Despite operating under new spending constraints, the Padres have been as active as ever at the start of another international signing period. San Diego has added nearly 30 prospects since the 2017-18 window opened Sunday, according to International Scouting Director Chris Kemp.

The Padres shattered franchise records over the last 12 months, spending a little more than $78 million, including overage taxes, on 47 signees. Under baseball’s newest labor agreement, the organization has a hard cap of $5.75 million to work with between July 2 and June 15, 2018. Additionally, because the Padres exceeded their 2016-17 bonus pool, they are limited to signing each prospect for $300,000 or less.

That has not appeared to deter Kemp and his scouts. Already this period, the Padres have signed young free agents from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Cuba and Australia. Thirteen prospects have received the maximum bonus of $300,000, while another, Mexican left-hander Manuel Partida, signed for $350,000.

In Partida’s case, only $87,500 counts against the Padres’ pool. Mexican League clubs typically keep 75 percent of a major league team’s payment for a player.


Kemp called the 6-foot-2 Partida, from Monterrey, the “clearcut No. 1 lefty in Mexico.” The 16-year-old has steadily increased his fastball velocity, now sitting in the 87-90 mph range.

“He throws strikes, he’s got two breaking balls, and the change-up has really come on,” Kemp said.

The Padres also saw signficant upside in Jarryd Dale, also 16. This past winter, the 6-2 shortstop became the youngest player ever to participate in the Australian Baseball League, hitting .206 with one home run in 24 games for the Melbourne Aces. Dale is the son of Phil Dale, a Braves scout who was the first Australian to receive a four-year baseball scholarship from an American university.

Jarryd Dale’s projectable frame, bloodline and early experience against high-level competition intrigued the Padres. He could remain at shortstop long-term or transition to a third or second baseman with pop at the plate.


“If you were going to Australia this year, you were going to see Jarryd Dale,” Kemp said. “He was far and away the No. 1 guy.”

Other notable signings by the Padres include Venezuelan center fielder Angel Solarte, another 16-year-old who, like Dale, signed for $300,000.

“He’s just got loud tools,” Kemp said. “Fast bat, almost a plus-plus runner, solid-plus arm, live body.”

Solarte is one of 13 Venezuelans who have joined the Padres’ latest international class.


“That was a main focus of ours,” Kemp said. “Our local scouts on the ground had been informing us it’s going to be a deep year in ‘17.”

Kemp said that, in spite of the early activity, the Padres had not yet reached their spending allotment for the 2017-18 signing period.

“It almost helps you, as far as being aggressive, because you know where your limits are,” Kemp said of the new financial paramaters.

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