AJ Preller has used the San Diego Padres’ farm system over the past few seasons to bolster the team’s major league roster. This isn’t a revolutionary way to build a roster, and it’s worked quite well over the years.
Rebuilding franchises are willing to trade away expensive but talented players to fill out their farm systems, and the Friars have benefited from signing players like Dylan Cease, Tanner Scott and Luis Arráez this year, as well as players like Josh Hader and Juan Soto in years past.
But Preller didn’t decimate the Padres’ entire farm system at this year’s trade deadline. During this summer’s trade negotiations, there were at least two promising players that the Padres’ president of baseball operations deemed untouchable. Both players are now among the 50 most promising players in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.
Around this time every year, the staff at MLB Pipeline compiles a new ranking of the top 100 young players in the sport and also re-ranks their rankings of the top 30 young players in each organization. The Friars’ top two young players – Ethan Salas and Leodalis De Vries – are not only in the top 100, but have been named to the top 50.
Salas, considered by many to be the best catcher in the minor leagues, is ranked 20th. De Vries is ranked 47th after showing his immense talent at Low-A Lake Elsinore this season. With both Salas and De Vries surviving the trade deadline sell-off, it’s safe to assume Preller has big plans for the Padres’ two best prospects.
Leodalis De Vries (@Padres) can do it with the bat – and he’s not bad with the glove either!
MLB prospect No. 47 makes the sliding catch for Single-A @Storm_Baseball. pic.twitter.com/4p93fS1eSf
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) 14 August 2024
Interestingly, none of the players the Friars traded to the Miami Marlins this season are in the top 100. Even within the Marlins organization, none are in the top five. Robby Snelling and Dillon Head both made the team’s top 10, but that’s about it.
As for the rest of the Padres’ top talent, every player in the top 10 is 21 years old or younger. In fact, every player in the top five is a teenager. But looking at the Padres’ recent history, that bodes well for San Diego.
The Padres are well-stocked at nearly every position on their current major league roster, and a number of players have signed long-term contracts. With their farm system filled with young and up-and-coming talent, Preller can either eventually replace the players whose contracts expire in the next few years or trade his young talent to bolster the Friars’ major league roster. Either way, it’s a win-win for the Padres.
