Last week, The Athletic’s Keith Law released his annual farm system rankings. He followed up on the Padres with Monday’s list of the organization’s top 20 prospects. With these lists in mind, here’s an overview of where the San Diego system stands and how it might impact the big-league club.
Keith Law’s farm system ranking: No. 25
The Padres’ system contains a pair of elite teenagers who probably need at least another year of development; some promising lower-level minor leaguers; and a conspicuous lack of overall depth. That’s because president of baseball operations A.J. Preller traded 12 of Law’s 17 highest-ranked Padres prospects entering the 2024 season.
In the end, it was all very nearly worth it for a team that came within a game of ousting the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason. Now, however, the Padres’ system appears to offer little immediate help. Preller, facing payroll constraints, may feel compelled to trade key big-league pieces and/or some promising lower-level prospects to rebalance his roster.
Top-100 prospects
C Ethan Salas (No. 17)
SS Leodalis De Vries (No. 31)
Prospects most likely to impact 2025 team
Salas and De Vries ostensibly remain a year or so away from what would still be very aggressive call-ups. In the meantime, outfielder Tirso Ornelas could be asked to help fill out the Padres’ bench; the Tijuana native was added to the 40-man roster in July, and he finished the 2024 season with decent numbers in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
On the pitching front, the organization has several interesting relievers who could be in San Diego this year. Sean Reynolds, a 6-foot-8 former outfielder, already made a positive first impression in his Padres debut last summer. Francis Pena and Bradgley Rodriguez, two other right-handers with live arms, will join Reynolds in big-league camp. Pitchers who could soon contribute as spot starters or long relievers include Omar Cruz and Henry Baez.
Projected 2027 Opening Day roster
Note: This projection includes only players under contract and prospects in the Padres’ system. It is not meant to forecast potential signings or trades.
Starting lineup
C: Ethan Salas
1B: Xander Bogaerts
2B: Jake Cronenworth
SS: Leodalis De Vries
3B: Manny Machado
LF: Tirso Ornelas
CF: Jackson Merrill
RF: Fernando Tatis Jr.
DH: Luis Campusano
Bench
C: Brandon Valenzuela
INF: Eguy Rosario
INF/OF: Cobb Hightower
OF: Brandon Lockridge
Starting rotation
RHP Yu Darvish
RHP Joe Musgrove
RHP Randy Vásquez
RHP Stephen Kolek
RHP Henry Baez
Bullpen
RHP Jeremiah Estrada
RHP Sean Reynolds
LHP Yuki Matsui
RHP Alek Jacob
RHP Francis Pena
RHP Bradgley Rodriguez
RHP Jhony Brito
LHP Omar Cruz
(Top photo of Ethan Salas: David Durochik / Diamond Images via Getty Images)
