The Padres’ farm system has absorbed plenty of damage in recent years thanks to a string of major trades, but the group still has some life in it. After the trade deadline, MLB Pipeline updated its rankings, and the changes were stark: one San Diego prospect vaulted into the top 10, while another took a hard tumble.
The biggest riser was right-hander Bryan Balzer, who climbed from No. 29 in the preseason to No. 6.
On the other end, right-hander Garrett Hawkins dropped from No. 14 all the way to No. 30.
Balzer, 21, has split this season between Single-A and High-A. In Single-A, he put together a 4.48 ERA across 60.1 innings and struck out 57 batters. That work earned him a promotion, and at High-A he has made seven appearances, including six starts, while posting a 5.40 ERA over 23.1 innings.
The biggest issue for Balzer has been his command. He has walked 14 batters in his limited High-A time.
Even so, he brings a sweeper-sinker combination that should keep the Padres interested in what comes next. San Diego originally signed him as an international free agent out of Japan in 2023.
Hawkins has had a much rougher path. He has spent time at both Double-A and Triple-A this year, and the results have bounced around.
At Triple-A, he posted a 6.17 ERA in 21 appearances while issuing 26 walks in 23.1 innings. That led to a demotion back to Double-A, where he made his first appearance on July 1.
The move hasn’t fixed everything. Hawkins has a 6.60 ERA in 12 Double-A appearances, though there has been at least one improvement: his walk rate has come down.
He has allowed five walks over 15 innings at that level. The Padres drafted Hawkins in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
San Diego’s system is still led by Ethan Salas, who was just promoted to Triple-A.
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