Padres See Bright Future For Top International Signee Leodalis De Vries
Padres international scouting director Chris Kemp had an open line of communication the previous offseason as GM A.J. Preller closed in on Xander Bogaerts, a free agent whose signing would cost the Padres $1 million in 2024 international bonus pool money.
Kemp was not concerned that the Bogaerts addition would thwart plans to land 17-year-old Dominican shortstop Leodalis De Vries.
Perhaps because it wasn’t all about money.
“It’s a very special day for me,” De Vries said through an interpreter when he signed on Jan. 15, “especially because it’s something that we’ve thought about for so long.
De Vries cited Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jurickson Profar as examples of the Padres’ Latin star power, which made him a fan of the team.
De Vries signed for $4.2 million, accounting for all but $450,000 of the Padres’ pool. It was the second-highest bonus of the signing period. The Braves signed shortstop Jose Perdomo for $5 million.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound De Vries is the son of a member of the Dominican Republic’s national basketball team. He’s also a switch-hitter who has been mentored by Guardians all-star Jose Ramirez.
De Vries runs a 6.6-second 60-yard dash and projects as a potential five-tool middle infielder.
“He loves to hit,” said Kemp, adding that De Vries is proficient from both sides of the plate.
“There’s a little more power from the right (side),” Kemp said. “I think lefthanded he’s able to spray the ball line to line . . . He’s going to have the ability to steal bases.
“(He has) instincts at shortstop. That’s where you really see the leadership and kind of taking control of the field.”
The Padres’ top international signing last year was Venezuelan catcher Ethan Salas, who began his pro career at Low-A Lake Elsinore a few days shy of his 17th birthday.
The plan for De Vries may not be quite as aggressive, but the Padres expect him to attend minor league spring training in Peoria, Ariz.
“Obviously, he’s a special, talented player,” Kemp said, “but we’re more excited about the person and getting him around as many people as we can in our organization.”
FATHER FIGURES
— Padres assistant farm director Mike Daly will add a new title to his résumé this year: High-A Fort Wayne manager. Daly will continue to serve as an AFD under farm director Ryley Westman.
Other notable changes to the Padres’ player development structure include Pete Zamora managing Triple-A El Paso after managing Low-A Lake Elsinore last year; former Chihuahuas manager Phillip Wellman taking on bench coach duties in the Arizona Complex League and former big leaguers Craig Stammen, A.J. Ellis and Allen Craig serving in hybrid positions that will split their time between the minors and the big league team.
— The Padres’ non-roster invitees to big league camp include several Top 30 Prospects: catcher Ethan Salas, shortstop Jackson Merrill, lefthanders Robby Snelling and Austin Krob, righthanders Drew Thorpe, Adam Mazur and Randy Bergert; third basemen Graham Pauley and Marcos Castanon and outfielder Jakob Marsee.
