San Diego Padres: Power Ranking the Franchise's Top 7 Prospects

Trading away young talent in exchange for past-their-prime veterans has become the staple offseason tactic employed year after year by the San Diego Padres.

However, with all of the rearranging of players that has gone on beneath the major league level, suddenly star-studded prospects have begun to bloom.

With the departures of ace pitchers and bullpen relief in Mat Latos, Heath Bell and Mike Adams, the increasing production of young talent is at an all-time high, and it's arguably one of the deepest with regard to talent and athleticism.

The San Diego Padres have good reason to be optimistic about what lies ahead.

The level of any future success for rebuilding organizations can be measured by the talent in their respective farm systems. And no team understands the value of their youth better than the Padres.

In no particular order, I have laid out what I consider to be the San Diego Padres' top seven prospects and future household names. The names will be unfamiliar to you at first, but rest assured, they will become second nature in a matter of time.

This young group of talent will ultimately provide the foundation for the future of the Padres to consistently contend in the NL West.

Joseph Wieland

Possessing extensive pitching depth, the Padres added far more extensive talent when they acquired Joe Wieland from the Texas Rangers via the Mike Adams trade.

There is no such thing as too much pitching. A definitive trade and win for the Padres indeed.

Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 2008 draft, Joe Wieland excelled out of the gate. Wieland put up prolific numbers in his Arizona Rookie League debut with a 1.44 ERA to go along with eight strikeouts and a walk in 44 innings of work.

His steady success and effectiveness in turning things around from his struggling season in 2010 can be explained by his consistent approach on and off the field. Maintaining a strict diet of ball control and keeping hitters off balance has been his strong point, one that the Padres will seek to utilize in their rotation. 

In 2011, Wieland capped off the season with a 2.10 ERA and an emphatic 96 strikeouts and four walks in 86 innings. His increasing improvement and development are not all that surprising, prompting the trade.

He capped off his stellar year with a performance on July 29th that was second to none, constructing a nine-inning no-hitter while sending seven back to the bench in disarray. 

Wieland brings with him a lengthy 6'3'' presence combined atop a commanding fastball in the top tier of 93-94 mph. This 22-year-old "sleeper" has the potential to move up the ranks in a hurry and excel with the San Diego Padres. 

With the recent spike in his velocity, scouts have now projected him to launch into a possible locked role in the No. 2-3 spot in the starting pitching rotation.

Jedd Gyorko

Coming off a successful collegiate career at West Virginia, the Padres believe they have something in the works with converted third baseman Jedd Gyorko.

In just his second year out of collegiate ball, Gyorko's winning ways have transferred to the minor league system, steadily moving him up the ladder. All signs point to the increasing numbers he puts up, accentuating his coveted batting average.  

However, it is his defensive immobility that is overshadowed by his offensive prowess. Gyorko's physical frame and lack of range led the coaching staff to alter his defensive perception, moving him from closer down the line.

Just another hit-for-average Sean Burroughs-esque third baseman? Not exactly.

Expect Gyorko to begin the year in Double-A ball, where his power production will vehemently be put to test. Remember, it is his bat that will determine the amount of success he will have. 

Looking forward, the fact that Petco Park will be his future home does raise a lot of speculation.

X-factor: James Darnell. Gyorko currently sits behind prospect James Darnell on the depth chart. However, with a vigorous work ethic, Gyorko is bound to find himself in a San Diego Padres uniform.

What position? Now that I cannot definitively answer.

It is safe to say that the hot corner for the Padres will not be cooling off any time soon.

Anthony Rizzo

It is either now or never, and for the sake of Anthony Rizzo as a San Diego Padre, it has to be now.

Rizzo possesses all of the qualities and characteristics you look for in a major league first baseman. At 6'3'' and 220 pounds, Rizzo was the proposed solution to fulfill the Padres' homegrown namesake of one Adrian Gonzalez.

The ability he has to spray the ball across the field remains an essential offensive approach when Petco Park is your home ballpark.

Numbers don't lie.

Rizzo's average and slugging percentage were out of this world in Triple-A Tucson. However, after contesting over 100 plate appearances in his short major league stint with the Padres, his average was a dismal .184, an entire 180-degree turn from the success he achieved in Tucson.

X-factor: Better known as the product of the "Adrian Gonzalez effect," his presence in Triple-A Tucson has yet to convert to the major league level. Now, with the recent offseason acquisition of the Cincinnati Reds' Yonder Alonso, there is stiff competition to be had come Spring Training. 

Will Rizzo be traded? An inquiry that's encircling the brains behind the Padres coaching staff, as a plethora of teams could use a physical presence both at the bag and in the box.

