San Diego Padres Top 20 Prospects for 2025

Even by the Padres’ standards, there has been a huge amount of turnover since our preseason 2024 Top 20 list. Jackson Merrill, our top prospect going into the year, was one of three players to graduate from the list and another 11 prospects were traded away.

While that temporarily hollowed out much of the organization’s prospect depth, the Padres under A.J. Preller have shown a supreme confidence in their ability to bring high-end talent into the system – whether at the top of the draft, with $10,000 international signees, undrafted free agents or trade throw-ins.

While the current crop of Padres prospects is generally seen as being in the bottom third of organizations across baseball, the system is hardly without either elite prospects or interesting supporting pieces. Leo De Vries and Ethan Salas represent a potent one-two punch of premium position prospects. A trio of pitchers acquired last year could well assert themselves in their first professional campaign this year. There is a large group of starting pitchers who will be in the upper minors to open 2025 from which the club will almost certainly get at least one quality big leaguer. And the Padres have an array of dynamic relief arms who will see the majors this year.

Our ranking process

Our MadFriars contributors each prepared individual Top 30 lists for our subscribers over the offseason. In all, 41 different players appeared on at least one of them. There was more variance in our lists than we’ve had in a long time – one player appeared in the top 10 for three of our writers, but was completely missing from one top 30. We’ve gone back and forth to come up with a list that we’re all comfortable with, but recognize that your mileage may vary.

Reviewing our MadFriars Top 20 for 2024:

Graduated: Jackson Merrill (1), Randy Vásquez (13), Eguy Rosario (15),
Traded: Dylan Lesko (3), Robbie Snelling (4), Jairo Iriarte (6), Drew Thorpe (7), Jakob Marsee (8), Graham Pauley (9), Samuel Zavala (10), Adam Mazur (11), Dillon Head (12), Homer Bush Jr. (17), Nathan Martorella (19)
Fell off: None

Top 20 for 2025: (All ages as of minor league opening day)

1) Leo De Vries (# 5 in 2024)
Position: SS
Height/Weight: 6-1/185
Age: 18
Bats/Throws: B/R
How Acquired: 2024 International Free Agent
Team              AVG   OBP    SLG       PA          K/BB  Hits     XBH/HR       
Storm             .238     .361     .442     360      84/50   71        36/11

2024 Highlights: After nabbing the top international prospect for 2023 in Ethan Salas, San Diego repeated the feat and, as expected, signed switch-hitting shortstop Leo De Vries in 2024. The Padres, as is their wont, were aggressive with his placement and, sending him to the Low-A California League in May, where he was the youngest player at 17.

De Vries struggled initially and was hitting only .198/.321/.309 on July 2 before he started to find his rhythm. He then pounded out a .318/.442/.694 line in July and had a .782 OPS in August before going down with a shoulder injury midway through the month.

Negatives: It took him a while to adjust to offspeed and spin early in the season and search for the pitch he wanted to hit, but that is to be expected for the youngest player in the league. One of the bigger areas of growth for him during the year was defensively, where he began to make all the routine plays even while mixing in spectacular ones.

Projection: De Vries is near lock to start the year in High-A Fort Wayne at 18, but the gap between Low-A and High-A has grown since the elimination of short-season leagues. The early season cold weather and the adjustment to much better pitching are always challenging for position players, but the young Dominican will have the chance to assert himself.

2) Ethan Salas (# 2)
Position: C
Height/Weight: 6-2/195
Age:    19
Bats/Throws: L/R
How Acquired: 2023 International Free Agent
Team              AVG      OBP    SLG     PA       K/BB    Hits     XBH/HR
TinCaps          .206     .288     .311   469      98/47   85        33/4

2024 Highlights: Ethan Salas exploded onto the national prospect scene in 2023 as a 17-year-old, hitting .366/.416/.720 in 19 games and 82 plate appearances in July. The organization aggressively promoted him to Fort Wayne for a week and then to San Antonio to finish the year. He hit .163 with a .421 OPS in August between the two levels before a minor knee injury ended his season. The expectation last spring was that he would be in Double-A by mid-2024.

Except it didn’t work out that way as Salas hit just .206/.288/.311 for the year with the TinCaps. While his bat did pick up in August, his best month was .255/.308/.429, which was good but not dominant. He spent most of the season with an on-base percentage below .300, and his slugging percentage only started to creep above .300 in July.

