The San Diego Padres have many players involved in this year’s off-season leagues and the AZ Fall League is at its All Star break ( game broadcast Saturday on MLB Network) so this seems like a good time to give an overall update of the status of the players and the progress of the many off-season leagues that are ongoing or preparing to start.

The Arizona Fall league is the first of the off-season leagues to begin, with its season going from October 4 thru November 19 with the Championship decided on the last date. With all the talk in baseball about the highly touted prospects named Trout, Harper, Choice, Vitters, Beckham, Colon, etc…… it might surprise many of you to discover that the player leading all of the Fall League in hitting is our very own Jedd Gyorko!

Jedd is carrying a .421/.500/.702 line with 57 at bats in 14 games. He has four doubles, four homeruns and eighteen runs batted in with nine base on balls and ten strikeouts over that span.  The next closest hitter (Serateeli of Kansas City) is a shortstop and batting .390.

Padres 3B/2B James Darnell was injured at the end of the season and was unable to fulfill his scheduled stint with the Peoria Javelinas where he was to get more work at second base and more at bats. His place was taken by minor league prospect OF Jaff Decker with a line of .323/.429/.462 over 17 games and 65 at bats. Jaff has four doubles, a triple and homerun with eleven runs batted in and has eleven base on balls and sixteen strikeouts over that span.

Catcher Jason Hagerty lost quite a bit of time over the 2011 season due to injury. He was still sent to AA San Antonio mid season despite missing time with Lake Elsinore due to injury. He is in the fall league to recoup some of those at bats and continue his fundamental defensive work. His .231/.286/.282 line is not particularly impressive but he has had limited time with only 9 games and 39 at bats.

The Dominican league began 10/14 and runs through 12/21/11.

The Mexican league began 10/11 and runs through 12/30/11.

The Venezuelan league began 10/12 and runs through 12/30/11.

The Puerto Rican league begins 11/4 and runs through 1/4/12.

There is a playoff in January for the leaders in those four leagues and the Caribbean World Series is played 2/2/12 thru 2/8/12.

Other Padres players participating in Winter ball include Anthony Rizzo, Rymer Liriano, Andy Parrino, Jeudy Valdez in the Dominican League. Ali Solis, Carlos Sosa,  Amadeo Zazueta  in the Mexican League. A. Gonzalez, Jesus Guzman, Alberth Martinez, Quillermo Quiroz in the Venezuelan League.

Pitchers Anthony Bass and Nick Schmidt are participating in the AZ Fall League with Bass holding a 1-0 record and 5.30 ERA over 5 games with 4 starts and 18.2 innings pitched. He has 3 base on balls to 22 strikeouts. Schmidt is also 1-0 but with a 7.07 ERA over 5 games and 3 started and 14.1 innings pitched. He has 9 base on balls and 15 strikeouts. Relievers Jeff Ibarra and Miles Mikolas are also in the AZ league with eight appearances each. Ibarra has a 2.70 ERA and Mikolas a 6.23 ERA.

Pitchers Simon Castro, Samuel Deduno, Jose DePaula and Luis Perdomo are all pitching in the Dominical League.

Juan Oramas has a 0-0 record and 2.25 ERA in 3 games started and 12 innings pitched in the Mexican league. He continues to dominate with one walk and seventeen strikeouts over that time.

The Venezuelan League has Adys Portillo as the only Padres pitcher involved. He is being used exclusively as a reliever with only six innings so far and a 5.68 ERA.

Many of these players and pitchers have had limited playing time so far and there will be another update in early December to provide updates for their progress.

The AZ Fall League Championship game (11/19) will also be on the MLB Network.

The Australian league was scheduled to start 11/3/11 but has an announced delay but concludes the end of January. I am not currently sure if any Padres players will be involved. Check in with our updates to determine Padre involvement.

Keep up with these players on a regular basis by following the Winter Ball roundup on the Friarhood home page and check back here for updates as the season goes on.