Comments: High-upside SS who was youngest player in full season and AFL in offseason. Has all requisite skills to be cornerstone guy. Shows all five tools and could grow into middle-of-order run producer. Covers plate with quick, efficient swing and makes easy, hard contact to all fields. Hand-eye coordination is off charts. Owns plus speed and quick hands.

Development Path: He only accumulated 299 AB in Low-A due to injuries and could return there. He will play all season at age 18. Then again, the Padres have been aggressive with some prospects and De Vries could likely succeed at High-A. He could move quickly.

Fantasy Impact: Name a category and De Vries could be a solid, if not, standout contributor. He should hit for a high BA/OBP while hitting 25+ HR and stealing 20+ bases. Plus, he should stick at SS which could give him even more value.

Upside Grade: 9D

Comments: Spent all 2024 in A+ and struggled with bat all year. Posted 3rd lowest OBP in MWL. Yet, has exciting tools and significant upside. Uses compact swing to make acceptable contact. Should evolve into plus power with more loft. Hit only .147 against LHP. Will see pitches to draw walks. OK defender now with plus room to grow.

Development Path: Salas will turn 19 in June 2025 and will be young for High-A if he returns to that level, which is expected. He could make it to Double-A by the end of the season. There will be a lot of eyes on his defense as he is expected to make huge leaps.

Fantasy Impact: There is a lot to dream on with Salas, but some of it is because of his youth. He has the offensive upside of a standout backstop, potentially hitting .280+ with 30+ HR and 10+ SB.

Upside Grade: 9E

Comments: Smooth SP with easy velocity predicated on quick arm and fluid delivery. Best current pitch is CH with plus sink. Very tough to elevate FB and CH due to downward action. Possesses advanced command for age and could have more velocity in future. SL is OK now and should get better with greater speed. Repeats delivery well for age.

Development Path: Mayfield was older than his high school peers in the draft class but that doesn't detract from his upside. He could begin his pro career in Low-A and be put on the fast track given his advanced pitch mix. He could get to the majors by 2028.

Fantasy Impact: Given his size, strength and command, Mayfield could become a #3 starter in the next 5 years. He won't be an ace but he misses bats and throws with solid control to limit WHIP.

Upside Grade: 8D

Comments: Large-framed LHP with deep pitch mix, solid velocity and potential knockout breaking balls. Uses high arm slot which adds unique angle to plate. CB already shows characteristics to miss bats consistently. Should have more velocity in tank once he smooths out delivery. CH needs work but has flashes of average action. High upside.

Development Path: He is likely to begin his pro career in Rookie ball given he has some work ahead of him with respect to his delivery and off-speed pitch. There is no need to rush his development and he will be a long-term project.

Fantasy Impact: With a #2-3 profile, Bateman has good upside, particularly with strikeouts. There is some reliever risk here and he has the size and pitch mix to be a lights-out high-leverage guy.

Upside Grade: 8D

Comments: Young, athletic RHP with significant upside and projection. Has increased velocity since signing and could reach into high-90s at full maturity. Will need lot of polish but natural pitch mix as good as any in org. FB is easy plus and fluid delivery allows to repeat mechanics and slot. SL already average and could evolve into elite K offering.

Development Path: Cruz will be treated cautiously as he grows and gains more professional experience. He'll be 18 for all of 2025 and could begin in Rookie ball. He could be a one-level-per-year guy.

Fantasy Impact: He has significant strikeout potential with an upside of a #2-3 pitcher. Given his age, it will take several years for him to reach his ceiling.

Upside Grade: 8D

Comments: Athletic RHP who had shorter outings until August. Generates plus velocity with quick arm action and gets ample pitch movement on all offerings. Misses bats with multiple pitches, mostly FB and SL. Likes to cut and spin ball, though CH will need work to battle LHH. While control slightly improved, needs to locate FB better to get ahead in counts.

Development Path: He could begin 2025 in Double-A despite quality outings at the end of 2024 at that level. He will need work on his control and command in order to be trusted in the big leagues. There could also be a possibility of simplifying his repertoire.

Fantasy Impact: Nett has all the makings - pitches, athleticism, moxie - to become a solid contributor at the big league level. There is a chance he could become more than a #4 starter, but the control may hold him back. He does profile as a strikeout pitcher.

Upside Grade: 7B

Comments: Strong RHP with deceptive delivery and quality arm speed on all pitches. Has been flyball pitcher and will need to upgrade offerings to counter LHH. Likes to use sweeping SL for strikes as well as chase pitch against RHH. Compact delivery and 3/4 slot used to his advantage and gets quality extension. FB features good tail and sink when spotted.

Development Path: After just OK results in High-A, Lowe could return to that level with the hopes of dominating and then getting a promotion to Double-A as a 22-year-old. He's shown improving stuff and the hope is there is more upside in the offing.

Fantasy Impact: He doesn't have a high ceiling but Lowe could be a solid back-end starter who can register impressive strikeout totals. His control is average at best and he does allow his fair share of HR.

Upside Grade: 7C

Comments: Large INF who may have most raw power in org. Huge loft in swing leads to towering flies but also lot of swing and miss. Can be too aggressive with stick and could use better barrel control. Owns strong arm at 3B, though lack of quick feet could prompt move across diamond. Power will have to carry him for now, though hit tool still has promise.

