After a successful stint in the Arizona Fall League, Erlin continued to pitch well with the Tucson Padres to start the 2013 season.  Overall, Robbie logged a 2-0 record (over 3 starts and 13.1 innings), a 4.73 ERA, and 10 strikeouts.  Now healthy and pitching strong, I find it fantastic to see that the youngster is now getting his first crack at sticking and staying on the big league roster.

Erlin is now in the big leagues. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Although Erlin was called up on Wednesday, he did not pitch in San Diego’s series finale against Milwaukee that night.  Nevertheless, one important weekend storyline outside of Andrew Cashner receiving another start will be the question of when the 22 year old finally makes his major league debut.

I should also mention that we really did not get to see much of what Joe Wieland, the other prospect acquired for Mike Adams from Texas back in 2011, could do during his short big league stint last year.  So with that in mind, I am definitely intrigued to see how Erlin fares early on in his big league career.

Although Erlin projects to be a starter, simply getting his feet wet out of the bullpen and gaining experience should be very beneficial for both him and the Padres early in his career.  This in turn will allow him some chances to better himself against top competition in shorter relief work.  Plus, with Tyson Ross already sidelined, the team might need Erlin to help in the rotation if another player goes down and Bud Black elects to keep Anthony Bass in the bullpen.

So keep a close eye out this weekend, Friars fans.  Erlin could be a big part of this team’s starting rotation down the road, and he could see his first taste of major league action against the defending World Champions.

Stats Courtesy of: Baseball Reference

Anthony Bass- Bass is my odds on favorite to earn a spot in the Padres’ rotation. Bass has made four appearances this Spring (one start) with a 3.00 earned run average and has no record. Opponents are hitting .304 off of him but that’s nothing to worry about beacause he’s shown control and accuracy this Spring.

Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Cashner – The fireballer has been recovering for the better part of Spring Training, so he still has a ways to go before he can catch up to his competition and be even considered for a rotation spot. Cashner was health enough to make his Spring debut this week, and by the outcome of it, no one would have known he was injured. The right-hander throw up zeros across the board with a strike out on eleven pitches.

Robbie Erlin -Erlin is showing why he remains a top prospect in the Padres’ organization. This spring the youngster has accumulated a 2.25 ERA in two games for the Friars. He also has a 1-0 record. Although he is having a nice Spring, I don’t see Erlin making the rotation on opening day. He’ll be better off in Tucson and get a called-up sometime this year.

Freddy Garcia- Garcia could make the rotation if he finishes this spring strong, because his early numbers aren’t too good. Garcia hasnt picked up a win this spring as he’s 0-2 with a horrendous 13.50 ERA this Spring. His numbers are not to impressive, but  I think he’ll bounce back.

Casey Kelly – Kelly needs to work a little bit more on his velocity this spring. He’s had great spring outings and some terrible ones. All together, Kelly has a 0-0 record with a 7.71 ERA in seven innings pitched. At this point in time, I see Kelly not making the roster to get more seasoning in the minors.

Donn Roach – Roach is a beast. Josh Byrnes practically stole him from the Angels last year. The 23-year-old right hander is making a serious bid for a rotation spot, although I think he will end up in Tucson once Opening Day gets here. Roach has pitched in three games this Spring as he has no record with a  2.25 ERA and the opposition is batting .214 against him.

Tyson Ross – Ross has struggled this Spring, but has shown new form in his last start. I still like Ross to make the rotation, but he has to show more improvement. In four games this year (two starts), Ross owns a 2-2 record and a 4.09 ERA. If Ross doesn’t make the rotation straight-out then he will probably be headed to Triple-A Tucson since he would be a wasted arm in the bullpen.

Sean ‘O Sullivan – The native San Diegan has been a pleasant surprise this Spring. I don’t think he will crack the 25-man roster but his effort is being noticed. O’ Sullivan has pitched in four games this spring (two starts) and has put together a respectable pitching line going 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA. in just eight full innings pitched. He’s also struck out two and walked three.

Let us know in the comment box below who you would like to see anchor the last spot of the rotation?

On Wednesday, Robert posted a list of the Non-Roster players being invited by the Padres to Spring Training in Peoria over the next month and a half.  While there are some familiar players coming as Non-Roster invites such as Jedd Gyorko and Tim Stauffer, I was particularly intrigued by some of the talented Minor League Pitchers on the aforementioned list: Relievers Kevin Quackenbush and Matt Stites, and Starters Robbie Erlin, and Donn Roach.

