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**Right below is the Padres Risers and Shiners list simplified. Scroll further down for FULL Future Grades, Roles, ETA, and summaries on EACH PLAYER ranked on this list! Some player highlights, future outlooks and more enjoy!**
*Any player that hasn’t made a pro debut yet has been exempt from this list for now, but will most likely find a spot on our lists next year*
| Rank | Player | Position | How Acquired |
| 1 | Ethan Salas | C | International Signing 2023 |
| 2 | Jackson Merrill | SS | 2021 Draft: 1st Round – 27th Overall |
| 3 | Dylan Lesko | RHP | 2022 Draft: 1st Round –15th Overall |
| 4 | Robby Snelling | LHP | 2022 Draft: 1st Round – 39th Overall |
| 5 | Jairo Irirarte | RHP | International Signing 2018 |
| 6 | Drew Thorpe | RHP | Trade With Yankees |
| 7 | Samuel Zavala | OF | International Signing 2021 |
| 8 | Dillion Head | OF | 2023 Draft: 1st Round – 25th Overall |
| 9 | Graham Pauley | 3B | 13th Round – 2022 Draft |
| 10 | Jakob Marsee | OF | 6th Round – 2022 Draft |
| Risers | |||
| 1 | Homer Bush Jr. | OF | 4th Round – 2023 Draft |
| 2 | Ryan Bergert | RHP | 6th Round – 2021 Draft |
| 3 | Tyler Robertson | OF | 14th Round – 2022 Draft |
| 4 | Zack Qin | LHP | International Signing 2022 |
| 5 | Adam Mazur | RHP | 2nd Round – 2022 Draft |
1. Ethan Salas C | San Antonio Missions (AA)
17-Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: R | 6’2″ | 185 lbs. | ETA:
| Hit | PWR | FLD | SPD | ARM | Role |
| 60 | 60 | 60 | 30 | 60 | 6 |
Scouting Report:
Salas looks to be the Padres backstop of the future as the 17-Year-Old has already spent time in Double-A and held his own even though his numbers didn’t impress. Defensively, he’s looked good with his arm and blocking abilities and while the second half of the season his bat lagged behind his other tools, it still shows tremendous upside with a mix of barrel control and gap-to-gap power. However, taking his age and tools into account he definitely looks like one of the best catchers in baseball in the future.
Check Out a more detailed report on the young phenom catcher!
Ethan Salas | Scouting Report: Padres Prospect
2. Jackson Merrill SS | San Antonio Missions (AA)
20-Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: R | 6’3″ | 195 lbs. | ETA: 2024
| Hit | PWR | FLD | SPD | ARM | Role |
| 70 | 50 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 7 |
Scouting Report:
Jackson Merrill’s bat is very exciting and he shows excellent bat control and clean mechanics. He hits the ball hard without selling out for power and can go the other way. He finds the gap and should be good for 30+ doubles along with 20+ homers and very good batting averages. The offensive promise Merrill has gives him to be one of the better shortstops in the bigs along with his above-average glove.
3. Dylan Lesko RHP | Fort Wayne TinCaps (A+)
20-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’2″ | 195 lbs. | ETA: 2026
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Control | Role |
| 60 | 50 | 60 | 55 | 50 | 7 |
Scouting Report:
After missing the remainder of his senior season in 2022 with an arm injury, Lesko came back healthy in June and only lasted a couple of outings in the ACL before getting called up to Low-A Lake Elsinore. Along with a plus fastball, Lesko possesses a deceiving slider and a good changeup. He’s capable of generating a lot of swing-and-miss and could be a front end guy for the Padres.
4. Robby Snelling LHP | San Antonio Missions (AA)
19-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: L | 6’3″ | 210 lbs. | ETA:
| FB | SL | CH | Control | Role |
| 60 | 70 | 55 | 50 | 6 |
Scouting Report:
One of the biggest rising pitching prospects in baseball, Robby Snelling cemented himself as a frontline starter in the future as he not only limited walks but showed some amazing strikeout stuff. In the end, He’s 20-years-old and has already debuted in Double-A, we could see him sooner rather than later in Petco Park in San Diego.
We already have an amazing scouting report on the young left-hander down below!