The positive side is that his defense improved, particularly his throwing and calling a game. His pitching coach in Fort Wayne, Thomas Eshelman, praised his ability to work with the pitching staff and, by all accounts—although it’s secondhand because he was rarely made available for interviews—handled the hype around him as a true professional, particularly for someone only 18.

Negatives: It doesn’t take a genius on this one; he will have to hit much better this season than in 2024. One of the big separators from 2023, as compared to 2024, was that he was much more patient in waiting for a pitch that he could drive as opposed to swinging early in the count and generating weak contact.

Projection: All signs indicate he will begin the year in Double-A San Antonio, which will be an offensive test after he struggled at High-A. The Padres believe the mechanical tweaks he made mid-season last year and that they saw in the Arizona Fall League will allow him to compete in the Texas League. Defensively, he is more than ready for this level, but that is why the development of catchers is so tricky – ensuring both the offense and defense are in sync with each other.

In an ideal world, Salas is a plus defender with a high on-base percentage and the ability to drive the ball into the gaps. He has the tools to do so, and this year will show if he can demonstrate the consistency to do so.

3) Kash Mayfield (NR)
Position: LHSP
Height/Weight: 6-4/200
Age: 20
Bats/Throws: L/L
How Acquired: First Round, 2024 Draft (25th overall)

Scouting Report: For the third time in eight years, the Padres used their first pick to take a high school left-hander, calling the two-time Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year. Unlike many of his fellow top picks, Mayfield stayed off the showcase circuit in 2023, opting instead to work on building up physically and focusing on maximizing his chances of becoming a first-rounder. The gambit paid off as he added 30 pounds of muscle and improved his flexibility in his delivery.

At the time of the draft, Mayfield was reportedly sitting in the mid-90s. While he already shows the building blocks for an advanced changeup, he’ll need to show he can spin the ball in his professional debut. As has become the Padres’ custom, they kept him out of game action in the desert, instead working with him to develop an arm care routine and focus on pitch design.

Projection: The key for every pitcher like Mayfield, who was insanely talented as a teenager, will be to adapt to facing better hitters and pitching at the professional level. He’ll need to locate the fastball and be able to rely on secondary pitches to get outs instead of simply overpowering opponents.

He is slightly older than most high school draft picks coming into professional ball, so the Padres may look to advance him to High-A Fort Wayne by the end of the season. For now, he’ll open at the front of the Lake Elsinore rotation and look to throw 100 quality innings.

4) Humberto Cruz (NR)
Position: RHSP
Height/Weight: 6-2/170
Age: 18
Bats/Throws: R/R
How Acquired: 2023 International Free Agent

Scouting Report: Cruz was the top pitching prospect in the international class according to MLB Pipeline last year. The Padres had to move 12th round 2023 pick Blake Dickerson and outfielder Oliver Carrillo to get the cap space they needed to sign him to a $750,000 bonus that was the largest one earned by a Mexican pitcher on the year. The organization brought him stateside at the start of the ACL season, but limited the 17-year-old to just two appearances of one inning each as they worked on building up his 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame.

He sat at 94-97 in those outings and flashed a changeup and slider that can complement the offering. Already a veteran of high-level international competition and a product of the renowned development program of the Diablos Rojos, Cruz shows more polish than many other pitchers his age.

Projection: A minor shoulder injury at the end of instructs last year led to a slow offseason and delayed start to spring training. He likely won’t face live batters until extended spring training, which will make it easy to start him in the ACL before deciding when to push him to Lake Elsinore. Cruz might have the most polish of the young high-end pitching talent and could separate himself from the pack as he continues to add muscle.

5) Boston Bateman (NR)
Position: LHSP
Height/Weight: 6-8/250
Age: 19
Bats/Throws: R/L
How Acquired: Second Round, 2024 Draft (52nd overall)

Scouting Report: “Sasquatch” attended high school in Ventura Country and was committed to LSU before San Diego went over-slot to get him to agree to a $2.5 million bonus in the second round. As a gifted right-hand hitting first baseman in high school, he may have also been a candidate to get some at-bats in college, but his future is purely on the mound as a pro. Evaluators liked how he could hold his mid-90s velocity, and he has an impressive 1-7 downward curve. During his first winter as a professional, he was asked to develop a changeup and focus on incorporating his lower body more into his mechanics going forward.

