The Padres have used a lot of their prospect capital over the previous few years to accumulate main league expertise. They went from having probably the greatest farm programs in 2020 (quantity 2 on MLB.com) to rating twenty eighth in 2025 (Bleacher Report). Baseball America simply launched their high prospect rankings for the approaching season and the Padres have two gamers within the high 100: Leodalis DeVries and Ethan Salas.
Final 12 months, Salas was rated the highest prospect. DeVries has overtaken him because the top-ranked prospect within the system. DeVries, 18 years outdated, is ranked 18th, whereas Salas, at 19 years of age, is the Thirty first-ranked prospect on the checklist. Salas was signed from the 2023 worldwide class and DeVries signed as the highest worldwide prospect in 2024.
Ethan Salas
Ethan Salas, born in Florida and raised each in america and Venezuela, is bilingual and was the top-rated prospect within the worldwide class in 2023. He signed for $5.6 million in January of ’23 at 16 years of age.
He started taking part in in Might of 2023 with Single-A Lake Elsinore. He was promoted to Excessive-A Fort Wayne in August and named the highest catching prospect by MLB that very same month. After 9 video games at Fort Wayne, Salas was promoted to Double-A San Antonio for 9 video games (he suffered a proper knee sprain) and completed his debut season with a .248/.331/421 slash line in 254 at-bats.
After such an aggressive promotion in his rookie season, the Padres positioned Salas in Excessive-A Fort Wayne for the 2024 season. In 412 at-bats, Salas hit .206/.228/.311, a marked decline from his rookie season. It ought to be famous that Salas, at 18 years outdated, was taking part in with gamers 3-4 years older than himself throughout what would usually be his senior 12 months of highschool. The drop in manufacturing explains the change in his rankings for this 12 months within the prospect checklist.
He’s a extremely rated defensive prospect, with rave evaluations for his defensive expertise and skill to speak with pitchers. With much more progress and maturity to come back, it’s not but potential to find out the place Salas will finally find yourself with both his defensive or offensive ability set. Hopefully, the 2025 season will give the Padres a greater concept of his growth.
Leodalis DeVries
Leodalis DeVries, signed for $4.2 million out of the Dominican Republic, is a switch-hitting shortstop. He marks the second 12 months in a row the Padres have been capable of signal the top-ranked worldwide prospect, they usually positioned him with Single-A Lake Elsinore on the age of 17. DeVries impresses scouts together with his plate self-discipline and pitch recognition, in addition to his pace and quickness on protection. Ranked the #2 prospect within the system after Salas in 2024, DeVries is presently rated #1 by many evaluators resulting from his potential and the disappointing season by Salas.
In 75 video games, 299 AB, DeVries hit .237/.361/.441 with Lake Elsinore. DeVries is taken into account to be a potential 5-tool prospect with superior expertise on either side of the ball. A switch-hitting shortstop with projected energy and superior plate self-discipline, he’s complemented by pace and an above-average arm. This coming season may also do a lot to offer the Padres with a greater base to guage his growth.
Each gamers have been despatched to the Arizona Fall League after the 2024 season, with DeVries being the youngest participant within the league. Salas hit .228/.327/.424 in 23 video games and 92 AB with 4 homers. DeVries hit .179/.269/.313 in 18 video games and 67 AB with 2 homers. Each will likely be at massive league camp and attended prospect camp in Arizona and Joe Musgrove’s Camp 44 the week earlier than Padres Fanfest.
Each gamers have a projected arrival of 2027, per MLB.com.
The subsequent a number of prospects are within the high 20 for a lot of the prospect lists obtainable at the moment. Though barely completely different of their rankings relying on the evaluator, most have been drafted throughout the final two years and are predominantly pitchers. In no explicit order, aside from they’re all within the high 20 by most concerns.
All prospect information per MLB.com.
Kash Mayfield
Drafted in 2024 within the 1st spherical (25). Mayfield is a 19-year-old LHP who signed for $3.4 million. He’s 6’4” and 200 lbs with a mid-90’s fastball, a complicated change, and a slurvy breaking ball. He was assigned to the ACL Padres after the draft however didn’t play.