Development Path: He didn't play upon signing after the draft and Fountain could begin his pro career in Rookie ball. There is a lot to work on - approach, contact, defense, etc - and he will likely take a long path to the majors.

Fantasy Impact: Fountain has massive power potential and could get to 30+ HR if he reaches his true ceiling. There is a lot of time between now and then, however. Even if he hits for a low BA, there is still value in the HR output.

Upside Grade: 8E

Comments: Durable, fast-armed RHP who advanced one level per year and continues to thrive with deep repertoire and increased K rate. Offers average command with FB that has chance to add more velocity. Misses bats with multiple breaking balls with varying velocities and shapes. May not have plus pitch but sequences well and has smooth, deceptive delivery.

Development Path: Lizarraga is likely to head to Triple-A as a 21-year-old and will be among the youngest starters in the PCL. He will need more polish, particularly with his change-up and fastball location but he could get to the majors in late 2025 or 2026.

Fantasy Impact: The overall package isn't overly exciting, but he fits the bill as a #4 starter. His K rate continues to rise and he could post moderately high strikeout totals in the majors. He has good durability and should pitch a lot of innings.

Upside Grade: 7C

Comments: Compact, strong RP with tantalizing FB/CB combo. Has been injury prone, possibly due to max-effort delivery. Should advance quickly with very high K rate and cutting action on FB. Gets Ks with both CB and SL with the former a true plus offering. High spin rates on all pitches, including sneaky quick FB. Has potential for 3 plus offerings.

Development Path: Neighbors should be on the fast track as he can by dynamic in short stints. His stuff is advanced for age and level and could begin in High-A before a quick promotion to Double-A. He could conceivably get to San Diego by 2026.

Fantasy Impact: He has high leverage potential due to his ability to miss bats in short stints. With potential for 3 above average to plus offerings, Neighbors could even earn save opportunities down the road.

Upside Grade: 7C

Comments: Athletic SS with several raw tools on which to build. Doesn't have plus tool now, though speed is close to that level. Plays solid defense now but range and arm may be best suited for 2B. Showcases raw power from right side based on bat speed and quick hands. Pitch recognition and choppy swing will need work. Will need time to develop.

Development Path: Hightower has solid upside and could move in tandem with Fountain. He has solid tools and will need time to grow into his frame. It is possible for him to get to the majors by late 2028, likely as a 2B.

Fantasy Impact: His best current and future tool will be speed and could get to 25+ SB annually. The hope is he also will grow into at least average power. Think of future stats like .275+ BA, 15+ HR and 25+ SB.

Upside Grade: 8E

Comments: Physical, athletic OF with abundance of tools. Very raw overall and will need time to emerge. Brute strength and plus bat speed provide power potential while made better swing decisions in college. Has good plate patience but will get exploited deep in counts. Too much swing and miss to project to high BA. Runs well and owns plus arm in RF.

Development Path: Tears could begin his professional career in High-A and make his way to San Diego by 2027. The Padres won't be shy about aggressively promoting him if he can improve his hitting approach.

Fantasy Impact: Given the raw tools, Tears has a high ceiling but a low floor as well. If he can continue to improve his overall game, he could eventually hit .270+ with 25+ HR and 20+ SB.

Upside Grade: 8E

Comments: Rule 5 pick from BAL. Short, compact SP who ended season in May due to shoulder issue. All about power and has been tough to make hard contact against. Quick arm produces ample pitch movement, though creates velo with lot of effort. May end up as RP to focus on FB/SL combo. Doesn't chase speeds well and victimized by erratic FB command.

Development Path: Nunez should return healthy and will try to stick to in the Pads' bullpen. If returned, he's likely head back to High-A to get innings. At some point a decision will be made as to whether he stick as a starter or moves to the bullpen.

Fantasy Impact: He eventually could be a solid #4 starter but it may be more intriguing from a fantasy perspective to see him as a high-leverage reliever. Nunez has strikeout stuff and will contribute in that category at the very least.

Upside Grade: 7D

Comments: Breakout 1B who fared well on 3 levels of minors. Led org in doubles and 2nd in BB. More line drive power than over fence pop now and could get to average. Focuses on working counts to get on base. Goes to opp field and has bat speed to catch up to good velocity. Often settles for slap approach with 2 strikes. Secondary skills lag far behind bat.

Development Path: Sanabria would seem most likely to return to Double-A where he earned 111 AB in 2024. Given his lack of defensive acumen, he will need to hit to play 1B in the majors. Another solid season would put him in the plans to get to San Diego by 2026.

Fantasy Impact: He figures to hit for a moderate BA with strong OBP skills. He is a career .301 hitter with a .407 OBP in the minors. If he can find a way to get to 20+ HR, he could have solid value as an average regular.

Upside Grade: 7D

Comments: Emerging SP who pitched well on two levels. Doesn't miss as many bats as stuff suggests but keeps oppBA low by hitting spots with multiple offerings. Lives mostly in bottom half of zone and has proven to be durable. Operates with split CH with same arm speed as FB. CB needs to be more consistent to serve as K pitch.

Development Path: Baez will pitch all of 2025 at age 22 and is likely to return to Double-A. He has flown under the radar and could be leveraged as a reliever in the event the Padres want to summon him to the majors. Otherwise, he'll stick in the rotation.

Fantasy Impact: The strikeout rate hasn't been great but he throws strikes and has consistently maintained a low oppBA. He has the upside of a #4-5 starter or long reliever.

Upside Grade: 7D