Projection: Even at his formidable size, Bateman is a good athlete, lifting his very high ceiling. He’ll need to refine his mechanics to help develop a changeup, and might ultimately be served well by a tight slider as a secondary breaking pitch. He should pair with Mayfield in the Elsinore rotation for most of the year.

6) Henry Baez (#20)
Position: RHSP
Height/Weight: 6-3/200
Age: 22
Bats/Throws: R/R
How Acquired: 2020 International Free Agent
Team              W-L       IP        ERA      GS       K/BB    Hits   Runs/ER
TinCaps          2-3       76.1     2.95     17        78/25   56        35/25
Missions         5-1       50.0     3.06     9          31/15   42        17/17

2024 Highlights: Henry Baez was the Padres Minor League Pitcher of the Year as the 22-year-old Dominican put together his best season with a 2.99 ERA between Fort Wayne and San Antonio. He gets good velocity on his fastball, and his command has significantly improved in the past two years, though there are some concerns about whether there’s enough life in the pitch. The organization has been particularly impressed with the development of his splitter, which he mainly throws to left-handers to go along with his curve and his four- and a two-seam fastballs. While the organization raves about many of their players’ makeup, the comments on Baez particularly stood out. He’s the son of a coach and was praised for his work ethic and ability to translate for many of the younger Spanish-speaking players.

Negatives: Baez won’t wholly overwhelm hitters with his raw stuff. His arsenal gets just a 20.1% whiff rate, and opposing hitters posted an 86.4% in-zone contact rate off the right-hander once he reached San Antonio. While Baez isn’t a swing-and-miss machine like others in the San Diego system, he still gets a respectable 27.3% chase rate. More importantly, Baez found a knack for getting hitters to beat the ball into the ground, logging a career-best 57.3% ground ball rate in Double-A.

Projection: Baez’s fastball now sits in the 94-95 range, up from the season prior. It even topped out at 97 mph on the year. His split-changeup also took another step forward with better depth and dive closer to the plate. His slider remains just an average pitch. Spinning it in the high 70s, Baez moves the pitch more vertically than horizontally, sometimes leaving it exposed in the middle of the zone, contributing to his stark 16.2 HR/FB ratio in Double-A.

He will probably return to San Antonio to start the year, but he could be a candidate for the big club by mid-year.

7) Isaiah Lowe (NR)
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-2/225
Age: 20
Bats/Throws: R/R
How Acquired: 11th Round, 2022 Draft
Team               W-L    IP          ERA     GS       K/BB     Hits     Runs/Earned Runs
Storm              5-3       72         3.00     13        89/29   56        27/24
TinCaps          2-3       76.1     2.95     17        78/25   56        35/25

2024 Highlights: Isaiah Lowe returned with a vengeance after missing most of 2023 with shoulder injuries. At 21, he dominated the Cal League before being promoted to Fort Wayne. Lowe throws a fastball, sweeper, and changeup, but his wipeout pitch is his slider, which had hitters guessing enough to generate a 44% swing-and-miss rate between Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne last year.

His fastball sits around 92-94 with more in the tank, but his stout build and big extension suggest he can push that up as he advances. In total, his arsenal generated a 31.2% whiff rate in Lake Elsinore, and when he did work in the zone, hitters still struggled against him, posting just a 74.5% Z-contact rate against the righty.

Negatives: The North Carolina native walked a few too many batters in High-A, but that may have had as much to do with throwing nearly ten times as many innings as he did in 2023. His fastball shape is just average at this point and Lowe will need to add to his arsenal to raise his ceiling.

Projection: He should return to the Summit City to start the year. Last season, when he reached Fort Wayne, hitters attacked early and often in counts and appeared to sit on pitches, knowing he only had an authentic feel for two. Lowe started to have a better feel with the changeup as the season wound down. The addition of a cutter and a more reliable change could help him most in setting up his slider and making his fastball more effective.

