San Diego Padres
For all of this team’s challenges, outfield defense should be a strength. Travis Jankowski and rookie Manuel Margot, are good center fielders, and one will play left field. As for right fielder Hunter Renfroe, also a rookie, he’s a potential Gold Glover in the view of some scouts. “He has one of the better arms maybe in the game, because there’s not many out there,” a scout told The San Diego Union-Tribune.
The scouting consensus entering this season was that Renfroe, the organization’s player of the year last season, is a fair bet to hit 20 to 25 home runs and compile a high strikeout total.
Renfroe’s ability to adapt to inside pitches could go a long way toward determining whether he can post a respectable on-base percentage.
Aside from Renfroe and first baseman Wil Myers, who projects to hit at least 25 home runs, the lineup appears short on power. A potential option is slugger
Jabari Blash, who opened the season in Class AAA. A swing adjustment — lowering his hands — paid dividends for Blash in the hitter-friendly Cactus League.