10 San Diego Padres Prospects To Know Beyond The Top 30 in 2024
Baseball America’s Top 30 San Diego Padres Prospects entering 2024 are here exclusively for subscribers. The list includes updated scouting reports, BA grades and tool grade projections for every player.
Inevitably, there are players every year who barely miss the cut when we narrow down the list. These players are all worth monitoring for various reasons and it’s likely some will either reach the big leagues in 2024 or enjoy breakout seasons lower in the minors.
Here are next 10 players to know in the Padres system beyond their Top 30.
31. Tirso Ornelas, OF
Ornelas long struggled to tap into his power but began to show progress in 2023. He hit a career-high 15 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A and is in position for his first big league callup.
32. Rosman Verdugo, SS
Verdugo was overmatched as an 18-year-old at Low-A Lake Elsinore, but he shows good contact skills and natural shortstop actions for his age.
33. Jay Groome, LHP
Groome lost his command at Triple-A El Paso after competing for a big league job late into spring training. His physicality and stuff from the left side still give him a chance to emerge as a depth option.
34. Lamar King Jr., C
The son of a former NFL defensive end, King needs polish behind the plate but showcased raw power in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League before having season-ending shoulder surgery. He should be ready for Opening Day.
35. Kevin Kopps, RHP
The 2021 Golden Spikes Award winner landed his gyro slider for strikes better in his second full year in the system. He shaved his ERA to 4.14 in 2022 at Double-A San Antonio to 2.63 in 54.2 innings before a rocky promotion to Triple-A El Paso.
36. Jared Kollar, RHP
An undrafted free agent signing out of Rutgers, Kollar emerged as a breakout prospect in 2023 as he rose to Double-A. He’s a plus-plus strike-thrower with an 88-93 mph fastball and a cutter, changeup and curveball.
37. Cole Paplham, RHP
Another undrafted free agent signing, Paplham flew up to Double-A in his first full season and finished the year in the Arizona Fall League. He has a 95-99 mph fastball and mid-80s slider that play in relief.
38. Sean Reynolds, RHP
A former third baseman who converted to pitching, Reynolds was acquired from the Marlins in the trade that sent Ryan Weathers to Miami. He’s huge at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds and has a fastball that tickles triple-digits.
39. Tyler Robertson, OF
Relatively unheralded as a 14th-round pick out of Louisiana-Lafayette in 2022, Robertson hit .284/.359/.451 with 31 steals while moving to High-A in his pro debut.
40. Griffin Doersching, 1B
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Doersching has some of the biggest power in the system but is also prone to striking out. He has 24 home runs in his first 137 career games.