Robbie Erlin will likely begin the year in Triple-A Tucson. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Quackenbush & Stites

Quackenbush and Stites, both Right-Handers, really burst on the scene as potential contributors in the Padres’ Bullpen after both enjoyed terrific stints in the Arizona Fall League.  During A.F.L. play, Quackenbush and Stites emerged as two of the League’s most effective Relief Pitchers, and Quackenbush was named to the League’s “Top Prospects” team at the conclusion of the season as he posted 6 Saves over 11 Appearances to go along with 16 Strikeouts and a 2.45 ERA.  No slouch himself, Stites posted a 1-0 record over 12 Appearances, and a 3.21 ERA with 15 Strikeouts, as both teammates were a formidable pair out of the Peoria Javelina’s Bullpen.

Because of how effective they were in the A.F.L., as well as the 2012 regular season, the Relievers are likely in line for a promotion in Minor League levels in 2013 too.  Stites is coming off of a productive year with Single-A Fort Wayne, as he befuddled Midwest League hitters to the tune of a 2-0 record, and a 0.74 ERA in 48.2 Innings Pitched and 43 Appearances.  Most impressive of all however was the 60 to 3 Strikeout to Walk ratio Stites tallied last year!  Quackenbush, who pitched with High-A Lake Elsinore, was no slouch himself as he went 3-2, posted a 0.94 ERA over 57.2 Innings Pitches and 52 Appearances, and Struck Out 70 batters.

Erlin & Roach

Acquired in exchange for then-Setup Man Mike Adams back in 2011, Erlin figures to be a fixture in the Padres’ Starting Rotation in the near future.  And like Quackenbush and Stites, he enjoyed quite the stint in the Arizona Fall League as well.  Overall, Erlin pitched 23.2 Innings, and went 2-1 over 7 Starts with the Peoria Javelinas (he was a teammate of both Stites and Quackenbush) this Fall after he sustained a rough 2012 regular season due to an injury.

Erlin missed a large chunk of the 2012 campaign due to elbow tendinitis, but was nevertheless effective in his 11 Starts as he posted a 3-1 record, and logged a 2.92 ERA to go along with 72 Strikeouts over 52.1 Innings Pitched.  The Left-Hander’s career stats in the Double-A Texas League, with Frisco and San Antonio, illustrate that he is more than ready to begin the regular season with Tucson in Triple-A.  If this happens, I for one will be coming out to Kino Stadium like I did last year as I saw Gyorko and Yasmani Grandal tear up Pacific Coast League Pitching.  Only this time I will be there to watch some top notch Pitching.

Speaking of Pitchers, do you Friars fans remember when the Padres traded Ernesto Frieri to Los Angeles of Anaheim in May of last year?  Well besides “Swiss Army Knife” Alexi Amarista, the Friars received Minor League Pitcher Donn Roach in exchange for Frieri.  Although Roach did not contribute at the Big League level like Amarista did in 2012, he really did a fantastic job in The California League.

How good was the former Angels prospect?  Well, Roach, with Inland Empire and Lake Elsinore, was as close to dominant as a Starter could be in High-A ball last year.  Over 14 Games (13 Starts) and 88.1 Innings Pitched, the Sinker-baller registered a 10-1 overall record, a 1.94 ERA, and an impressive 73 to 14 Strikeout to Walk ratio.  It would not shock me in the least to see Roach making Starts with Triple-A Tucson by the end of the year.  In fact, Roach could very well be on the fast track to Triple-A if he proves he can hang with Texas League hitters after his promising debut last year with the Missions (4 Appearances, 3 Starts, 1-1 record, 1.59 ERA) before he was shut down for the year due to his workload.

Final Thoughts

As promising as these Pitchers are, I nevertheless have to remind myself that only Erlin is likely to make any sort of contributions with the Padres this season.  Stites and Quackenbush have yet to pitch an Inning of Double-A ball, and Roach has a limited amount of experience at the Double-A level also.  Nevertheless, it is at least intriguing and hopeful to see that the Friars do have some potential in their Minor League system after so many years with their “cupboards” essentially “bare” of talent.  This added time against increased competition will hopefully serve these hurlers well, because they will be counted on to help the Friars as the rebuilding process continues for the franchise.

So keep a close eye out for these four prospects over the next month and a half, Friars fans.  Each one has the potential to be an integral pieces of the Padres’ Pitching Staff puzzle soon, and I for one am interested in seeing how they perform this Spring as Non-Roster invitees.

Stats Courtesy of: Baseball Reference and AFL Stats