8) Braden Nett (NR)
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-4/190
Age: 22
Bats/Throws: R/R
How Acquired: Undrafted Free Agent, 2022
Team                W-L     IP          ERA    GS       K/BB    Hits   Runs/ER
TinCaps           5-2       60.1     4.03    18        70/35      48        33/27
Missions          0-0       4.2       1.93     1          3/0          4          1/1

2024 Highlights: The Padres took a flyer on Nett as an undrafted free agent in 2022 even though the unheralded right-hander never threw a competitive pitch at his junior college in the Show Me State. After a so-so 2023 campaign, 2024 was a breakout season as Nett posted a 26.7% strikeout rate, 2.72 ERA, and 3.35 FIP while allowing just one home run in Fort Wayne

The 22-year-old’s arsenal is raw and explosive. It is headlined by a fastball that regularly clocks in at 96-98 mph and topped out at 99 on August 18. The pitch also shows excellent carry and arm-side run, posting upwards of 18 inches of induced vertical break (IVB) and exploding out of his hand. For his secondaries, Nett features a high-80s sweeper/slider that, this past season, generated a 38% swing-and-miss rate thanks to its tight spin and depth.

Nett also sports a solid cutter that plays well off the slider and fastball and boasts a changeup with a respectable arm-side fade. The newest addition to the mix is a curveball in the high 70s with plus spin and 1-to-7 action to round out a five-pitch mix.

Negatives: Nett’s Achilles heel has been command of any of his dynamic offerings. For all that his arsenal wowed, he posted a 13.2% walk rate and in 2023 and he landed just 43.7% of his first pitches for strikes. In part because the Padres were careful with him, and in part because of his command issues, he didn’t throw five innings until late July in Fort Wayne.

Projection: After getting one cameo appearance in San Antonio last year, Nett should return there to start the year. His showing in big league spring training proves he could be one of the more exciting pitchers in the system. To stay in the chase for a big league rotation spot, he’ll need to show he can throw his pitches for strikes consistently. Even if the control doesn’t come, he could get a chance to try his repertoire in a bullpen role.

9) Jagger Haynes (NR)
Position: LHP
Height/Weight: 6-3/195
Age: 21
Bats/Throws: L/L
How Acquired: Fifth Round, 2020 Draft
Team              W-L       IP       ERA    GS       K/BB       Hits    Runs/ER
TinCaps          2-6       110.2   4.64     22        114/66   90         59/57

2024 Highlights: Haynes’s primary goal coming into 2023 was to take the ball each week and pitch an entire season. He accomplished that in spades, starting 22 games for the TinCaps and throwing 110.2 innings after only making it through 25.1 frames in Lake Elsinore in 2023, his first competitive action after being drafted in 2020.

The left-hander throws a fastball that sat in the low 90s, but he showed the ability to occasionally dial it up and likely has more in the tank as he trusts his health going forward. The arm-side run on his four-seamer acts more like a two-seam fastball, which he pairs with a solid changeup, a good slider, and a developing curve ball.

Haynes, who is from the same county in North Carolina as MacKenzie Gore, got off to a horrid start in 2024, giving up 11 earned runs across just 4.2 total innings in his first three starts, but he bounced back in May with a 2.28 ERA while holding opponents to a .191 batting average.

Negatives: Haynes had a worrying 13.9% walk rate in his first full season, but he showed enough athleticism to believe he can improve the consistency of his delivery as he builds up his professional experience. Unless both the control and command improve, though, he’ll be hard-pressed to get enough outs.

Projection: Finding the success he did at High-A in what was essentially his first professional season was a huge accomplishment. The next step is locking in his gains in 2024 for increased consistency in 2025. The continued development of a consistent quality changeup would be a huge step forward for him as he takes his place in a deep San Antonio starting staff.

10) Ryan Bergert (14)
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-2/200
Age: 24
Bats/Throws: R/R
How Acquired: Sixth Round 2021 Draft
Team                W-L    IP      ERA    GS       K/BB   Hits     Runs/ER
Missions          2-10     98     4.78     23        87/33   99        59/52

2024 Highlights: There’s no way around it: Bergert’s 2024 was bad. After making big strides with command and adding in an effective sweeper in 2023, the University of West Virginia product was stellar in his first four outings for San Antonio. Then the bottom completely dropped out. With a lower arm slot, he lost velocity on his fastball, movement on the sweeper, and feel for the strike zone. By mid-June, things were so bleak that he was pulled out of the rotation for a month to work on the side. Things improved in the second half as he found a better arm slot and his velocity and command bounced back to finish the year with a 2.89 ERA over his final 10 appearances. He went to the Arizona Fall League to build on his success but instead got hit hard and walked 15.3% of the batters he faced. The organization still opted to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Negatives: There are consistency questions with his secondary pitches, and at times, Bergert can get too reliant on his four-seam rising fastball, but all of the stuff is there to be a quality major league starter if he can lock in his release point.

