LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. - With several highly-ranked prospects highlighting the 2017 Storm roster, the one who may have had the most success last year didn't start the season on the Padres Top 30 Prospects list, yet it didn't take long for fans to notice this southpaw was worth the price
LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. - With several highly-ranked prospects highlighting the 2017 Storm roster, the one who may have had the most success last year didn't start the season on the Padres Top 30 Prospects list, yet it didn't take long for fans to notice this southpaw was worth the price of admission.
Left-hander Joey Lucchesi pitched to the tune of a 2.52 earned run average while tallying 95 strikeouts in just 78.2 innings of work, meriting a California League All-Star appearance before almost immediately being promoted to Double-A San Antonio. Crazy enough, his numbers only got better and he was named an Organization All-Starby Minor League Baseball.
Now, Lucchesi will take another step towards The Show as he and six other 2017 Storm players will attend Major League Spring Training for the Padres. He, along with Jacob Nix, Cal Quantrill, T.J. Weir, Eric Lauer, Austin Allen, Josh Naylor and other former Storm Adam Cimber (2014), Brett Kennedy (2016), Kyle Lloyd (2015), Trey Wingenter (2016), Eric Yardley (2016), Luis Urías (2016) and Franmil Reyes (2016) will join the 40-man roster as non-roster invitees for big league camp.
Former Storm who will attend camp already on the 40-man roster include Daniel Lamet (2016), Walker Lockett (2016), Phil Maton (2016), Kyle McGrath (2016), Colin Rea (2013-14), Brad Wieck (2015-16), Rocky Gale (2011-12), Austin Hedges (2013), Javier Guerra (2016-17), Chase Headley (2006), Cory Spangenberg (2012-13), Franchy Cordero (2016), Travis Jankowski (2013) and Hunter Renfroe (2014). In all, nearly 45-percent of the Padres at big league camp this Spring have donned the eyes.