Boston Bateman
Drafted within the 2nd spherical (52) of the 2024 draft. Bateman is a 19-year-old LHP who signed for $2.5 million (above slot for that choose). At 6’ 8” and 240 lbs, Bateman has a excessive 92-97 mph fastball and a plus curve. He’s a two-pitch pitcher who must develop a 3rd pitch if he needs to start out within the massive leagues. He’s nonetheless a piece in progress however has gotten excessive marks for his work ethic.
Humberto Cruz
Drafted within the 2024 Worldwide class out of Mexico and signed for $750,000. The 18-year-old RHP is 6’ 1” and 170 lbs and has a excessive 80’s to 94 mph fastball with heavy sink. His changeup and slider are each efficient, with the changeup an actual weapon. His greatest high quality is his capacity to throw constant strikes.
Henry Baez
Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019 for $125,000, Baez was unable to pitch within the minors till 2021 because of the pandemic. He completed 2024 with San Antonio (Double-A) after beginning the season with Fort Wayne. The 6’3” 175 lb RHP throws his fastball as much as 97 mph with a slider and a split-change that each want some work. If he doesn’t enhance his stroll charges, the bullpen might be his eventual dwelling.
Kavares Tears
Drafted within the fortieth spherical (134th) of 2024 and signed for $525,000. At 6’ 0” and 200 lbs, the lefty OF has plus uncooked energy with bat pace and energy. He additionally has above-average foot pace and vary within the discipline. He has improved within the field with breaking ball recognition and make contact with and can take a stroll.
Jagger Haynes
Drafted within the fifth spherical of the 2020 draft at 6’3” and 170 lbs. A highschool draftee, Haynes was a sufferer of the pandemic lull after being drafted and signed for $ 300,000. He had elbow points out of the gate and wanted Tommy John surgical procedure. He made his professional debut in 2023 with Single-A Lake Elsinore however was restricted to 25 innings with different accidents. He then had a 92-97 mph fastball with a curve and changeup. He has been slowly labored up in his workload, however harm points have plagued his progress, and his upside continues to be to be decided.
Isaiah Lowe
Drafted within the eleventh spherical of the 2022 draft (330) and signed for $400,000 (above slot). At 6’1” and 220 lbs, the RHP has been stricken by harm to start out his profession. Each the 2023 common season (Lake Elsinore) and ACL begins have been restricted by shoulder points. In 2024, Lowe pitched in 24 video games throughout two leagues (Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne) with a 3.33 ERA with 111 Ok’s in 105 IP.
Braden Nett
Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022 after seeing him within the MLB Draft League. At 6’3” and 185 lbs, the RHP was slowed his first season by shoulder points however made his debut in Single-A Lake Elsinore in late summer season 2022. He has an explosive mid-90’s fastball and a high-spin slider. His two-pitch combine would possibly restrict him to bullpen obligation solely, however his management wants to enhance to crack the massive leagues.
Sean Reynolds
Drafted within the 2016 novice draft, 4th spherical (113). At 6’ 8” and 250 lbs, Reynolds was drafted and signed as a two-way participant by the Marlins for $600,000. As a hitter, he was by no means capable of make constant contact together with his energy stroke. He transitioned to the mound full-time in 2021. The suitable-hander was traded to the Padres in November of 2023 as a part of the commerce for Ryan Weathers. He made his main league debut in July of that season.
He’s nonetheless a prospect due to his lack of ability to constantly keep within the zone. Reynolds’ demotion to El Paso in 2023 and begin of the season in 2024 allowed for him to work on his command in addition to to refine his pitches. He has a 95-100 mph fastball with a slider, sweeper, changeup, and curveball. He shelved the change and curve when promoted to the Padres for 9 appearances in 2024. The expectation is that he ought to consider his fastball-slider combo out of the bullpen so as to solidify his place on the key league roster.
