Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., ranked the Padres' No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline, will open the 2018 season with Double-A San Antonio, while left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore will start his first full season with Class A Fort Wayne.
The Padres, whose Minor League organization was ranked No. 1 in baseball recently by MLB Pipeline, announced the season-opening rosters for their four full-season Minor League affiliates Monday.
Tatis Jr.'s four-hit day Triple-A El Paso, which will be seeking a fourth straight division title in the Pacific Coast League, will open the season Thursday led by three of the Padres organization's Top 30 prospects -- second baseman Luis Urias (ranked No.