Restricted the previous two international signing periods because of blowing through their bonus pool in 2016-17, Chris Kemp, Padres international scouting director, signed three of the top-30 prospects in this year’s class as ranked by MLB.com. Four of those prospects outfielder Ismael Mena, right-hander Brayan Medina, shortstop Reginald Preciado and left-hander Luis Gutierrez — are in Peoria, Ariz., for the start of the fall instructional league, which will again culminate with a prospect showcase at Petco Park after the season (date to be determined).
Union-Tribune: Andres Muñoz made his debut after the All-Star break. He was the first guy from your first international class (2015-16) to reach the majors. What’s that like for you?
Kemp: You’re just happy for the kid, knowing where he came from. (Muñoz) was in that Monterrey academy when I first saw him and playing for Mexico City. It’s been a long road. You think back to the whole journey and the whole process, from when we first saw him and how we followed through and his development on the (player development) side. It’s been fun to watch. You’re happy and proud of the process we went through to identify him and sign him and develop him as a person and a pitcher. It’s been fun.
U-T: You’re starting to get a few guys up from the 2016-17 class – Adrian Morejon, Michel Baez and Ronald Bolaños. It’s a much longer process than the amateur draft. How rewarding is it to see these guys start to show up in the majors?
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Kemp: The process is definitely longer. You’re seeing them so young. You’re signing them so young. There’s going to be a lot of ups and downs — some growth and some setbacks. It’s where our coaches and our development team is staying on these guys and helping them grow as much possible. You’re proud of everyone who has helped in that process.
U-T: You didn’t speak Spanish when A.J. Preller hired you as his international scouting director. You’d only really scouted domestically when you decided to move to the Dominican Republic. How does a decision like that, total immersion, help set you up for long-term success, especially in years when you’re in the penalty as you were last year?
Kemp: I think for me it’s about being competitive and wanting to be really good at my job. If you’re the international director and you’re international complex is in the Dominican and that’s where you’re doing the bulk of your tryouts and developing young players. ... if you’re developing talent early and trying to find guys, that seems like the right thing to do to be productive. Along the way you fall in love with the culture and the people and the whole international realm of scouting and the experiences and a chance to help a lot of people and find some young talent. It’s fun. … But it was just the work ethic. That’s what we’re all about. Our international scouting department, we’re all about work ethic — getting to the field, beating other teams to the field, doing as many tryouts as we can in a day sometimes. Sometimes we’ll do four tryouts a day just to cover ground. You’re just trying to be productive.
U-T: Let’s talk about some of the guys at the top of the 2019 class. Ismael Mena, what do you like about him?
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Kemp: The first thing is there is some five-tool ability. It’s an above-average arm. He’s a plus-plus runner. He doesn’t strike out a lot. He has good range, a bit of a ball-hawk in center field. There’s a chance for some power down the road. He’s a really toolsy guy that’s fun to watch.
U-T: How about Brayan Medina?
Kemp: Brayan’s a workhorse. He’s a very physical right-handed pitcher that’s also a plus athlete on the mound. He’s a conversion guy. He’s got a fresh arm. He’s been up to 95 mph in the tryout process. Cautiously excited. That’s a lot of velo at a young age, but he has a special arm. Getting him with (player development) and kind of molding Brayan early in the Arizona instructs is going to be huge.
U-T: We know that Preciado is a bloodlines guy. What excited you about him as you started to get to know him?
Kemp: Reginald, when you see him the body stands out. He’s 6-foot-4 right now, but he’s a leader. We’ve found Reggie to be a leader at a young age and be a captain for the (July 2) team down there in the Dominican Republic this summer after they signed. He’s got a lot of qualities and traits. I learned from A.J. (Preller) and Don Welke, the importance of signing guys with elite makeup and characteristics and Reginald fits that, being our captain on the field and being an instinctual, high-IQ player.
U-T: You signed Luis Patiño as an under-the-radar guy for $125,000 in 2016 and he is now one of the top pitching prospects in the game. We’re not asking you who is the Luis Patiño from this class, but who is a guy from this 2019 class that isn’t a top-ranked guy who you’re excited about.
Kemp: Let’s go with Henry Baez. He’s a right-handed pitcher from Palenque. That’s really close to the complex. He trained with Charlis Aquino (from the 2018 class). He’s a pure starter who throws a lot of strikes. He’s 6-foot-3 right now. He’s going to work 87-90. It’s a nice projection, 16-year-old frame. He’ll grow a couple inches. He’s already 200 pounds. The velocity could jump.
2019-09-14 13:02:04Z
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2019-09-13/talking-with-padres-international-scouting-director-chris-kemp
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