The Padres jump-started a grand bullpen makeover in July when Brandon Maurer and Ryan Buchter were shipped to Kansas City. Brad Hand could follow them out the door as soon as this offseason. While an initial crop of replacements began to make their mark in 2017 – from Carter Capps to rookies Phil Maton, Kyle McGrath and Buddy Baumann – some of the organization’s brightest relief prospects remain stashed on the farm.

Three in particular are making a name for themselves in the Arizona Fall League: Andres Munoz, David Bednar and T.J. Weir.

That trio has combined for 22 strikeouts and three earned runs over 20 1/3 innings this fall for Peoria.

The youngest of them is leading the way.


With a fastball that approaches 100 mph, the 18-year-old Munoz – the youngest player in the AFL – has fanned 10 batters, walked two and allowed a run on four hits in 7 2/3 innings. The showing is especially impressive because Munoz started the season in short-season Tri-City and had thrown only 2 1/3 innings at low Single-A Fort Wayne before receiving his fall league invite.

The 23-year-old Bednar advanced to high Single-A Lake Elsinore in his second year in the organization and has struck out seven and allowed a run on one hit – a homer – in seven innings this fall. Bednar struck out 81 and posted a 2.64 ERA over 61 1/3 innings at the Padres’ A-ball affiliates.

Meantime, the 26-year-old Weir has struck out five and allowed a run on four hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings. He is Rule-5 eligible this offseason after going 6-2 with a 2.09 ERA, 79 strikeouts and a 1.06 WHIP in 77 1/3 innings split between Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio.

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE ROUND-UP

1B Josh Naylor (San Antonio) is 11-for-43 (.256) over his last 10 games, but is still hitting .304/.337/.494 with three homers, 14 RBIs and two steals. … INF Luis Urias (San Antonio) is hitting .319/.452/.489 with eight RBIs, 13 walks and just five strikeouts in 15 games for Peoria. … SS Javier Guerra (San Antonio) is hitting .250/.268/.400 with one homer, three RBIs, one walk and 12 strikeouts in 10 games. … OF Franmil Reyes (San Antonio) is hitting .167/.167/.367 with one homer, four RBIs and seven strikeouts in eight games.

(San Antonio) is 11-for-43 (.256) over his last 10 games, but is still hitting .304/.337/.494 with three homers, 14 RBIs and two steals. … INF (San Antonio) is hitting .319/.452/.489 with eight RBIs, 13 walks and just five strikeouts in 15 games for Peoria. … SS (San Antonio) is hitting .250/.268/.400 with one homer, three RBIs, one walk and 12 strikeouts in 10 games. … OF (San Antonio) is hitting .167/.167/.367 with one homer, four RBIs and seven strikeouts in eight games. RHP Walker Lockett (El Paso) is 1-1 with a 6.63 ERA, 16 strikeouts and a 1.89 WHIP in 19 innings. … LHP Jerry Keel (Lake Elsinore) has a 4.63 ERA, nine strikeouts and seven walks in 11 2/3 innings.

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE ROUND-UP

SS Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Antonio), according to Baseball America, has been shut down to have an actual offseason. Tatis had 641 plate appearances spread between low Single-A Fort Wayne, Double-A San Antonio and the Dominican winter league. He also participated in the Padres’ instructional league. The 18-year-old Tatis was hitting .246/.358/.386 with one homer, nine walks and eight strikeouts in 17 games for Estrellas Orientales. … OF Franchy Cordero (El Paso) is hitting .287/.351/.391 with one homer, six RBIs and four steals in 23 games for Escogido. … RHP Eric Yardley (El Paso) is 2-1 with an 0.57 ERA, seven strikeouts and a .179 opponent average in 15 2/3 innings for Cibaeo. … INF Diego Goris (El Paso) is 3-for-16 (.188) in five games for Aguilas Cibaenas. … C Webster Rivas (San Antonio) is 1-for-5 for Cibao. … RHP Hansel Rodriguez (Fort Wayne) has allowed two runs in 2 2/3 innings for Este.

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE ROUND-UP

C Luis Torrens (San Diego) has paired 14 RBIs with a .277/.327/.372 batting line in 20 games for Magallanes. He has one homer, four doubles and a triple. … LHP Jose Castillo (San Antonio) has seven strikeouts and three earned runs allowed over 5 1/3 innings, also for Magallanes, while RHP Jose Ruiz (Lake Elsinore) has two strikeouts and six runs – four earned – allowed over nine innings. … RHP Trevor Frank (Lake Elsinore) has allowed six runs in 9 1/3 innings for Zulia.

MEXICAN WINTER LEAGUE ROUND-UP

RHP Cesar Vargas (San Antonio) leads the league with 31 strikeouts in 24 innings. He is 1-2 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. … RHP Gerardo Reyes (Lake Elsinore) has allowed four runs – three earned – in 9 1/3 innings for Obregon. … RHP Kyle Lloyd (El Paso) has allowed two earned runs in eight innings for Jalisco. He has nine strikeouts against one walk.


Padres Videos × On Now Padres pitcher Chris Paddack on start vs. Mariners and possibility of making rotation On Now Meet the Padres: Ian Kinsler 5:18 On Now Catching up with Padres OF Franmil Reyes 5:18 On Now Meet The Padres: Greg Garcia 5:11 On Now Catching up with Padres reliever Craig Stammen 5:33 On Now Meet the Padres: Logan Allen 6:23 On Now Meet The Padres: Manny Machado 9:08 On Now Meet The Padres: Chris Paddack 5:08 On Now Three things that stood out from Machado's first day with the Padres 1:53 On Now Padres manager Andy Green on Machado joining his roster

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