San Diego Padres Prospects: 2024 Midseason Top 30 Update

Notable Risers 

Eguy Rosario, 3B

Rosario remains an up-and-down fill-in for the Padres. He’s served as a pinch-hitter and late-inning replacement in San Diego more than he has as a starter at third base, but at Triple-A El Paso he’s been locked in at the plate. Rosario doesn’t have exceptional raw power, but he does have the knack of pulling the ball in the air. While he doesn’t have an Isaac Paredes spray chart, Rosario knows his home runs aren’t going to happen if he’s hitting to center or right field; every one of his homers is to left field. Still only 24 years old, Rosario still has a shot to be an everyday regular.

Notable Fallers

Dylan Lesko, RHP

Lesko’s control has improved over the last couple of months after he walked 16 batters and hit three more in 14.2 innings over his first four starts for High-A Fort Wayne. Even with the improvements, his control is still below-average. Lesko has moved from the third base to the first base side of the rubber, which has helped him find the zone more regularly, but he still has way too many bad misses, typically up and out of the zone by a foot or more. His changeup remains a weapon if he can rediscover his control.

Austin Krob, LHP

Krob dominated the Midwest League last year, but his mixture of command and guile isn’t working the same way in the Texas League. Krob does everything he can to get the most out of his stuff at Double-A San Antonio. Against righthanded hitters, he sets up with his back to them, hiding the ball as long as he can. But when it comes out, there’s just not enough velocity. He sits at 88-90 mph with a slider that’s effective against lefties. He has average control and above-average command, but his slider is not as frightening to righthanded hitters.

Notable New Additions

23. Jay Beshears, 3B/SS

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Beshears transferred from Northwestern to Duke for his draft year in 2023 hoping that the move would help him climb draft boards. It worked. He led the Blue Devils with a .330 batting average and hit 15 home runs. The Padres drafted him in the sixth round, a year after taking Duke infielder Graham Pauley in the 13th.

Scouting Report: Beshears has actually moved up the defensive spectrum as a pro. A second baseman at Duke, Beshears has played primarily shortstop for High-A Fort Wayne since mid May, while still getting reps at third base. He’s fringy at any infield spot. Beshears’ home run power has largely disappeared in pro ball. He has solid bat speed, but his swing leads to more ground balls and line drives than long fly balls, making him more of a gap hitter than pure slugger.

The Future: Beshears’ ability to put together solid at-bats and play multiple infield spots competently gives him valuable versatility. But it’s hard to find a plus tool to help him carve out an MLB role.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45 | Power: 30 | Speed: 45 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 60

21. Romeo Sanabria, 1B

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Drafted as a catcher, Sanabria was quickly moved to first base. An 18th-round junior college pick can best be described as a likely organizational player, but Sanabria’s impressive hitting ability is proving he can be more than that.

Scouting Report: He’s always been a little old for his level, but Sanabria has long demonstrated he can hit. He hit .400 at Indian River (Fla.) JC and he’s a .320 career hitter in three pro seasons. Sanabria has a simple lefthanded stroke with pull power, but he can drive the ball out to the opposite field at times. He has a solid understanding of the strike zone and gets himself into hitter’s counts.

The Future: Sanabria most likely is still a strong organizational player, but he’s hit enough to keep earning the chance to prove he’s more than that. His swing is simple and it works, but his lack of defensive versatility is going to put a lot of pressure on his bat.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50 | Power: 50 | Speed: 30 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 50

29. Jayvien Sandridge, LHP

BA Grade: 40/High

Track Record: Sandridge is pitching for his third organization. A 32nd round pick of the Orioles in 2018, he was released by Baltimore in 2020. He went back to college to pitch at Division II Lynn (Mass.), then signed with the Reds in 2021. He signed with the Padres last November as a minor league free agent. Sandridge has pitched his way to Triple-A El Paso this season, which is a blessing and a curse because his home park is one of the most hitter-friendly in professional baseball. He has learned that quickly. After allowing eight runs in 21 appearances for Double-A San Antonio, he allowed five runs in his first three Triple-A appearances.

Scouting Report: Sandridge has a long arm action with a deep plunge in the back of his delivery. That helps explain why he has always struggled to repeat his delivery and throw strikes, but he was a much better strike-thrower at San Antonio. Sandridge’s above-average 95-97 mph fastball is helped by a flat approach angle and can get swings and misses at the top of the zone. Sandridge’s low-80s slider is a plus pitch and points to his potential path to the big leagues. It has bite and depth and is effective against righties and lefties. He will use a below-average changeup sporadically. His well below-average control is his biggest concern.

The Future: Sandridge is a lefty with a quality breaking ball and a big arm. Pitchers with that profile who reach Triple-A generally find a way to the big leagues, but his control and command will have to improve to be more than an up-and-down arm.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Control: 30

30. Francis Pena, RHP

BA Grade: 40/High

Track Record: A low-cost $10,000 signing out of the Dominican Republic, Pena joined the Padres just a few days before his 21st birthday in January 2022. He has made a lot of progress in the past two seasons, jumping from the Arizona Complex League in 2023 to Double-A San Antonio this season.

Scouting Report: Pena has a big arm that sees him sit 95-98 mph with his above-average fastball. But it’s his ability to locate a hard, above-average 91-92 mph cutter, as well, that keeps hitters guessing and gets swings and misses. Pena also throws a slider, but it sometimes blends together with his cutter. At his best, he works up and in to righthanded hitters with his fastball, then works away with his cutter/slider. Pena’s control is above-average.

The Future: Pena has not yet thrown 100 pro innings, but he has already reached Double-A. He is a perfect example of how a team willing to take a look at older Dominican pitchers can find an occasional gem.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Cutter: 55 | Slider: 50 | Control: 55

Significant Injuries

Kannon Kemp, RHP

Kemp has yet to pitch this year because of a shoulder injury. He’s on the 60-day injured list.

Garrett Hawkins, RHP

Hawkins is on the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery he had last August.

Cole Paplham, RHP

Paplham missed the first half of the season after he was hit in the face by a comebacker. He returned to action this month, but after three excellent outings with Double-A San Antonio, Paplham was placed on the 60-day IL with an undisclosed injury.