Projection: When Bergert’s fastball is on, it is as good as any pitch in the organization and belongs in a big league rotation. He has developed a quality sweeper, a gyro, and a changeup. Still, his manager in San Antonio, Luke Montz, noted that for Ryan, it’s now about when and when not to use his pitches, following his game plan and when to deviate from it and, above all, execution.

11) Romeo Sanabria (NR)
Position: 1B
Height/Weight: 6-3/240
Age: 22
Bats/Throws: L/R
How Acquired: 18th Round, 2022 Draft
Team                AVG   OBP     SLG      PA        K/BB    Hits     XBH/HR
Storm              .311     .433     .493     270      46/48   68        16/8
TinCaps          .262     .343     .393     140      31/15   32        10/2
Missions         .270     .375     .333     136      38/21   30        5/1

2024 Highlights: Romeo Sanabria was our Player of the Year in the ACL in 2023, and he showed it was no fluke by posting an .823 OPS while progressing up three levels last season. The left-handed hitting first baseman from Miami demonstrated elite strike zone judgment and the ability to use the whole field, particularly in two-strike counts.

Sanabria was drafted out of Indian River State College (JC) in the 18th round in 2022. He was a catcher in college, but the organization moved him to first base in 2023 so he could focus on his offense. It worked as he hit .359/.443/617 in the ACL before being promoted to Lake Elsinore late in the year.

He has elite bat control, and his hit tool is the strongest of his five tools. At his best, he could be a first baseman who hits for a high average, draws a ton of walks, and has 20 to 25 home run power.

Negatives: While Sanabria hits some absolute monster blasts in batting practice, he has struggled to elevate the ball as consistently as he’ll need to if he’s going to meet the high offensive bar for first base-only prospects in the upper minors. He will force his way into an opportunity if he can consistently get around on big velocity down-and-in. While he’s made impressive strides in improving his conditioning, he’s still likely limited to just first base, and he’s still a work in progress there.

Projection: Sanabria should begin the year back in the Alamo City with two primary goals: show more power to the pull side, and prove that the increase in strikeouts at the end of the season was more a factor of fatigue than struggles with advanced pitching.

12) Kavares Tears (NR)
Position: OF
Height/Weight: 6-0/200
Age: 22
Bats/Throws: L/L
How Acquired: Fourth Round, 2024 Draft

Scouting Report: After not seeing the field in much of his first two seasons in Knoxville, Tears exploded in 2024, posting a 1.070 OPS and .643 slugging percentage with 20 homers while batting .324. That production in the SEC led multiple people in the industry to peg Tears as a top-100 talent heading into the draft. That included MLB Pipeline, who had him as their 66th overall player on the board. However, the explosive Tennessee Volunteer slipped to San Diego at the 134th overall pick the Padres received for losing Josh Hader to free agency.

At the dish, the left-hander is powerful and athletic and tends to put out a surplus of line drives. Tears made a living killing fastballs in college. His bat speed immediately jumps out to observers. Against the heater, Tears posted a 73% hard-hit rate, and he slugged over .500 on heaters that were thrown harder than 92 mph in the college season.

Negatives: Tears might have the raw stuff to develop into a four-tool player, but he has a way to go to reach his peak. Unfortunately, the hit tool doesn’t offer such lofty possibilities. His in-zone contact rate in college left plenty to be desired, and he needs to improve his swing decisions and hitting ability on non-fastballs. He struggled mightily at times with changeups and sliders, especially from lefties.

Projection: After dealing with hamstring issues after he was drafted last year, Tears could start the season in Lake Elsinore to get his feet wet and gain some confidence. With the sort of production he’s capable of, the 22-year-old could see plenty of Fort Wayne in the 2025 season.

