Which Padres Prospects Could Contribute in 2026?

With pitchers and catchers reporting, spring training is right around the corner. A.J. Preller has made additions to the rotation, most notably by re-signing Michael King. Triston McKenzie, Marco Gonzales, and Omar Cruz have all signed minor league deals and received invites to big league camp in spring training. 

On the offensive side, the team picked up Ramón Laureano’s club option, signed Korean infielder Sung-Mun Song, and utilityman Miguel Andújar. Right before camp began, the club also signed veteran Nick Castellanos to a single-year pact at the league minimum.

According to Greg Beacham, Preller plans on adding a starter and another veteran bat to solidify the lineup. Both of those additions would greatly improve the team’s depth; whether that will happen remains to be seen. 

Given Preller’s aggressive track record, it would be unwise to rule anything out. Still, the San Diego Padres may not need to look far for reinforcements. Several internal options are positioned to make meaningful contributions as soon as Opening Day.

Let’s take a look at the prospects who could make an immediate impact. 

Miguel Mendez

Coming off a breakout year in the minors, Miguel Mendez showcased flashes of being dominant. He sits 95-98 with his fastball, and his putaway pitch is a wipeout slider that sits in the mid-80s. He offers a changeup, but remains a work in progress and is clearly his third offering. 

The main concern with Mendez is his control; last season, he owned a 4.3 BB/9, and the issue worsened in Double A with a 6.9 BB/9. However, he posted an 11.2 K/9, showcasing the upside of a frontline arm if the control is harnessed. 

Already on the current 40-man roster, Mendez will get a chance to prove himself. There is a high chance he gets hit around because he is a two-pitch guy at this point. Nonetheless, the exposure to big league talent will continue his development. 

Depending on how his spring training performance winds up going, more time in the minors may be needed to hone his control and gain a third pitch. A midseason promotion is very much in the picture, given the lack of depth and talent on the back end of the rotation. Preller will need to exercise patience with Mendez, because you will want to get this one right. 

Bradgley Rodríguez

If it weren’t for Preller trading for Mason Miller last season, Bradgley Rodríguez could very well be competing for the closer job this spring. Either way, he is another monster in what could very well be the best bullpen in baseball this year. 

In seven games last season, Rodríguez pitched to a 1.17 ERA with 9 strikeouts and three walks. What stood out was clearly his blistering fastball, averaging 98.5 mph. The pitch generates 16.5 inches of iVB, creating ride in the top of the zone, making hitters have to respect it. 

What really separates Rodríguez is his changeup. It comes off the same tunnel as the four-seamer, but dives 16 inches glove-side, creating a devastating combination. He occasionally mixes in a cutter to miss barrels, and its stuff grade is 137, the highest among all of his pitches. 

It seems like the Robert Suárez replacement is right in front of our eyes. Expect Rodríguez to consistently pitch in high-leverage innings alongside Miller, Adrián Morejón, Jason Adam, and David Morgan.

Tirso Ornelas

This could be the season for Tirso Ornelas to cement himself as the fourth outfielder for the Padres. After briefly making his big league debut, he was sent back down to Triple-A after batting .071 in 16 plate appearances. 

After being sent down, he went back to the hitter the Padres believe he can be,  posting a .289/.384/.450 slashline. That will certainly play at the big league level, especially in a fill-in role. 

With a full spring training ahead, Ornelas should get more run, and the opportunity for him to make the Opening Roster is there. 

Injuries do happen; look no further than what happened last season with Jackson Merrill and Laureano. This is where someone like Ornelas can be oh, so valuable. If he can be given adequate time to figure things out at the big league level, he could instantly be an impact player going forward. 

Final Thoughts

Unfortunately, there aren’t more guys who are ready for the big leagues, but this is the situation the Padres have created for themselves. Out of the three, Rodríguez has the clearest path to contributing, but Ornelas isn’t too far behind. 

Mendez intrigues me the most. If he can lower the walk rate from 11.2% to single digits, he could make some serious noise and be another electrifying player on one of the most fun teams in baseball.