Friday, October 23

SAN DIEGO -- Ethan Salas has arrived. And he seems like he’s here to stay.

For years, Salas was the crown jewel of the Padres' system -- a system that was built and then rebuilt and then rebuilt again. Even through all of their trade sprees, the Padres hung onto Salas, and it sure looks like they have their catcher of the future as a result.

Technically, Salas remains the Padres’ top prospect. But here’s guessing that will no longer be the case a month or two into the 2027 season, when Salas graduates from that list.

So where does that leave this San Diego system? There’s not much coming at the upper levels of the Minors, though there are some upside pieces at the lower levels.

Here’s a look:

3 who forced their way onto the radar in 2026

RHP Tucker Musgrove: Not counting Salas, Musgrove is the only one of MLB Pipeline’s top 10 Padres prospects with a chance to impact the big league club next season. And based on his 2026 season, you’d think it’s a very good chance. Musgrove (San Diego’s No. 7 prospect) struck out a whopping 68 hitters over 34 1/3 innings -- nearly two hitters per inning. He’ll need to clean up his walk issues. But the stuff -- a big-time four-seam fastball, plus a sinker and a sweeper -- clearly plays. The Padres are never short on electric bullpen arms -- and they might have another on the way.

OF Ryan Wideman: Selected in the third round of the 2025 Draft, Wideman was always one of the toolsier Padres prospects. But could he make enough contact to make those tools play? That’s still the biggest question moving forward, but his first full professional season was something to build on. Wideman (No. 10 prospect) hit .314/.389/.504 with Single-A Lake Elsinore. He struggled a bit at the plate after a promotion to High-A Fort Wayne, but, well, that’s usually how these things work. Still, Wideman racked up 65 steals while playing a strong center field across both levels.

RHP Winyer Chourio: Like Wideman, the jump from Single-A to High-A proved a challenge for Chourio (No. 15 prospect). Still, Chourio burst onto the scene in a major way this season, posting a 3.31 ERA with Lake Elsinore, limiting hitters to a .204 average while striking out 74 in 51 2/3 innings. The Padres might have found something in Chourio, who signed for only $10,000 out of Venezuela as a 20-year-old in 2024. There are still questions about whether he’d benefit from a transition to the bullpen, but it’s hard to deny the stuff.

2 breakout players to watch in 2027

SS Elliot Lascelles: As a recently drafted 18-year-old, Lascelles made a brief cameo with Lake Elsinore and batted .321 with an .835 OPS down the stretch. The Padres’ second-round pick in this summer’s Draft, Lascelles (No. 5 prospect) has already drawn rave reviews for his approach at the plate and his bat-to-ball skills. You know those speedy, pesky, versatile types that will be everywhere during this upcoming World Series between the Rays and Brewers? Lascelles would fit right in.

RHP Lan-Hong Su: It’s been just over a year since the Padres signed Su out of Taiwan late in the 2025 international cycle (with the bonus pool money they had left over after missing out on Roki Sasaki). Su (No. 9 prospect) posted a 5.63 ERA in 11 starts with Lake Elsinore, but don’t let the overall numbers fool you. It’s his development during his first pro season that has the Padres dreaming big. Across his last seven appearances, Su posted a 3.22 ERA while punching out 40 of the 91 hitters faced. 

1 big question for next season

Who stays and who goes?

This is general manager A.J. Preller we’re talking about. He clearly made it a point to hang onto Salas through years of wheeling and dealing. He probably could’ve dealt Musgrove and/or No. 2 prospect Kruz Schoolcraft at this summer’s Trade Deadline -- and he chose not to. There’s a method behind his decision making and which prospects he moves.

Still, Preller is clearly more apt to trade prospects for win-now talent than any other GM in the sport. And the Padres could use some win-now talent for 2027, particularly in their rotation.

“We’ll have some opportunity, I think, this offseason to build a staff that we think is a championship staff through free agency, trades and continuing to develop,” Preller said recently in his end-of-season media availability.

It’s not the first time Preller has entered an offseason in dire need of starting pitching. There aren’t many big league ready options. “Development” will only go so far. Preller seems likely to be dealing prospects again this winter.

Fernando Tatis Jr. stole 38 bases in 2026. Who is the last Padre to reach 40 steals in a season?

A. Everth Cabrera

B. Rickey Henderson

C. Ha-Seong Kim

D. Cameron Maybin

• Now that Salas has arrived, what does that mean for the Padres moving forward at catcher?

• A versatile Padres prospect is getting work in the Arizona Fall League.

• It won’t be the Padres, but a first-time champ is about to be crowned. Here’s everything you need to know about Game 1 of the World Series.

A. Everth Cabrera

Cabrera swiped 44 bags for the Padres in 2012.

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