Padres Organizational Depth Chart: First Base

Last week I ran through the catchers in the Padres system, which is currently a position that has some promising depth. The next stop around the diamond is first base. As you'll see, the Padres organizational depth at the "other" hot corner is actually pretty shallow.

MLB

Wil Myers: Traded from Tampa Bay in a three-team deal along with Ryan Hannigan, Gerardo Reyes, and Jose Castillo for Rene Rivera, Burch Smith, Jake Bauers, Joe Ross, and Trea Turner in the 2014/2015 offseason. The former Rookie of the Year has shown glimpses of the talent that drew the Padres' front office to trade away some of the brightest prospects in the system early this season, sporting a nice .302/.343/.510 triple-slash through April. After disappointing results in the outfield and at the plate before another wrist injury shortened his 2015 season, Myers is looking comfortable and confident at his new home position of first base. His athleticism, soft hands, and accurate, strong arm seem well-suited for the position, and he says that he loves it. His bat plays nicely near the top of the lineup with his graceful swing, line-drive spray approach, and ample raw power. While the Padres might not be deep in prospects at first base, if Myers can can stay healthy, he may be a fixture at first base for a long time.

Brett Wallace: Signed as a free agent in December 2014. The lefty power hitter has emerged as a lethal pinch-hitter after struggling early in his career in Houston. While his range is limited, he has sure hands and solid fundamentals on the field to serve as a capable backup at first or third base. Playing on a one-year contract, Wallace seems like a nice fit for the role, so I'm hoping that the Padres keep him on staff as long as he's productive.

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AAA - El Paso Chihuahuas

James Loney: Signed as a free agent in April of this season, Loney is nearing the twilight of his career. While he's never swung a powerful bat, he's a reliable contact hitter with an ability to get on base. The Gold Glove-caliber defense he showed early in his career in Los Angeles is now limited, but he can step in should a need arise at the big league level.

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AA - San Antonio Missions

Mike Olt: Signed as a free agent in March of this season. Once considered one of the best hitting prospects in all of baseball, Olt has struggled mightily at the MLB level. He's bounced around from the Rangers to the Cubs to the White Sox, never registering an OPS+ above 70. He got ample playing time with the Cubs in 2014 and was their starting third baseman in 2015 amidst the Kris Bryant service-time controversy. Still only 27, Olt is hoping for a new chance. The bat still has plenty of power, but his contact and strikeout rates are poor. He's been used mostly as a third baseman, but can play first base effectively as well.

High-A - Lake Elsinore Storm

Trae Santos: Drafted in the 17th round in 2013. Santos struggled early in his professional career, but seemed to turn it around in 2015 as a result of a renewed dedication to conditioning. The Guam native shows a balanced approach at the plate with enough pop for the position but a preference for line drives and average. He saw limited time with the big league squad last spring and handled himself capably. At 23 years old, he's borderline old for this level of the minors, so expect to see him moved up soon.

Low-A - Fort Wayne TinCaps

Ty France: Drafted in the 34th round in 2015. The former San Diego State Aztec had a nice 2015 season in Tri-City, showing excellent plate discipline for OBP. As a third baseman through his college career, he might not stick at first base.

Brad Zunica: Drafted in the 15th round in 2015. A mountain of a man, listed at 6'6", 256lbs when he was drafted, this kid has raw power for days. A left-handed hitter, the 20-year old is still filling out. The most immediate comp that comes to mind is a lefty version of Kyle Blanks, and Tony Clark is another similar profile. He'll be an interesting case to follow.

Summary

Besides Myers, the most intriguing prospect in this list is Zunica. There isn't much depth here, so expect Preller to target a handful of big, powerful, left-handed bats in the draft and international signing period.