Here's the Padres' player pool for their Spring Breakout game

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres insist that -- despite all those recent trades, which have thinned their farm system -- they still have a talented group of prospects. Later this month, they’ll get to make that case on the field.

MLB released the rosters for its third annual Spring Breakout games on Thursday, and -- after trades that mostly plucked from the upper levels of their system -- the Padres’ roster is laden with lower level prospects, including a handful of very intriguing young arms. Here’s what you need to know:

What is Spring Breakout?

In 2026, MLB Spring Breakout will again be a four-day event showcasing baseball’s future -- the current stars of Minor League Baseball – in 16 exhibition games played between teams composed of each MLB organization’s top prospects. The third edition will be held from March 19-22 at Grapefruit and Cactus League stadiums during Spring Training.

In 2027, Spring Breakout will be expanded into a single-elimination tournament format, with champions being crowned in both the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues.

When is the Padres’ game?

The Padres head to Mesa, Ariz., to face the Cubs’ prospects on March 21 in this year’s Spring Breakout. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. PT.

How can I tune in?

MLB.TV, MLB.com, MLB App, Marquee, SDPA, Gameday

Notable position players

Ethan Salas is the headliner once again, and it’s worth a reminder that he’s still only 19 years old. Salas is coming off what essentially amounted to a lost season in 2025 after he missed most of the year due to a stress reaction in his lower back. But the Padres remain bullish on Salas’ upside, and he’s impressed them early in camp -- showing some of the tools that once made him one of the game’s top prospects.

A couple other intriguing young catchers are in the mix -- Ty Harvey and Truitt Madonna, two 2025 Padres Draft picks. Shortstop Jorge Quintana, who arrived in the deal that sent Brandon Lockridge to Milwaukee last summer, is on the preliminary roster as well. He’s the team’s No. 7 prospect.

Notable pitchers

The Padres selected a high school left-hander with each of their first-round picks in the last two Drafts -- and both are on their Spring Breakout roster this year. Kruz Schoolcraft, their first-rounder last summer, is the only Padre on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list. He checks in at No. 88.

Kash Mayfield, meanwhile, was selected first in the 2024 Draft and is currently the team’s fourth-ranked prospect. Righties Miguel Mendez (Padres’ No. 3) and Humberto Cruz (No. 5) could also cover innings in the game.

Roster details

Spring Breakout rosters are being constructed in two phases in 2026. Clubs initially submit a preliminary 40-man player pool on Thursday, March 5, which will then be pared down to the official 23-27 man rosters on March 18.The preliminary rosters were assembled using MLB Pipeline's Top 30 Prospects lists plus additional prospects submitted by the club.

Preliminary 40-man player pool (Padres Top 30 Prospects list):

PITCHERS (21)
Bryan Balzer, RHP, No. 29
Manuel Castro, RHP, NR
Humberto Cruz, RHP, No. 5
Jaxon Dalena, RHP, No. 30
Clay Edmondson, RHP, NR
Harry Gustin, LHP, NR
Luis Gutierrez, LHP, No. 20
Garrett Hawkins, RHP, No. 14
Jagger Haynes, LHP, No. 15
Kannon Kemp, RHP, No. 19
Josh Mallitz, RHP, NR
Kash Mayfield, LHP, No. 4
Miguel Mendez, RHP, No. 3
Johan Moreno, RHP, NR
Tucker Musgrove, RHP, No. 11
Kleiber Olmedo, RHP, NR
Bradgley Rodriguez, RHP, No. 6
Michael Salina, RHP, No. 13
Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, No. 1/MLB No. 88
Lan-Hong Su, RHP, No. 18
Jeferson Villabona, RHP, NR

CATCHERS (5)
Brendan Durfee, C, NR
Ty Harvey, C, No. 8
Lamar King Jr., C/1B, No. 16
Truitt Madonna, C, No. 24
Ethan Salas, C, No. 2

INFIELDERS (9)
Marcos Castañon, 2B, NR
Jhoan De La Cruz, SS/2B, No. 23
Kale Fountain, 1B/3B, No. 10
Dylan Grego, SS, NR
Ryan Jackson, SS, NR
Jorge Quintana, SS/3B, No. 7
Romeo Sanabria, 1B, No. 28
Jose Verdugo, SS, NR
Rosman Verdugo, SS, NR

OUTFIELDERS (5)
Braedon Karpathios, OF, No. 12
Alex McCoy, OF, No. 21
Kavares Tears, OF, No. 27
Kasen Wells, OF, NR
Ryan Wideman, OF, No. 9