Padres top 10 prospects per Baseball America

Major League Baseball has not released its prospect rankings for its 30 teams for the 2026 season. The minor league evaluations will come out before the new season begins and the current rankings came after the trade deadline.

Baseball America, the biggest evaluator of baseball prospects, is releasing its new rankings, team by team. They recently put out the Padres top 10 prospect list with evaluations for each player.

They grade each player with a numerical evaluation for their tools as well as a scouting report. Their projected future is included, with an emphasis on areas for improvement.

Following is the list with a synopsis of the key points for each prospect.

1. Ethan Salas – Considered a defense-first catcher, the 19-year-old lost the 2025 season to injury, but struggled offensively during the 2024 season. The adjustments he made after that season were not able to be tested due to his low back injury that occurred in April. Salas has played in 123 games since being signed. He needs at-bats to get to the point where he can be fairly evaluated. His defense is rated as being MLB ready now, but his offense is a concern.

2. Kruz Schoolcraft – The 18-year-old LHP was 6-foot-8 and 229 pounds when signed. He was sent to Lake Elsinore for one start and 1.2 innings pitched. He has a mid- to high-90’s fastball, a mid-80’s changeup and a low-80’s slider. All have the potential to be above average. Command is usually the issue with big pitchers due to the difficulty of repeating their delivery. He has immense upside with a front-of-the-rotation profile. He should return to Low-A Lake Elsinore in 2026.

3. Kash Mayfield – The 20-year-old LHP finished 2025 with Lake Elsinore, starting 19 games and pitching to a 2.97 ERA with 88 strikeouts and 28 walks in 60.2 innings. His low- to mid-90’s fastball is commanded well and compliments his killer changeup. He also has a high-70’s to low-80’s slider. He should start 2026 with Fort Wayne and projects as a No. 3 starter.

4. Miguel Mendez – The 23-year-old RHP finished 2025 with Double-A San Antonio after dominating at High-A Fort Wayne. He throws a mid- to high-90’s fastball with lots of movement. He complements that with a mid- to upper-80’s changeup and an upper-80’s to low-90’s slider. All are currently, or have potential to be, plus-pitches. He still needs work on his command, but with a high ceiling, Mendez could make it to San Diego in 2026.

5. Jorge Quintana – The 18-year-old shortstop was acquired at the trade deadline as the only prospect coming into the system. A switch-hitter, Quintana has plus offensive upside. He struggles against secondary pitches and had below average contact skills this past season. His defense is considered average, at best, but with an above average arm. He should play in Low-A Lake Elsinore to start 2026.

6. Humberto Cruz – The 19-year-old RHP has a 94-97 mph fastball that needs more shape. His low- to mid-80’s gyro slider is his best pitch, and he rounds out his mix with a mid- to upper-80’s changeup, which could be above average. He had elbow surgery at the end of the 2025 season and might not pitch in 2026. When he returns, he will probably pitch in Low-A Lake Elsinore and profiles as a mid-rotation starter.

7. Ty Harvey – The 19-year-old catcher needs work offensively, but flashes power while also showing significant arm strength defensively. He has a good chance to stick at catcher. He should start 2026 at Low-A Lake Elsinore.

8. Ryan Wideman – The 22-year-old outfielder is 6-foot-5 and 204 pounds with multiple tools. He could stick in centerfield, has power and a decent hit tool as well as speed and baserunning talent. Defensively, he has an above average arm, but has a penchant for chasing at the plate and needs pitch recognition work. He is likely to start 2026 with Low-A Lake Elsinore.

9. Bradgley Rodriguez – He spent a good portion of 2025 with the big league team and impressed with his upper-90’s fastball and sinker. He can hit 100 mph with both. He also has an upper-80’s to lower-90’s changeup that is a plus-pitch and he occasionally flashes a cutter-slider hybrid. He has a good chance to make the Padres roster out of Spring Training. If the bullpen is crowded, he would be a powerful weapon sitting in Triple-A.

10. Kale Fountain – The 20-year-old infielder plays both third and first base. Coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2025, Fountain played in the Arizona Complex League and in Lake Elsinore. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Fountain has power to spare but has contact and pitch recognition issues. Before surgery, he had an above average arm and should see time at both corners and left field in 2026.