Robby Snelling LHP | Scouting Report: San Diego Padres
5. Jairo Iriarte RHP | San Antonio Missions (AA)
21-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’2″ | 160 lbs. | ETA:
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Control | Role |
| 60 | 50 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 6 |
Scouting Report:
The one arm on this list that not many fans know about outside of the Padres fanbase, but the stuff is legitimately good. Iriarte could be in the majors as soon as 2024. His fastball displays tremendous ride, and he shows a solid changeup/slider combo. While he looks like a starter in the future, his stuff will play up well in the bullpen where he could be a possible closer with the stuff he possesses.
6. Drew Thorpe RHP | San Antonio Missions (AA)
23-Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: R | 6’4″ | 212 lbs. | ETA:
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Control | Role |
| 50 | 50 | 55 | 60 | 60 | 5 |
Scouting Report:
Thorpe was one of the main pieces of the Juan Soto trade and while his fastball is the worst pitch in his arsenal. His secondaries and deception are what make him shine. Thorpe’s changeup is one of the best pitches in the minors and is his main strikeout offering. Overall, 2024 will be exciting for Padres fans as they have multiple solid young pitchers in Snelling and Lesko. Thorpe could explode and debut sometime in 2024 but 2025 feels like the safer bet to debut.
Written By:
7. Samuel Zavala OF | Fort Wayne TinCaps (A+)
19-Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: L | 6’1″ | 175 lbs. | ETA:
| Hit | PWR | FLD | SPD | ARM | Role |
| 45 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 50 | 5 |
Scouting Report:
Samuel Zavala has shown power production early in his development and is more focused on hitting the ball hard rather than putting it into play. He hits the ball deep and has an aggressive approach at the plate. Defensively, Zavala shows good range in center and could stick there long term, but if he’s moved to a corner OF spot, his defense will improve to plus.
8. Dillon Head OF | Lake Elsinore Storm (A)
19-Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: L | 6’0″ |185 lbs. | ETA:
| Hit | PWR | FLD | SPD | ARM | Role |
| 60 | 40 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 5 |
Scouting Report:
Dillon Head is an impressive athlete who’s shown run times up to 4.15 on his home-to-first and looks like a legit stolen base threat. He looks like a leadoff hitter who will get on base at a good clip and steal bases, but he lacks power. The 2023 first-round pick looks like he’ll stick in center long term, which should help his value.
Here’s the full video down below!
9. Graham Pauley 3B | San Antonio Missions (AA)
23-Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: R | 6’1″ | 200 lbs. | ETA:
| Hit | PWR | FLD | SPD | ARM | Role |
| 55 | 45 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 5 |
Scouting Report:
Despite being stuck in Low-A until late June, Pauley wasn’t deterred by it. He crushed High-A after getting promoted and hit his way to Double-A. Pauley has shown power production in the minors, but he’s more focused on getting on base than anything and looks more like a gap guy in the bigs. He’s got versatility defensively and can play all over the infield. Wherever Pauley plays on the field, he’ll be an on base machine and provide a good glove.
10. Jakob Marsee OF | San Antonio Missions (AA)
22-Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: L | 6’0″ | 180 lbs. | ETA:
| Hit | PWR | FLD | SPD | ARM | Role |
| 50 | 50 | 55 | 5 |
Scouting Report:
While Marsee doesn’t have one particular carrying tool, he does a lot of things right. He hits the ball hard and has good loft in his swing. He’s a potential stolen base threat and makes good reads in the outfield. Marsee could be a left-handed bat who’s a 20-20 guy in the future.
Here’s the full video below!
Risers:
1. Homer Bush Jr. OF | San Antonio Mission (AA)
22-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’3″ | 200 lbs.
2. Ryan Bergert RHP | San Antonio Mission (AA)
23-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’1″ | 210 lbs.
3. Tyler Robertson OF | Fort Wayne Tincaps (A+)
23-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’4″ | 200 lbs.
4. Zack Qin LHP | ACL Padres (ROK)
18-Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: L | 6’1″ | 198 lbs.
5. Adam Mazur RHP | San Antonio Mission (AA)
22-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’2″ | 180 lbs.
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