13) Sean Reynolds (NR)
Position: RHRP
Height/Weight: 6-8/250
Age: 22
Bats/Throws: L/R
How Acquired: Trade from Miami Marlins for Ryan Weathers
Team                 W-L      IP       ERA    Saves     K/BB    Hits     Runs/ER
Chihuahuas       2-0       54       6.83     7            67/33     58        41/37
Padres               0-0       11       0.82                    21/5      10        1/1

2024 Highlights: Don’t look at the numbers in El Paso; look at what the 6-foot-8 monster did in two stints in the big leagues: allowing just one run in 11 innings, with 21 strikeouts against five walks. Quite a turn-around from walking 27 batters in 16 innings on his way to a 13.50 ERA for the Chihuahuas after the Padres acquired him in 2023. The key for the reversal in fortunes was harnessing his upper-90s fastball, which can consistently touch 100 mph, and finding feel to throw his slider for strikes often enough that batters couldn’t simple let it go by.

The high-80s slider is his best pitch, flummoxing MLB hitters to the tune of a 45.2% whiff rate and 146 Stuff+. Reynolds spun the pitch at over 2,400 RPMs and saw around a -5.4 horizontal break and a -7.4 VAA (Vertical Approach Angle).

Negatives: Even in his stellar brief appearance in the majors, Reynolds threw less than 70% of his pitches in the zone, leaving him little margin for error. It’s not surprising that someone only who moved to the mound in 2021 would struggle to control his stuff – especially given Reynolds’ size – but given that he’s turning 27 in April, the window to find enough command is narrow.

Projection: Unfortunately for Reynolds, he’s dealing with a stress reaction in his right foot this spring, making it unlikely he’ll be ready for the start of the season. Once he gets back into action, if he can keep the walk rate in low double-digits, Reynolds has the repertoire to be a force at the back of a bullpen. That said, Triple-A and foreign leagues are full of hard-throwing, big-bodied relievers who never found enough control to make their stuff play at the highest level.

14) Bradgley Rodriguez (NR)
Position: RHRP
Height/Weight: 6-2/205
Age: 21
Bats/Throws: R/R
How Acquired: 2021 International Free Agent
Team              W-L      IP        ERA    Saves   K/BB     Hits     Runs/ER
Storm              0-0       5.1      1.69     2            9/1         2          1/1
TinCaps          2-0       41.2     3.46     1            45/23     16        16/12
Missions         0-0       14.1     3.14     4            21/7        5          5/5

2024 Highlights: Rodriguez’s name started to pop up in conversations with staff last winter when – fully healthy and prepared to compete after two years off the mound – he dialed up triple-digits in the Venezuelan Winter League and then at a camp in the Dominican. By the time he came stateside for the first time as a 20-year-old for spring training, he was already getting run as a potential quick-mover. That played out after he opened the year in the Lake Elsinore bullpen. In four appearances, he struck out nine of the 19 batters he faced, clearly showing he was too much for Low-A hitters. He jumped to Fort Wayne for 29 outings before finishing the year with four saves in 12 appearances for San Antonio. While the 101 mph fastball is a head-turner, his best offering is a devastating changeup with good separation and serious arm-side movement. While he hasn’t been able to develop even average command yet, his arsenal, including a sharp slider, is nasty enough to get plenty of bad swings.

Negatives: Like many of the Padres’ other explosive arms, Rodriguez still needs to improve his command. In his first campaign in the U.S., he posted a 12.2% walk rate. If he can lower that number, his ceiling is incredibly high.

Projection: Rodriguez has been very impressive in big league camp, getting great results and looking very much like he belongs. It is still most likely that he’ll open the season back in San Antonio where he will look to cut down on his walks. With continued results, though, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see him in the big leagues even as soon as the first half of this season.

15) Tirso Ornelas (NR)
Position: Corner OF
Height/Weight: 6-4/235
Age: 24
Bats/Throws: L/R
How Acquired: 2016 International Free Agent
Team               AVG   OBP    SLG    PA       K/BB    Hits     XBH/HR       
Chihuahuas     .297   .367     .497     548      88/53   144      49/23

2024 Highlights: The Tijuana native’s path through the minors has been circuitous. He put up above-average offensive numbers through his first two seasons while showing off power in batting practice that didn’t make it into games. Then, in 2019, the bottom dropped out so badly in High A that he returned to the complex. It wasn’t until 2023 that he again showed upside at the plate, building on his power production while demonstrating good patience and strike zone awareness. He opened last season in El Paso with an absolutely dreadful 3-for-34 stretch before finding his stride and posting a .900+ OPS over the next three months. The organization added him to the 40-player roster in mid-July, but his production almost immediately fell off, and he never sniffed a spot on the active roster. While at Triple-A, Ornelas finally got a bit of action at first base, a fit that has seemed like an option for half a decade. If he can elevate the ball with enough frequency – something he’s never done for even a half-season – his bat has the potential to play at a corner position.

