The 2011 Arizona Rookie League team consisted of mostly Latin players who have been learning and training in the Dominican facility, as well as some free agent players signed by the Padres from the international market. Many are young and all are just learning their way through American professional baseball. There are a handful of draft picks brought to the rookie league for their first taste of pro ball and an introduction to the Padres system.

Of these players, there are a handful of standouts that are worth keeping an eye on for the Friarhood faithful. The team as a whole finished third in the AZL West division with a 23-33 record, playing a June 20 thru Aug 29 season.

The pitchers of note were 20-year-old Nicaraguan Uber Paz who was signed by the Padres in 2009 and sent to the Dominican facility for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. The right-handed starter is 6-4, 194 lbs and has a history of throwing strikes with good strikeout to walk ratios. For the AZL Padres he went 4-3 with a 5.16 ERA in 12 games started and 59.1 innings pitched. He had 13 walks and 50 strikeouts, almost as many strikeouts as innings pitched.

Justin Hancock, the 9^th round pick for 2011, was 0-3 in 33 IP but had a 2.09 ERA with 21 walks and 30 strikeouts.

Marlon Claveria, a 21 yr. old Guatemalan right-hander, has a good body at 6-3 and 210 lbs. and was highly thought of during his ’09 and ’10 seasons in the DSL. He had a bit of a shaky start with the AZL team with a 1-4 record and 7.15 ERA in 34 IP and had more walks than strikeouts with 22 and 18 respectively.

Relievers for the Padres posted some impressive numbers for their short season and were led by free agent signee Daniel Cropper (Nats 2009 draft), R/R 6-4 200 lbs. and 23 yrs. old. He pitched in 17 games and 30.1 IP with a 3-1 record and 2.08 ERA with 4 walks and 32 strikeouts before being a late promotion to Eugene.

James Jones, a 22 yr. old 2009 pick for the Indians, was a free agent sign who pitched in 27 games and 30.1 IP with a 2-1 record and 2.97 ERA who was also a late promotion to Eugene.

Free agent sign from the 2011 class, Warren Slack, is a 22 yr. old right hander (5-11, 175 lbs.) who pitched in 12 games and 20.1 IP with a 0-0 record and 1.33 ERA with a late promotion to Eugene.

Kyle Brule, the Padres 3^2nd round 2011 pick, pitched in 10 games and 13.1 innings with a 2-1 record and 2.03 ERA with a promotion to Eugene as well. All of these are small sample sizes and bear no real weight but gives us some names to keep track of at the beginning of the season for next year.

Position players of note include two DSL graduates that are both 18 yrs. old and have potential 5 tool talent.

OF Alberth Martinez is a 20 yr. old Venezuelan who bounced around a little during the 2011 season but played the bulk of his time with Arizona. He started out of spring camp with Fort Wayne for four games, Tucson for four games then sent to Arizona for the start of the rookie season. He played 44 games for the AZL Padres with 189 AB and belted 12 2B, 6 3B, 7 HR and 24 RBI with a .354/.394/.593 line. That was good for fifth best in the league and he was promoted to Eugene for his final 12 games of the season. He possesses a good arm, foot speed and some power. If his defense develops a little more he could also be a multi-tool talent.

3B Duanel Jones is a prospect that signed with the Padres as a 16 yr. old after his reported 1.3 million contract with the San Francisco Giants was voided due to a failed drug test. He reportedly signed with the Padres for 900K, as reported by Mickey Koke previously on Friarhood. Now at 18 yrs. old, Jones spent 20 games with the Dominican league last year. He is thought to be an advanced talent with 5 tool potential that needs to play at the pro level to develop his skills. In 37 games with the rookie team he had 150 AB with 7 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR and 23 RBI with a .267/.349/.500 line. He continues to grow in size and develop and is currently 6-3 and 205 lbs., having added 10 lbs. in the last year.

OF Yoan Alcantara is an 18 yr. old Dominican product who is 6-1 and 175 lbs. with huge upside. He played in 50 games for the Padres with 210 AB with 13 2B, 8 3B, 7 HR and 46 RBI for a .348/.367/.583 line. His performance improved through each month and ended up with a .412 avg with RISP. Batting third in the order, he finished as an All-Star and was named as the top prospect in the AZL by Baseball America. He has a great arm, speed, power and good defensive skills. This will be an exciting prospect to follow as he comes up through the Padres system.

When Baseball America recently announced their top prospects for the AZL, the Padres landed three players on that list. Number one was Alcantara, Duanel Jones was placed at number seven and Alberth Martinez was at eleven.

Eugene Emeralds, Fort Wayne Tin Caps, Lake Elsinore Storm, San Antonio Missions season end and playoff reviews are found “On the Farm” in their team sections.