PADRE PROSPECT POWER RANKINGS, 3rd Edition by Jason Martinez sdpadrefan.com posted 5/14/08 1. CHASE HEADLEY, LF (PORTLAND): He missed the first wave of callups, but don't expect to see Headley in the minors for too much longer. GM Kevin Towers says that he doesn't want to promote Headley into a losing atmosphere, fearing he would have to much pressure to perform put on him as some sort of offensive savior. In the month of May, the 24 year-old is batting .358 with two homers and six RBI's. (LAST EDITION RANK - 1) 2. MAT LATOS, RHP (FORT WAYNE): His stats do not reflect a pitcher that is competely dominating the competition (2.50 ERA, 18 IP, 18 H, 7 BB, 15 K) in the Midwest League but the 20 year-old right-hander has been recently clocked up to 97 mph on the radar gun with a good slider and effective changeup. He very well could be the Padres' top prospect going into 2009 and could be among the best pitching prospects in baseball by 2010, when he should be knocking on the door to the big leagues. (LAST EDITION RANK - 4) 3. WILL INMAN, RHP (SAN ANTONIO): Inman, just a year older than Latos at age 21, has been proving for years that you don't need to throw 95 mph to have top-of-the-rotation type stats. At 5-1 with a 1.85 ERA, Inman has has allowed just 29 hits in 43.2 innings pitched, while striking out 44. (LAST EDITION RANK - 3) 4. CEDRIC HUNTER, CF (LAKE ELSINORE): Great strike zone awareness and bat control (20 BB, 17 K), 41 singles, and a .322 batting average. He even hits left-handers (.333 BA) and right-handers (.319 BA) equally. I think it's safe to say he's the closest thing we've had to Tony Gwynn since .... well, Tony Gwynn. Of course, we'll never have another like Gwynn but the 20 year-old Hunter looks like he's going to be a good one, although I'd like to see his power (0 HR, 8 doubles) or stolen base (2 for 3) numbers increase soon. (LAST EDITION RANK - 7) 5. MATT ANTONELLI, 2B (PORTLAND): Good thing the Padres signed Tadahito Iguchi because the 23 year-old Antonelli is proving to be unprepared for AAA, much less the major leagues. While his plate discipline (24 BB's, 25 K's) and power numbers (5 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR) are still impressive, the converted second baseman is hitting just .179 in 32 games for the Beavers with five errors. He's also stolen just two bases after stealing 28 in 2007. (LAST EDITION RANK - 2) 6. CHAD HUFFMAN, LF (SAN ANTONIO): After a very average performance in the month of April, Huffman has turned it on in May, with a .467 batting average and .571 OBP. His power numbers aren't there just yet (3 homers, 20 RBI's), but his .364 batting average with runners in scoring position is impressive, as is his .583 mark versus lefties. (LAST EDITION RANK - 10) 7. ERIC SOGARD, 2B (LAKE ELSINORE): His OBP dropped under .500 so I have no choice but to drop him a spot in the rankings. Seriously, though, while he has cooled off in May, he still has more doubles (16) than strikeouts (14) and is hitting .463 with runners in scoring position. Like Cedric Hunter, this left-handed batter also fares well against southpaw pitchers (12-for-28; .429 BA). (LAST EDITION RANK - 6) 8. WADE LEBLANC, LHP (PORTLAND): After an 11-strikeout performance in his first start of the season, LeBlanc has allowed 40 hits in his last six starts with 14 walks and 14 strikeouts. The batters have adjusted. Your move, Wade. (LAST EDITION RANK - 5) 9. MITCH CANHAM, C (LAKE ELSINORE): The 23 year-old catcher is batting .333 with 10 walks and two strikeouts in the month of May. He has just two home runs on the season but his 24 RBI's is second on the team and his .419 OBP is good enough for 6th best in the Cal League. (LAST EDITION RANK - 8) 10. KYLE BLANKS, 1B (SAN ANTONIO): The 21 year-old first baseman makes his debut in the rankings after four multi-hit games in a span of five days from May 6th thru May 10th. Blanks is 8th in the Texas League in OBP (.401), 5th in walks (21), and 10th in RBI's (24). (LAST EDITION RANK - NA)