Negatives: While Ornelas finally put together back-to-back strong offensive years, posting a 113 wRC+ and .376 wOBA in the offense-happy PCL last season, his Statcast data did not jump off the page. His 41.1% hard-hit rate, 5.8% barrel rate, and 32.6 sweet spot percentage were below average, and while he got the ball in the air more often, his 48.1% ground ball rate was still a bit high.

Projection: The third-longest tenured player in the organization, Ornelas has a real shot at making the big league roster this spring. So far, he’s done everything he can to take the opportunity, making frequent, loud contact while showing some positional flexibility. The 25-year-old needs to hit to provide value, but if he can get to his high-end exit velocities more consistently, there’s plenty of reason to think he can.

16) Victor Lizarraga (16)
Position: RHSP
Height/Weight: 6-3/205
Age: 21
Bats/Throws: R/R
How Acquired: 2021 International Free Agent
Team              W-L     IP      ERA    GS      K/BB      Hits     Runs/ER
Missions         5-6      96      4.03     21       102/44    79        50/43

2024 Highlights: The San Diego-born pitcher opted to leave Montgomery High School and move to family in Mexico in order to enter baseball as an international free agent. The early start to his career meant that he was one of the youngest pitchers in the Texas League last season. As a 20-year-old, the righty got solid, if unspectacular, results. Lizarraga generally has to rely on throwing his secondary pitches early in the count and sneaking his low- to mid-90s fastball past hitters. When he gets in trouble, he doesn’t land his slider early in the count, but when he’s on, he can attack batters from all four quadrants of the zone.

Negatives: The fastball will not blow anyone away where it sits but plus run and carry make it playable. It also pairs well with his slider and curve as his secondaries. The low-80s slider continues to be his best secondary pitch with noticeable late break. Though he throws his curve less often, it has shown to be a pitch he can command and get swings and misses with, thanks to its 1-7 movement. From May 18 to July 31, fans got a glimpse of what Lizarraga can be when his full pitch mix is working, as he posted a 3.38 ERA, 3.77 FIP, and 26.7% strikeout rate in 13 starts.

Projection: Being so young, the Padres need to decide whether to keep him in San Antonio for the start of the coming year or give him the promotion to the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. While Lizarraga profiles as a back-end starter at best, he could serve as depth and make his debut in 2025.

17) Francis Peña (NR)
Position: RHRP
Height/Weight: 6-3/205
Age: 24
Bats/Throws: R/R
How Acquired: 2022 International Free Agent
Team               W-L      IP       ERA    SV       K/BB    Hits   Runs/ER
TinCaps           3-0       21       0.86     2          17/7     13       3/2
Missions          0-2       26.1    2.05     1          31/5     18       9/6
Chihuahuas   3-2       15.2      5.17     0          16/6     15      11/9

2024 Highlights: Peña (yes, despite his official listings, there’s an ñ in there) was just a few weeks short of 21 years old when he signed out of the Dominican Republic for just $10,000 in 2022. Though that’s hardly the typical profile of a pitcher capable of dominating, Peña has done nothing but dominate since coming into the organization. In 2024, he raced from Fort Wayne all the way to El Paso, overwhelming hitters at the lower levels. Unlike the other relievers with big-time fastballs on this list, Pena has no issue with command, and his sinker, which sits 96-98 and topped out at 101 from a three-quarter arm slot, might be the most dominant pitch in the system. This is due to his fast arm action from a long-limbed delivery, which creates an extra horizontal break. The pitch has clocked an absurd 11 to 12 inches of horizontal break to the arm side.

Negatives: He is ranked lower than other relievers here because, thus far, the sinker is his only truly plus pitch. He has taken to throwing his cutter more, but it often comes out loopy, and he struggles to control it. That didn’t matter much until he reached Triple-A, as he dominated until advanced batters could out-wait his secondary pitches, assuming he wouldn’t throw them for a strike.

Projection: Peña has looked good in big league camp this spring, but should still begin the year back in Triple-A. If he can refine his off-speed pitches in the thin El Paso air, he should be ready to quickly throw high-leverage situations in San Diego.

18) Kale Fountain (NR)
Position: 3B/1B
Height/Weight: 6-5, 225
Age: 19
Bats/Throws: R/R
How Acquired: Fifth Round, 2024 Draft

Scouting Report: The Padres swung big in the draft, betting on 6-foot-5, 225-pound 18-year-old Kale Fountain’s big-time power. The third baseman had already laid claim to Nebraska’s career high school home run record before the end of his junior year and was off to a huge start in his senior campaign before suffering an elbow injury that was ultimately diagnosed as a UCL tear. He seemed destined to follow through on his commitment to LSU when he wasn’t called on day one of the draft, but the Padres decided they could hit his signing bonus number of $1.7 million by selecting him in the fifth round and then finishing day two with only five-figure senior signs.

Projection: While the power isn’t in question, his ability to make contact against advanced pitching is. Fountain was already a risk for a move across the diamond to first base before his elbow injury which ultimately led to Tommy John surgery last fall. He should be ready for DH work by the time extended spring training gets underway and could see action at first base by the end of the ACL season. How much he’s able to work on bat-to-ball abilities as he completes his rehab will be key to his success moving forward.

19) Cobb Hightower (NA)
Position: SS
Height/Weight: 6-0/180
Age: 20
Bats/Throws: R/R
How Acquired: Third Round, 2024 Draft

Scouting Report: Hightower was a late riser thanks to a stellar final season at North Carolina’s East Rowan High School, where he hit .462 and launched nine homers in his draft year. That enticed the Padres to give him full slot money ($852,300) in the third round to bypass his commitment to the home-state Tar Heels. He is a twitchy athlete with excellent hands. He has no issue pulling inside to turn on pitches and shows plus barrel control and impressive bat speed. He stands square at the dish in a slight squat, keeping his barrel in the zone for a long time. Hightower also showed off the speed at several showcases, posting strong 6.6 marks in the 60-yard dash. His raw power and in-game power should continue to emerge with time, but in the informal “bridge league” after the ACL season ended, he reportedly showed quality pull-side power. Overall, his tools right now make him a bat-first prospect.

Projection: San Diego will certainly let him develop as a shortstop for now, but given his size and profile, he may move to second base or the outfield at some point. Either would necessitate higher offensive production, but that may suit his skill set.

20)  Omar Cruz (NA)
Position: LHP
Height/Weight: 6-0/200
Age:    26
Bats/Throws: L/L
How Acquired: 2024 Minor League Rule 5 selection
Team               W-L       IP      ERA    GS        K/BB    Hits     Runs/ER
Missions          5-0       47.2    3.59     2          70/13     36        20/19
Chihuahuas   1-2       38.2      4.42     2          48/23     33        20/19

2024 Highlights: Cruz originally signed with the Padres out of Mexico in 2017 and put up solid enough numbers in his first two seasons to become a component in the trade to acquire Joe Musgrove. The lefty stalled out in the Pirates organization, and the Padres reacquired him during the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft last winter. Relying on a stellar changeup and a big curve to pair with a fastball in the low-90s, Cruz racked up strikeouts in the bullpen for San Antonio to open the year, eventually stretching out to go through lineups multiple times.

The performance was enough to earn his first Triple-A opportunity at 25. The lefty saw his strikeout rate drop and his walk rate rise, but he held his own enough to earn a spot on the 40-player roster during the offseason.

Negatives: Cruz is not going to blow anyone away with his fastball, but he still gets plenty of swing-and-miss with his arsenal. Although his walk rate ticked up to 13.8%, he still managed to get an impressive 16.7% swing-and-miss rate with a 28.7% strikeout rate for El Paso. Given his PCL conditions, his 4.42 ERA was more than respectable, and his 3.47 FIP was even more impressive.

Projection: Cruz likely will open the year in the rotation for El Paso, but he could be in the mix for long relief or, in a pinch, a starting role if the big-league club has a mid-year need.