Juan Nunez
Chosen by the Padres on the 2024 Winter Conferences’ Rule 5 draft from the Baltimore Orioles. He was initially signed in 2019 and had his profession sidelined by the pandemic, like many others. He was traded in 2021 from Minnesota to the Orioles. He pitched effectively for the Excessive-A Aberdeen Iron Birds for the beginning of the 2024 season however developed shoulder points and was left off the Orioles 40-man roster.
At 5’ 11” and 190 lbs, Nunez has massive stuff with a 4-pitch combine. His fastball flashes 96-97 mph with an influence curve and a gyro slider which are each potential plus pitches. He’s additionally engaged on a change that appears to be not less than common. His small measurement would possibly restrict his potential as a starter, and he’s nonetheless combating with management. Nunez may develop shortly, with a bit of luck.
Ryan Bergert
Drafted within the sixth spherical (190) of the 2021 novice draft. He had Tommy John surgical procedure previous to the draft and acquired double slot cash and a $500,000 bonus. At 6’1” and 210 lbs, Bergert began his profession at Excessive-A Fort Wayne in 2022. He had a formidable 2023 season throughout Excessive-A and Double-A San Antonio with a mixed 2.73 ERA. He pitches with a low 90’s fastball, a slider, changeup, and a curve that he hasn’t used a lot.
He spent the 2024 season in Double-A San Antonio and skilled a troublesome season with a 2-10 document and 4.78 ERA. His fastball velocity was down, and the break on his slider diminished. Regardless of this step again, the Padres positioned Bergert on the 40-man roster for 2025, and he stays a high 15 prospect. He had a shutdown mid-season after his horrible begin and had marked enchancment over his final 11 video games. His velocity and effectiveness have been each improved. He additionally has improved his secondary pitches sufficient that it appears possible he will likely be at main league spring coaching. (2024 report per madfriars.com’s Clark Farenthold).
Tirso Ornelas
Signed by the Padres in 2017 for $1.5 million out of Mexico within the Worldwide Class, Ornelas is presently 24 years outdated. At 6’3” and 200 lbs, it appears that evidently his time has come to place himself on the map. He was unprotected by the crew within the Rule 5 draft for 3 straight seasons and was not claimed. Ornelas spent 2024 with Triple-A El Paso and hit .297/.367/.497 with 23 homers in 128 video games.
He has spectacular energy however struggles with breaking pitches whereas hitting the ball into the bottom at a excessive charge. He has performed largely as a nook outfielder however possesses below-average pace and common arm energy. Ornelas profiles as a fourth outfielder and should get his finest shot to make the crew this spring.
Francis Pena
Signed in 2022 out of the Dominican Republic earlier than his twenty first birthday, Pena instantly turned a right-handed reliever together with his first appearances within the growth league (Arizona Advanced League) and spending the remainder of the 2023 season with Excessive-A Fort Wayne. At 6’ 1” and 170 lbs, Pena has explosive stuff. His four-seam fastball is 96-101 mph with sink and is complemented by a low 91-97 mph cutter.
His 2024 season noticed him start in Fort Wayne and rise to the Triple-A stage over 63 innings with a 2.43 ERA and a 25.1% Ok charge. He exhibits glorious command together with his sinker, displaying 11 to 12 inches of horizontal break. Due to his fast rise final season, Pena will in all probability start 2025 in Triple-A however anticipate to see him in spring coaching with the key leaguers and don’t be stunned to see an early-season call-up to the bigs if he continues the success he has proven to this point. (2024 report per madfriars.com’s Clark Farenthold).
As acknowledged beforehand, the Padres finest prospects exterior of Salas and DeVries are predominantly pitchers. OF Tavares Tears and OF Tirso Ornelas are the one different place gamers on this checklist.
Others to look at are 3B Kale Fountain, C Brandon Valenzuela, SS/2B Cobb Hightower, IF Rosman Verdugo, and 1B Romeo Sanabria. There are a lot of different pitchers within the system which have the potential to maneuver up within the rankings, and there will likely be updates all through the season because the minor leagues start and progresses.
