San Diego Padres’ future prospects Kevin Quackenbush, Matt Stites impress in AFL- MLB News
The San Diego Padres have been impressed by a couple of their pitchers who were a part of the Arizona Fall League this year. These include the 22-year-old Matt Stites and soon-to-turn 24-year-old Kevin Quackenbush.
Matt Stites came of a great regular season for the Class-A Fort Wayne, with a 2-0 record in 42 games, making 13 saves and managing an unbelievably low 0.74 ERA. The pitcher threw down over 48 innings and had 60 strike-outs.
Randy Smith, the San Diego Padres’ vice president of international scouting and player development was very impressed by the efforts of the young pitcher. "He's just been very consistent from the day he put on a uniform," Smith said. "He's got three pitches
for a short reliever, and he throws strikes. He's got good stuff and throws it over the plate. His fastball is good and the slider and changeup are also good."
The Padres’ pick from the University of Missouri in the 17th round in 2011, also did quite well in the AFL, striking-out 15 in 12 games, throwing down 14 innings and posting a 3.21 ERA. Matt has a great fastball, generally between 93 and 95 miles
per hour. Padres have asked the pitcher to develop the slider and a good change up as well.
The returns for Quackenbush were not bad either. Kevin, who was an eight round pick of University of South Florida in 2011 by the Padres, pitched in 52 games. He had a 3-2 winning record with a phenomenal 0.94 ERA and 27 saves for the Class-A Lake Elsinore.
Kevin had an amazing AFL as well. He posted a 2.45 ERA with six saves in 11 games. In the first nine games, Quackenbush did not surrender a hit or a run. The pitcher will start his 2013 season with the Double-A San Antonio and by the looks of matter, should
be quickly moving through the ranks of the farm teams.
Smith had some kind words for Kevin as well. "He's got an average curveball and changeup, and we've encouraged him to throw them more, but his answer is they just don't hit his fastball," Smith said. The vice president was also amazed by the numbers Kevin
was posting.
He was also impressed by the ability of the youngster, whose fastball varies from 90 to 94 miles per hour, to deceive opposing hitters. "The big thing is guys just don't see him. He has tremendous deception," he said.
Looking at the evidence on hand, these two will do well to maintain the good work they did in the 2012 season and in the AFL. They will have to continue their development and also take good care of their fitness to make sure that they do not get off track.
There is no reason for them not to make it big in the big leagues and have their names amongst some of the very best in the business.
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