The shortstop position is the least deep in the Padres organization. Of the players drafted for the position, most have not been able to stick and some of them have been moved to other spots. There is currently a very short list of legitimate shortstops with only two appearing to have a real shot to be adequate major league performers. It is possible that one or two others could surprise us but it is not likely.

At the major league level we are currently assuming that Jason Bartlett will be the 2012 shortstop, baring a late development or very unlikely surge by someone else during spring. If you look back at Bartlett’s history you will find an adequate line with one exceptional season. In 2009 Bartlett carried a .320/.389/.490 line that translated into an All-Star year and a +5.5 WAR. In 2010, the year before being acquired by the Padres, he reverted back to a career average .254/.324/.350 and a +1.2 WAR. An acceptable set of stats for an everyday shortstop but when faced with the challenge of Petco Park, Bartlett played to a .245/.308/.307 line last season and his first half defense was nothing to write home about. He did improve his defense in the second half and there is some hope that a second full season in the spacious confines of Petco will show that he is able to adjust his style of play to his environment. He is contracted through this season with an automatic option for next season based on plate appearances.

Bartlett is a quiet guy and he, as opposed to Ryan Ludwick, made no complaints about the Park or any excuses using the new league. Bill James has posted a projected .266/.333/.353 for Bartlett for 2012, reflecting that he believes that more adjustment time to the National League and Petco will result in better numbers for Jason. We all hope that is true as this list will illustrate how bare the cupboard is as far as depth is concerned for the organization.

Everth Cabrera – 5’10” 175, Bats: B, Throws: R, Born: November 17, 1987 in Nicaragua. Signed as an international free agent by the Colorado Rockies and acquired by the Padres in the 2009 Rule V draft.

Everth played reasonably good defense in 2009 while hitting well enough (.255/.342/.361) to merit discussion in that year’s NL Rookie of the Year. He looked like he was the answer to the Padres long-term question at this crucial position. In 2010 however, he regressed offensively while missing time from injuries. And while he made mistakes defensively in 2009, people expected him to improve; to progress. He didn’t. The response to his lack of progression included noting that Everth came up as a second baseman (from the Rockies Single-A team) and that he might be best suited to go back to his old position. Can Everth build on his 2009 season or is his offensive profile more accurately representative of his aggregate statistics? Can he solidify the Padres shortstop position with the exciting range and powerful throwing arm he displayed in 2009 and will his somewhat erratic performance stabilize with the natural aging and maturation process? Or was Everth’s 2009 performance an aberration?

Stats:

MLB: .236/.318/.328 in 597 AB’s

MiLB: .286/.381/.384 in 1166 AB’s.

Andy Parrino – 6’0” 180, Bats: B, Throws: R, Born: October 31, 1985. Drafted in the 26^th round of the 2007 draft by the Padres

Andy is just a ballplayer… he has never been considered a top prospect. He never put up “sexy” statistics. He has never been on a top prospect-ranking list… But he just keeps playing. Defensively he is sort of Chris Gomez-esque… He doesn’t have elite range but he’s consistent and fairly mistake-free. Parrino is possibly the least likely to hold down shortstop (as a starter) on this list, but he’ll probably have an MLB career because he can reliably play 2B, SS, and 3B. He’s a classic utility infielder.

Stats:

MLB: .182/.327/.205 in 44 AB’s

MiLB: .264/.368/.398 in 1700 AB’s

Beamer Weems – 5’10” 175, Bats: R, Throws: R, Born: July 28, 1987. Drafted in the 8^th round of the 2008 draft.

Peter recently wrote a piece about Weems’ candidacy for this position. To sum it up, Weems possesses elite defensive capabilities (almost certainly the highest on this list). If he can hit some, he could lock down this job as a defense-first shortstop.

He has speed, a great glove and an accurate arm. His offense has limited him to line drives and he has had limited playing time the past two seasons due to injuries. Time will tell if he can develop enough offense to win the job.

Stats:

MiLB: .235/.362/.354 in 813 AB’s

Jeudy Valdez – 5’10” 185, Bats: R, Throws: R, Born: May 5, 1989. Signed as an international free agent from the DR.

Valdez flashes impressive range and a powerful arm though he is not as reliable or consistent as Weems. He probably has the greatest power potential on this list and proved it by knocking a career best 59 XBH in 2011 (he hit .295/.339/.481). He did that in the hitter-friendly California League. He’ll need to replicate that at higher levels. On the negative side of things he is quite strikeout-prone (more than 21% of his minor league career AB’s, including 19.2% in ’11) while not walking much.

He suffered a wrist injury in ’09 that slowed down his progress during that season but that does not explain the throwing errors or lack of defensive development exhibited so far. There seems to be a difference of opinion within the organization about whether Valdez has what it takes to stay at shortstop. He will turn 23 yrs old during this season and this would be a good time to answer those questions.

Valdez is an interesting candidate as a long-term solution for SS but he needs to solidify gains and cleanup weaknesses if he is going to win the job.

Stats:

MiLB: .259/.318/.396 in 1856 AB’s

Jace Peterson- 6’-0” 200, Bats: L, Throws: R, Born: May 9, 1990.  Drafted in the supplemental 1^st round of the 2011 draft.

Scouts rave about 2011 draftee Jace Peterson. He has a compact, powerful, build that oozes athleticism. Some scouts think he’ll develop decent power but it is doubtful he’ll ever develop more than passible, occasional power… Scouts also say he’ll hit for a good average. Yet in the offense-friendly Northwest League he hit only .243. He did walk as often as he struck out. So he is demonstrating control of the strike zone; which is crucial. But he needs to hit for a higher average if he wants to progress. As a two-sport athlete in school, there is a chance his baseball development has been slowed some by his football skills and much of 2011 was spent working on his swing. Most experts agree that if the bat develops the glove should be fine…

Stats:

MiLB: .243/.360/.333 in 276 AB’s

While we generally are optimists with regards to the Padres and their future success it is unfortunately likely that the long-term solution at shortstop for the Padres is not currently in the organization.