Casey Kelly

If there is one player in the making that every Padres fan needs to know, it's Casey Kelly. 

Kelly is said to be the most prolific player received from the Adrian Gonzalez trade a season ago.

The most athletically gifted two-way talent in the 2008 draft was Casey Kelly. After a short time spent covering the ground work of the shortstop position, Kelly transitioned to a new domain. It was his immediate success that warranted him the permanent position on the mound.

Kelly's subtle yet distinct attributes began turning heads.

Most notably is his ability to control the strike zone effectively and efficiently coming from three drastically varying speeds.

A low-to-mid-range fastball topping out at 92 mph, followed by a knee-buckling 12-to-6 curve and a bottom-falling change. His deception is uncharted.

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

X-factor: Experience. For a player who spent his latter years as a middle infielder and is now taking the duties to become a pitcher, his mound experience is lacking. At times, Kelly has signs of greatness and then reverts to his old ways when he gets tired. From mechanically sound to extremely hittable.

Throwing strikes, not a problem. Fooling the batters, big problem. His inconsistency in mixing up his array of pitches has given hitters the opportunity to predict the following pitch.

Despite his run-ins on the mound, the coaching staff and front office of the Padres love what they have in Casey Kelly.

Look for Kelly to make his major league debut come mid-season.

Rymer Liriano

A native of the Dominican Republic, this right-handed slugger knows how to compete, and compete at a high level of play.

The highly touted 20-year-old outfielder is ranked among Midwest League leaders in nearly every offensive category. The "pop" in the Padres' lineup may have been found in this future star.

On the basepath, Liriano racked up 66 stolen bases this season, the third most in baseball. The Padres lack in the category of aggressiveness and scrappy play.

Their margin for error greatly diminishes every time the Padres do not create opportunities for themselves. Maybin can't do it all. It's an appealing statistic, and one the Padres will seek to utilize.

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.

With the recent addition of Carlos Quentin down the left field line and Will Venable in right, the table appears to be set in the outfield.

Or does it?

If he can produce at will, do not be surprised if the outfield rearranges itself in a late-season push, by the placement of Liriano into the starting role in right field.

X-factor: His competitive ability to create chances for himself by controlling the strike zone, enabling him to be aggressive on the basepath. 

Robert Erlin

"You can hang a star on that one, because that baby is out of here."  —Padres radio announcer, Jerry Coleman.

The final addition sent over from the Mike Adams package was the stellar southpaw, Robert Erlin. 

His consistent progression and development into the major league role is moving at a considerable pace. A projected mid-range starter in the pitching rotation, Robbie Erlin's future is as bright as anyone's, all thanks to the departure of Mat Latos.

Erlin's decisive control and demand of the strike zone are second to none. However, the worry behind this southpaw is his height and his ability to give up the long fly balls. Not the prototypical stature, like Casey Kelly, but he makes up for it with his ability to pinpoint the strike zone and flashes of raw athleticism.

Although he may be ready for the big show now, the Padres do not want to tarnish his confidence by throwing him into the mix prematurely.

A steady year in 2012, look for Erlin to be holding down a starting role in 2013.

X-factor: Ideal mechanics, a consistent repertoire and exceptional arm.

Robbie Erlin has a promising future ahead of him. If he can combine his competitive streak with his premiere attributes, there will be no way of stopping him from making the roster sooner rather than later.   

Cory Spangenburg

With the 10th overall selection in the year's recent draft, the Padres nabbed infielder Cory Spangenburg out of Indian River State Junior College. The Padres shied away from another collegiate pitcher and went after versatility and aggressiveness on the basepath, to go along with a short and crisp approach to the ball.

A pivotal asset to help spray the ball into the alleys and cut up a defense of the pitcher-friendly Petco Park.

Hoisting a .477 batting average in his past season was the sixth ranked average among all Division I junior college players.

With the ability to drive the ball into the alleys, this compact yet explosive left-handed hitting second baseman has the potential to acquire the success of one Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley.

Tough, gritty and explosive on both ends of the ball are quality characteristics that define this young middle infielder. Right out of ex-Padres' infielder David Eckstein's handbook. His explosiveness on the basepath will give the Padres the ability to create opportunities for themselves.

A congenial smile along with his happy-go-lucky attitude toward playing the game of baseball are qualities suited for long-term success. An attitude you can build an organization around. An attitude that will take the Padres to greater heights.

X-factor: Time. The stove is on, and the Padres can only wait. However, if he turns out to be everything the Padres hope he is, it will be a masterstroke of a selection.

A potentially valuable contributor up the middle, however, we will reconvene next year to give a more fluid report on his whereabouts.