaker to most, or in San Diego's case, the beginning of a foundation for an organization that has been without for so long.

It's no lie; the San Diego Padres farm system is stockpiled with talent. After sitting in the lot for a few years, the talent is now groomed and polished, and ready to take the next step into the big show.

The accumulation of prospects will be heavily looked upon, to elevate the negative connotation that encircles the Padres as they look to return to NL West contention and playoff form once again.

Yonder Alonso

Anthony Rizzo and his sweeping swing wasn't quite cutting it for the Padres future. Enter: Yonder Alonso.

With the likes of Jed Hoyer teaming up with friend, Theo Epstein, in Wrigleyville, he also brought over his protege, Rizzo.

That left the door open, for former Cincinnati Reds backup, Alonso, to man the position in San Diego.

With shoes to fill, as the labeled replacement for Adrian Gonzalez, in his first full season as an everyday starter, Alonso has put together a reasonable start.

He currently leads the team in the batting average column, with a respective .280 clip.

With the appropriate people surrounding him in the lineup, Alonso has the capability to transcend his peers, which is why he will remain a staple in the Padres long-term future.

At 6'2'' and 240 lbs, Alonso will hopefully develop into the star that they hope he becomes.

Casey Kelly

The most athletically gifted two-way talent in the 2008 draft was Casey Kelly. A converted pitcher, Kelly was the quarterback of the defense on the diamond, holding down the groundwork at shortstop for the better half of his career.

The potential he possesses, from his physical presence to his above-average command, leaves Kelly's ceiling high in the sky.

Entertaining his second stint in Double-A, Kelly has strengthened his mound presence. His fast ball sits around low to mid range, and his curve slides in at a clip of 78-80 mph. His pitching command and ability to control the strike zone have Kelly sitting MLB ready.

Leaving the only question, when will Buddy and the boys give him a ring?

ETA: 2013

Rymer Liriano

Raw talent and versatility. Game changer.

His plate discipline, and ability to create opportunities for himself on the basepath, has transcended him above his competition, and have left Liriano labeled as a consistent threat.

Rymer Liriano embodies the word baseball player to a tee, and will work himself as a fixture in the lineup card for the Padres organization. 

The recently selected 2011 Topps Player of the Year for the Midwest League, Liriano is considered by many to be the most exciting and best overall player in the Padres' talented system. There is a lot of hype surrounding this kid.

His uncharted power and bat speed have sent his numbers through the roof. With a little more nurturing and experience in the system below, will only do wonders for this kid.

ETA: 2013

Yasmani Grandal

The Yasmani Grandal era appears to be rolling into full effect, as the Padres recalled him from Triple-A Tucson on June 1st, after designating starting pitcher Jeff Suppan for assignment.

Nick Hundley and Jon Baker currently have the reigns behind the dish, but their predecessor now sits, salivating at the chance to show his worth. One interruption that may deter Grandal from stepping into the lead role, is the long term contract negotiations with Hundley.

Nonetheless, he is on the squad, and ready to go to work.

The Padres reeled in Grandal as part of the Reds trade, that sent Mat Latos to Cincinnati.

The switch-hitting catcher has shown explosiveness from both sides of the plate, and behind the plate, relying heavily on the accuracy and strength behind his slingshot of an arm.

In his stint with the Tucson Padres, Grandal knocked in 23 RBI to match his .317 batting average in just 34 games. Numbers that will earn you playing time.

The Padres hope his bat can carry over to the major leagues, as they hope he becomes a solidified piece to the puzzle.

Jedd Gyorko

The Padres have been the bottom feeders of their division, and quite frankly, the league for a better part of the last few seasons. The answer: lack of power hitting depth in the lineup.

Time and time again, the Padres find themselves in the bottom of every offensive category.

Jedd Gyorko, may not have the elite framework for his position, or above-average speed, but his ability to spray the ball from left field to right field, attracted the attention of the Padres.

In his first year in the Minors, Gyorko lead the league in hits, and placed runner-up in RBI. Now a member of the Tucson Padres, only time will tell before he gets the highly anticipated call.

If the numbers add up correctly, Gyorko should flourish at PETCO, lifting long balls from the Western Metal Supply Co. building all the way over to the PETCO porch in right.

Although on the DL, James Darnell, another highly-touted prospect, is the front-runner for holding down the third base job. However, if Gyorko keeps producing at this rate in the minors, it will be hard to say no to his bat.

ETA: 2013

Cory Spangenburg

There is nobody that gets after it better than Cory Spangenburg.

Hot out off the press, Spangenburg left no room for discussion of whether he was going to sign on the dotted line or not.

He headed straight to Single-A where he acclimated himself flawlessly. That hard-nosed mentality warranted him a staggering 330 plate appearances while many of his peers were still conversing.

Spangenburg has climbed the farm system ranks at a record pace, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him sitting in Double-A this season.

The Padres have lacked a solidified presence at the second base position since Mark Loretta. Spangenburg seems like the likely candidate to take ownership of the position, since Logan Forsythe seems to butt heads with the injury bug all too often.

ETA: 2014