June is a month of big changes in the minor league system. A new wave of draftees get their professional careers started, short-season league teams get underway, and players who have been performing well often line up for promotions. As we do each month, here's a look at the top performers for June from the team at www.MadFriars.com. Remember, this is not a re-ranking of top prospects, but rather a reflection of who has achieved in a specific period of time.
El Paso Chihuahuas (Triple-A)
The club's top performer in May, Cody Decker, kept producing in June, knocking four more homers to extend his system lead and posting a .292/.352/.569 line that was among the best in the organization. However, a thumb injury sent him to the DL for a week in the middle of the month, so he tallied only 71 plate appearances. Corner outfielder Alex Dickerson had a slightly lower slash line, but appeared in every Chihuahuas' game while tallying 14 extra-base hits. The 25-year-old from Poway raised his season average above .300 by hitting .318 for the month.
While Jedd Gyorko worked to get himself back on track with four homers in 16 games in Triple-A, his double-play partner Ramiro Pena was in the midst of another strong offensive month. The 29-year-old shortstop, a veteran of 311 big league games, led the team with a .330 average, and used some timely hitting to drive in 19 runs.
It was another veteran, 34-year-old Chris Smith, who was the top performer on the mound. The righty allowed only eight earned runs in five starts, posting a 2.27 ERA with an impressive 29-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 31.2 innings. Originally drafted in 2002, Smith saw big league action from 2008 to 2010.
In addition to the relievers who have shuttled back-and-forth to the majors, righties Jay Jackson and Jerry Sullivan have each provided much-needed help in the back of the bullpen. Sullivan, who served as the Chihuahuas closer for half of last season, picked up his first save of 2015 while striking out 14 across 12 innings. Jackson, an offseason free agent signing, posted a 2.57 ERA in 14 mostly set-up appearances.
El Paso Player of the Month: Alex Dickerson
San Antonio Missions (Double-A)
When MadFriars contributor John Conniff got to San Antonio at the end of May, slugger Hunter Renfroe was just beginning to implement some changes to his swing mechanics at the plate. The first month with the new approach gave the Padres plenty to be optimistic about. The 2013 first-rounder hit .286/.362/.536 in June, clubbing an organization-best five homers and cutting his strikeout rate down below 25 percent. After Trea Turner left the Missions to complete the Wil Myers trade, Renfroe was even hotter, putting together an eight-game hitting streak and raising his season OPS more than 70 points in the final three weeks of the month. Continued success for the multi-tooled outfielder would be welcome news for the Padres.
Fellow outfielders Yeison Asencio and Alberth Martinez provided much of the rest of the Missions' offensive firepower for June. Asencio, 25, continues to demonstrate a unique ability to put the bat on the ball. The Dominican had an impressive .372/.400/.489 line for the month, accented by only seven strikeouts and three walks in 99 plate appearances. There is nobody else in affiliated baseball with Asencio's power who posts rates like that. Martinez, a bonus baby out of Venezuela in 2009, hit .305 for June and shared the team lead with 15 RBIs.
Colin Rea was sidelined with a back strain for the first two weeks of the month, but made up for lost time by totally shutting down opponents. In four starts, the big righty gave up one earned run in 23 innings of work -- good for a 0.39 ERA. Rea celebrated his 25th birthday on July 1 with a promotion to Triple-A.
San Antonio Player of the Month: Hunter Renfroe
Lake Elsinore Storm (Advanced-A)
June was a rough month for the Storm, who went 9-17 for the month. Jose Rondon recorded hits in 13 of 14 games at the start of the month to earn a promotion to Double-A. His .404/.483/.481 line before moving up was easily the best on the team. First baseman Marcus Davis was the top performer among those who were with the club all month. The Florida State product had an .866 OPS while hitting in the middle of the lineup. A lefty whose pull power doesn't play too well at Elsinore's home park, The Diamond, nonetheless had a share of the team lead with three homers in June.
Righty Matt Shepherd was a bright spot on the mound for the Storm, posting a 3.54 ERA in 28 innings. The 25-year-old, who was drafted in 2012, had 20 strikeouts against just six walks. Twenty-year-old righty Ronald Herrera matched Shepherd in most categories, posting a 3.86 ERA across five appearances. Part of the Kyle Blanks trade last spring, Herrera is the youngest pitcher in the offense-friendly Cal League, yet turned in several impressive outings. Part of his success is in keeping the ball in the ballpark. Opponents only managed one homer against him in 119 plate appearances for the month.
Lake Elsinore Player of the Month: Marcus Davis
Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low-A)
Outfielder Nick Torres demonstrated why he was one of two TinCaps representatives in the Midwest League All-Star Game, hitting his way to a .364/.398/.477 line. Although the Cal Poly alum did not homer, he had a system-leading 10 doubles. He could well be in line for a second-half promotion to round out his first full year in professional baseball.
Shortstop Ruddy Giron didn't keep up the Ruthian pace he set after joining the club in May, but the 18-year-old Dominican added plenty of production with a .292/.376/.416 line while playing a much-improved shortstop. A top-of-the-order bat, Giron also swiped seven bases in 11 attempts.
Not many Dominican players make their stateside debuts at the age of 22, but Dinelson Lamet is one of the few, and he's making up for lost time. The hard-throwing righty paced the TinCaps with a 2.74 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 23 June innings. He didn't yield more than two runs in any of his five outings as the Padres began to let him get deeper into games. The other Fort Wayne All-Star, Thomas Dorminy, also produced a strong June. The 23-year-old lefty matched Lamet's 2-1 record, and put up a solid 3.32 ERA.
Closer Colby Blueberg anchored a bullpen that was lights out for most of the month. A 24th-round pick last year, the former Nevada-Reno Wolfpack star gave up one run in 10.2 innings for the month, recording eight saves. His set-up men Yimmy Brasoban (0 runs in 16.1 innings), Bryan Verbitsky (two runs in 11 innings) and T.J. Weir (2 runs in 12.1 innings) were a key element in the TinCaps' first winning month of the season.
Fort Wayne Player of the Month: Nick Torres
System Player of the Month: Hunter Renfroe
When the Padres selected Renfroe, there was little doubt that he had the tools to succeed. However, his ability to consistently make good contact was the big question mark from the outset. Renfroe is a reminder that players' development is often not linear. The organization needs to hope that what they see from the slugger in June is what they'll get with more frequency going forward.
For all the latest Padres minor league news, follow @Madfriars on Twitter or join the community at www.madfriars.com
