Transformed SS Javy Guerra climbs back to top Padres prospect as a relief pitcher
It’s quite an achievement any time a young player cracks the top-prospects list of any Major League team.
But how often does a player crack one of those lists first as a position player and then as a pitcher?
The Padres have one of those unique talents in 24-year-old Javier Guerra.
As soon as the Padres acquired “Javy” Guerra as one of four players — joining center fielder Manuel Margot, second baseman Carlos Asuaje and pitcher Logan Allen — coming from Boston on Nov. 13, 2015, for closer Craig Kimbrel, the Panamanian shortstop shot to the top of the Padres’ list of their Top-30 prospects.
Almost 4 ½ years later, Guerra remains on that list — but this time as a promising relief pitcher with a 100-mph fastball and a very sharp slider.
Guerra has done nothing by impress Padres brass since he made the transition from shortstop to pitcher last June 4 with Advanced Single-A Lake Elsinore.
Now he creates an interesting dilemma for the Padres. Guerra is out of options. When the season does start, the Padres will have to make a decision to keep Guerra on the Major League roster or lose him on waivers. One thing that could work in Guerra’s favor is that Major League rosters will likely be expanded this season — likely opening a spot for a prospect like Guerra.
Signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent as a 16-year-old in 2012, the 6-foot-184 Guerra quickly became a coveted youngster in the Boston system. Not only was he a plus fielding candidate, but his left-handed bat also had pop.
Guerra actually made it to the Major Leagues as a shortstop with the Padres in 2018. But there was a flaw in Guerra’s resume as a position player. His failure to make contact gave him very light offensive numbers.
For example, prior to joining the Major League Padres in 2018, Guerra struck out 166 times in 430 at-bats with Triple-A El Paso, leading to a .223 batting average and a .396 OPS. The previous season, Guerra struck out 159 times in 481 at-bats between Advanced Single-A Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio . . . leaving him with another .223 average. And the year before that (2016), Guerra had 141 strikeouts in 391 at-bats with Lake Elsinore during his first season in the Padres system.
As troublesome as those figures were, Guerra remained an infield prospect going into spring training in 2019 having just helped Panama win the Caribbean Series.
But as spring training picked up momentum, the Padres started watching more of Guerra’s arm than his bat. And the decision was made to transform the 6-foot, 184-pound infielder into a power relief pitcher.
There was never a question about Guerra’s arm strength. But could he command the velocity and supplement the triple-digit fastball with another pitch.
Turns out he had a nasty slider.
But there is far more to pitching than velocity and a nasty break to a slider. Could Guerra command his pitches and could he command them quickly? The clock was ticking. He was running out of options.
Guerra began the season in extended spring training to learn more about pitching. When it came time to put him in a game, the Padres fast-forwarded him to Lake Elsinore — where he posted a 3.71 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 17, one-inning outings before being advanced to Double-A Amarillo.
After allowing one run on two hits with five walks and seven strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings with the Sod Poodles, Guerra was fast-tracked again . . . this time back to the Major Leagues with the Padres.
Guerra made eight appearances late last season with the Padres, posting a 5.19 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He served up three home runs in 8 2/3 innings. But he also had six strikeouts. And Major League hitters went 7-for-32 (.219) against the right-hander.
Guerra’s stock was rising again this spring. He had allowed no runs on three hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
