LAKE ELSINORE – First, he was given his first managerial job outside of winter ball in Mexico. Then, the San Diego Padres gave Tony Tarasco a team so potentially dynamic, he couldn’t help mixing his excitement with his unfortunate analogies.

“You know? All spring I’ve been staring at that bicycle under the Christmas tree and finally I’m going to get to open and unwrap the bicycle and I’m going to take it out,” Tarasco said. “And I’m probably going to ride it for the entire summer until the wheels fall off.”

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You’ll excuse Tarasco for the unfortunate analogy. After all, it’s not every manager who gets to ride seven of his organization’s top 30 prospects in his first year managing in the United States. That’s the early Christmas present the Padres sent Tarasco for his maiden managerial stint in the California League – as the boss of the Lake Elsinore Storm.

And you’ll excuse Tarasco for being positively giddy at the opportunity to combine his eight-season major league career with his first organizational managerial job. Because the Southern California native has had plenty of time immersing himself in the game while spending 10 seasons in the Washington Nationals organization before coming to the Padres’ system in 2016.

So forgive him for being a little excited about what awaits Storm fans in 2019.

“I am going into managing with high expectations of being able to supply what these guys need in order to, one, to get better, and two, to create a winning atmosphere and create a growth mindset.

“One of the keys is openness. Being able to receive information, being able to explore … and trying to keep a competitive atmosphere, keeping these guys not only competing against the other team, but keep them competing against each other.”

Tarasco was coy about how that won’t turn Lake Elsinore’s clubhouse into the Hunger Games, but his top two pitchers figure to take large bites out of the Cal League this year. That would be left-hander MacKenzie Gore, the third-overall selection in the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft, and 19-year-old Colombian right-hander Luis Patino.

Gore, the Padres No. 2 prospect and the 15th-ranked prospect by MLB.com, was shut down in August last year after suffering blisters on his throwing hand, but still struck out 74 batters in 60 2/3 innings. Meanwhile, the No. 6 prospect in the organization and 47th overall, Patino, went 6-3 for Class A Fort Wayne with a 2.16 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings.

“You’re going to see electric performances from Patino and Gore, not only seeing what comes out of their hand, but also the energy and the charisma they possess on the mound,” Tarasco said.

Tarasco promises energy elsewhere, with a team that he says has so much speed and athleticism that it’s a certainty the Storm will improve on their 93 stolen bases from 2018 (sixth in the eight-team league), their 4.5 runs (sixth), their .716 OPS (sixth), their .316 OBP (seventh) and 360 walks (last).

That starts with middle infield prospects Gabriel Arias and Esteury Ruiz, along with returner Eguy Rosario, segues to outfielders Robby Podorsky, Tirso Ornelas, he of the David Justice batting style, and Jeisson Rosario, who Tarasco said will remind you of Devon White running balls down. It transfers to power with the likes of catcher Luis Campusano, Jack Suwinski and Taylor Kohlway.

“The overall strength of this team is everyone on this team is athletic. There are no big clunkers running around,” Tarasco said. “Everyone can virtually practically play every position on the field. It’s total baseball.

“You’re going to see athleticism. You’re going to see barrel control mixed in with power and line-drive excitement. You’ll see four-seam fastballs at the top of the zone and breaking balls at the bottom of the zone. You’ll see pitchers bouncing off the mound like cats and you’ll see great communication on the field.”