We are proud to announce The San Diego Padres Top 30 Prospects for 2012. Peter Friberg has been studying minor league and amateur baseball players for nearly 10 years and has been writing about Padres minor leaguers for approximately eight. Peter has compiled his top 30 prospects in the Padres system for 2012, we are now into the top 10, continuing with #9 Keyvius Sampson

View 11-15 here

View 16-20 here

View 21-25 here

View 26-30 here

2011 San Diego Padres Top 30 Prospects

9.  Keyvius Sampson, RHP, 6’0” 185, Born: Jan. 6, 1991

Good: I love high K/9 rates. Last year I noted in my top 30 that Sampson’s 12.14 rate led Padres’ starting pitchers. This year, he followed up his solid ’10 campaign with a similarly stellar 10.9 K/9 rate. Keyvius was similarly stingy when it came to allowing hits (only 81 over 118 IP). Sampson was the unquestioned ace of the Fort Wayne staff.

Bad: There really isn’t anything bad to say about Sampson’s 2011 performance. If we’re picking nits, he walked too many (3.66 BB/9) but he was so unhittable that it countered some wildness. The only other criticism is height-related. Like virtually every other pitcher listed 6’0” or shorter, his height is probably inflated.

And if he really is less than 6’0” the requisite questions about durability arise. Those questions probably are not fair, every pitcher faces questions about durability; pitching is not a natural act.

Outlook: Keyvius will join the prospect, Rymer Liriano, in Lake Elsinore in 2012. Sampson needs to work on his control and staying healthy. If Keyvius is able to do those things, he will rocket up this list and ensure his place in a future Padres rotation.