Padres Lead MLB With 6 Top-100 Prospects, Per Baseball America

Over the past few seasons, your San Diego Padres have not been amongst the top of many MLB farm system rankings. However, that may change as we head into the 2024 season. 

Entering the new year, San Diego has an impressive number of young prospects ready to make a name for themselves. Baseball America says the Friars are tied with the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees for having the most top 100 prospects with six. 

The six Friars prospects in the top 100 are as follows: catcher Ethan Salas at eight, shortstop Jackson Merrill at 17, left-handed pitcher Robby Snelling at 27, right-handed pitcher Dylan Kesko at 38, right-handed pitcher Drew Thorpe at 58 and their newest international signee shortstop Leodalis De Vries at 99. 

Salas, 17, was signed by the Padres last year as an international signee. In 2023, Salas slashed .248/.331/.421 in the minors with a .752 OPS, nine home runs, and 41 RBIs with the San Antonio Missions in double-A. He is a five-tool catcher with a smooth left-handed swing in the batter's box. 

Salas is the highest ranked of the six, and deservedly so. The other potential star is their most recent signee, Leodalis De Vries. De Vries is ranked 99 in the top 100 but possibly has the most promise from all the other prospects. He has all the tools to be an elite ball player at the pro level, and it'll only be a matter of time before he rises in the rankings. 

The Padres have a great future to build off of. Hopefully, they take the lead with having the most top-100 prospects soon and create a dynamic team to work with.