Eric Hosmer’s arrival on an eight-year, $144 million deal this winter means that first base is spoken for for the foreseeable future. At the major league level, that meant shifting Wil Myers to the outfield (and experimenting with him at third base). In the minors, the Padres asked their top first baseman to add left field to his resume to – as crowded as the outfield picture is – at least re-open a path to the majors.

Below Josh Naylor, the Padres’ first base prospects is arguably thinner than any other position group, largely because of the organization’s affinity for up-the-middle players.

1. Josh Naylor

Age: 21

21 Team(s): Double-A San Antonio

Double-A San Antonio 2018 stats: .297 avg., .383 OBP, .447 SLG, 17 HRs, 74 RBIs, 72 runs, 5 steals, 64 walks, 69 strikeouts (128 games, 501 at-bats)

.297 avg., .383 OBP, .447 SLG, 17 HRs, 74 RBIs, 72 runs, 5 steals, 64 walks, 69 strikeouts (128 games, 501 at-bats) Height/weight: 5-foot-11 / 250 pounds

5-foot-11 / 250 pounds Bats/Throws: L / L

L / L How acquired: Trade with the Marlins in July 2016

Trade with the Marlins in July 2016 Need to know: The highest position player ever drafted out of Canada (12th overall in 2015), Naylor joined the organization in the Andrew Cashner trade shortly after representing the Marlins at Petco Park in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game. He returned to the game last year and turned in his finest season as a pro in 2018, setting full-season career-highs in homers, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging. He drew rave reviews from the organization in particular for improving his plate discipline (just five more strikeouts than walks), picking pitches to drive and the work he put in to add outfield to his utility belt in 2018. Naylor started 89 games in left field this year, compared to 26 at first base and even started in the outfield in the Texas League All-Star Game. Naylor turned in his best work in April, pairing a .379/.450/.674 batting line with seven homers and 21 RBIs in 24 games. Naylor is ranked No. 15 in the organization by MLB.com.

Padres first base prospect Brad Zunica is beginning the 2016 season with low Single-A Fort Wayne. (Jeff Nycz (Mid-South Images))

2. Brad Zunica

Age: 22

22 Team(s): high Single-A Lake Elsinore

high Single-A Lake Elsinore 2018 stats: .251 avg., .340 OBP, .429 SLG, 17 HRs, 60 RBIs, 55 runs, 0 steals, 53 walks, 148 strikeouts (123 games, 431 at-bats)

.251 avg., .340 OBP, .429 SLG, 17 HRs, 60 RBIs, 55 runs, 0 steals, 53 walks, 148 strikeouts (123 games, 431 at-bats) Height/weight: 6-foot-6 / 254 pounds

6-foot-6 / 254 pounds Bats/Throws: L / R

L / R How acquired: 15 th round in 2015 (State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota)

15 round in 2015 (State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota) Need to know: The hulking first baseman attended the University of Miami as a freshman before hitting 13 homers in 57 games the following year at a junior college. He has hit 49 homers the last three years in the Padres system: 14 in his first full year in the Midwest League, 18 in a repeat of that level and 17 this year as he moved to the California League for the first time. Zunica slugged .535 with six homers alone in June.

Padres outfield prospect Luis Asuncion (Tri-City Dust Devils)


3. Luis Asuncion

Age: 21

21 Team(s): short-season Tri-City

short-season Tri-City 2018 stats: .245 avg., .287 OBP, .397 SLG, 6 HRs, 28 RBIs, 34 runs, 3 steals, 10 walks, 67 strikeouts (63 games, 237 at-bats)

.245 avg., .287 OBP, .397 SLG, 6 HRs, 28 RBIs, 34 runs, 3 steals, 10 walks, 67 strikeouts (63 games, 237 at-bats) Height/weight: 6-foot-4 / 205 pounds

6-foot-4 / 205 pounds Bats/Throws: R / R

R / R How acquired: Non-drafted free agent in November 2013 (Dominican Republic)

Non-drafted free agent in November 2013 (Dominican Republic) Need to know: Originally signed as an outfielder for $350,000, Asuncion’s power was his carrying tool when he began his stay in the Padres organization. The 2018 campaign was his third straight in the Northwest League, where he was an all-star last year while hitting .267/.319/.392 with four homers. This year, Asuncion set career-highs in homers and slugging. He started 24 games at first base, 11 in right field and two in left.

4. Nick Gatewood

Age: 21

21 Team(s): AZL Padres, short-season Tri-City

AZL Padres, short-season Tri-City 2018 stats: .275 avg., .315 OBP, .429 SLG, 5 HRs, 38 RBIs, 30 runs, 0 steals, 14 walks, 59 strikeouts (60 games, 257 at-bats)

.275 avg., .315 OBP, .429 SLG, 5 HRs, 38 RBIs, 30 runs, 0 steals, 14 walks, 59 strikeouts (60 games, 257 at-bats) Height/weight: 6-foot-1 / 190 pounds

6-foot-1 / 190 pounds Bats/Throws: L / R

L / R How acquired: 11 th round in 2018 (Georgia State)

11 round in 2018 (Georgia State) Need to know: The collegiate catcher finished his junior year with 13 homers, 49 RBIs and a .322/.400/.568 batting line. He hit all five of his homers in 54 games in the rookie-level Arizona League before closing his first summer in pro-ball in Tri-City. Gatewood served as the DH in 52 games, first base in five games and started three games behind the plate.

5. Justin Paulsen

Age: 23

23 Team(s): Short-season Tri-City

Short-season Tri-City 2018 stats: .230 avg., .317 OBP, .363 SLG, 5 HRs, 25 RBIs, 28 runs, 1 steal, 25 walks, 59 strikeouts (55 games, 204 at-bats)

.230 avg., .317 OBP, .363 SLG, 5 HRs, 25 RBIs, 28 runs, 1 steal, 25 walks, 59 strikeouts (55 games, 204 at-bats) Height/weight: 6-foot-1 / 220 pounds

6-foot-1 / 220 pounds Bats/Throws: L / R

L / R How acquired: 39 th round in 2017 (Missouri State)

39 round in 2017 (Missouri State) Need to know: The owner of a .186 isolated power over four college seasons, Paulsen has slipped to .128 through his first two pro seasons. He homered twice in 44 games in rookie ball in 2017 and five times in 55 games this year in the Northwest League. His OPS also slipped from .821 last year to .680 this year.

Other names to know: Emmanuel Guerra (DSL, .781 OPS), Nick Feight (A, .592 OPS), Jason Pineda (AZL, .669 OPS), Carlos Luis (AZL, .582 OPS).


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jeff.sanders@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutSanders