With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where San Diego’s Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:
- Leo De Vries (MLB No. 17), SS -- Fort Wayne (High-A)
- Ethan Salas (MLB No. 32), C -- San Antonio (Double-A)
- Kash Mayfield, LHP -- Lake Elsinore (Single-A)
- Humberto Cruz, RHP -- Extended spring training
- Boston Bateman, LHP -- Lake Elsinore (Single-A)
- Cobb Hightower, SS/2B -- Injured (hamstring)
- Kavares Tears, OF -- Injured (hamstring)
- Kale Fountain, 3B -- Injured (Tommy John rehab)
- Braden Nett RHP -- San Antonio (Double-A)
- Isaiah Lowe, RHP -- Fort Wayne (High-A)
- Tirso Ornelas, OF -- El Paso (Triple-A)
- Henry Baez, RHP -- San Antonio (Double-A)
- Victor Lizarraga, RHP -- San Antonio (Double-A)
- Bradgley Rodriguez, RHP -- San Antonio (Double-A)
- Tyson Neighbors, RHP -- Fort Wayne (High-A)
- Sean Reynolds, RHP -- San Diego (MLB) -- IL (right foot stress reaction)
- Romeo Sanabria, 1B -- San Antonio (Double-A)
- Francis Pena, RHP -- Extended spring training
- Jagger Haynes, LHP -- San Antonio (Double-A)
- Omar Cruz, LHP -- San Diego (MLB)
- Ryan Bergert, RHP -- El Paso (Triple-A)
- Deivid Coronil, SS -- Extended spring training
- Kai Roberts, OF -- Fort Wayne (High-A)
- Rosman Verdugo, INF -- Fort Wayne (High-A)
- Carlos Alvarez, LHP -- Extended spring training
- Clark Candiotti, RHP -- Fort Wayne (High-A)
- Jhoan De La Cruz, SS -- Extended spring training
- Sean Barnett, RHP/OF -- Lake Elsinore (Single-A)
- Lamar King Jr., C/1B -- Lake Elsinore (Single-A)
- Austin Krob, LHP -- El Paso (Triple-A)
Team to watch
The Padres continued their tradition of aggressively pushing prospects by moving Salas to Double-A, despite his .599 OPS at High-A last year. (He did perform better in the Arizona Fall League after making in-season adjustments to his stance height.) That’ll make San Antonio an intriguing follow to open 2025, but the 18-year-old catcher isn’t alone in the Texas League. The Missions will be filled with interesting arms as well. Many in the organization think Nett could be a quick mover toward San Diego if he can stay healthy, and Rodriguez flashed Major League-ready stuff out of the bullpen this spring. Baez, Lizarraga and Haynes will also give San Antonio a loaded Double-A pitching staff, while Sanabria adds another solid left-handed bat behind Salas.
COMPLETE PADRES PROSPECT COVERAGE
- Padres Top 30 prospects
- Prospect stats: Today | Last 10 | Last 30
- Draft pick stats
- Highlights
Players we could see in MLB in 2025
Ornelas, now on the 40-man roster, got a long look at an outfield spot this spring before being optioned to Triple-A El Paso. He should be one of the first considerations when San Diego needs a player on the grass, especially if he can continue to build on last year’s power gains. Anyone from the San Antonio group could be in consideration for a callup at some point this summer, but the favorites would be Nett and Rodriguez, considering the quality of their stuff. Even Salas could be in play in the second half if his 2024 adjustments hold and he maintains his reputation as a plus-plus defender behind the plate.
New faces
Three pitchers from the Padres’ 2024 Draft class will make their professional debuts with full-season clubs after not appearing with an affiliate last year. Mayfield (first round) and Bateman (second round) will anchor the Single-A Lake Elsinore rotation, while Candiotti (compensation pick after the fourth round) opens at High-A Fort Wayne.
On the shelf
It’s tougher news for the hitting side of the Padres’ most recent Draft group. Hightower and Tears both suffered hamstring injuries this spring but are expected to join Lake Elsinore later in April. Fountain underwent Tommy John surgery in the fall and will be much more delayed in making his Minor League debut. At the top level, Reynolds did not pitch in the Cactus League due to a right foot stress reaction. As of March 21, he was out of his walking boot and looking like he could be a bullpen option again by May.