Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
There is baseball theory that says you need 9-10 really good pitching prospects to get four Major League starters.
It's a hard truth. Some prospects just don't live up to expectations. And injuries take a toll on others.
Still, even with those odds, the Padres' pitching prospects for the future are shaping up quite nicely.
The recent acquisitions of Anderson Espinosa and Chris Paddack through trades, the signing of right-hander Adrian Morejon on the international market and the drafting of Cal Quantrill and Eric Lauer in the first round of the recent draft has really bolstered an already impressive corps of young arms.
And should some of these prospects arrive by 2019 and 2020, they could be joining a staff topped by Luis Perdomo given the way the 23-year-old Rule 5 draftee has pitched recently.
Espinosa, 18, was acquired from Boston last Thursday from Boston in the trade for All-Star left-hander Drew Pomeranz. Paddack was acquired from the Miami Marlins just before the All-Star break for closer Fernando Rodney. Morejon was rated as the second or third overall player available on this year's international market. Espinosa is ranked the No. 1 prospect in the system ahead of outfielders Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe and shortstop Javier Guerra. Paddack is ranked No. 12.
And the depth goes well beyond the aforementioned prospects. Eight of the Padres first 10 picks in this year's Draft were pitchers.
Right-handed starters Austin Smith, Jake Nix and J.C. Cosme and left-handed starters Logan Allen and Thomas Dorminy head a talented rotation at Class A Fort Wayne. Further along in the system are right-handers Walker Lockett, Michael Kelly, Dinelson Lamet and Chris Huffman and developing left-hander Jerry Keel.
The Padres seem well-armed for the future.
NOTES FROM THE SCOREBOOK
--The Padres had their first win of the season over the Giants Friday night raised their record to 18-17 since June 1. The Padres had lost their first nine games of the season against the Giants. The Padres are now 1-9 against the Giants and 38-42 against their other opponents.
--Right-handed starter Andrew Cashner is 3-0 against the Giants with a 2.27 earned run average in five games (four starts) at Petco Park. His nine strikeouts Friday night was a season high and the win was his first since June 4. Cashner allowed one run on four hits and a hit batter over six innings in his best start of the season.
--Third baseman Yangervis Solarte has hit safely in eight of his last nine games (13-for-38) with five doubles, four homers, 13 RBIs and seven runs scored. Additionally, he made an amazing catch Friday night while flying into the stands behind third base.
--All-Star Wil Myers opened the second half with his 20th home run of the season Friday night. Since the start of June, Myers has hit .326 (46-for-141) with 11 doubles, a triple, 13 homers, 39 RBIs and 36 runs scored in 37 games.