'Electric.' 'Sick.' 'Awesome.' On verge of the bigs, Merrill having a blast in Seoul
SEOUL, South Korea -- In the aftermath of the Padres’ offense being held to one run and four hits by the Korean national team in San Diego's 1-0 victory on Sunday night local time, San Diego skipper Mike Shildt remarked that he “actually didn’t mind” that, given that his team
FAQ: Padres-Mariners Spring Breakout
PEORIA, Ariz. -- This Friday, the Padres and Mariners square off in Spring Breakout, a first-of-its-kind exhibition featuring the top prospects in each farm system. Here’s everything to know about that game and this exciting new event. What is Spring Breakout? MLB Spring Breakout is a four-day event showcasing baseball’s
Best of Spring Breakout: Catchers, pitchers, infielders, outfielders
Spring Breakout is here, and if you can’t tell, we’re just a little excited. It all started on Thursday, when No. 7 Reds prospect Cam Collier hit the first homer in a 4-1 victory over the Rangers' prospects, and the showdown of the night saw MLB Pipeline's No. 3 overall
17-year-old Salas catching on quickly and ready to show it on big stage
PEORIA, Ariz. -- For quite a few reasons, Ethan Salas' first Major League camp was a resounding success. He was a 17-year-old flanked by veterans, some twice his age. And Salas held his own. In nine plate appearances, he tallied a single, an opposite-field double and a walk. He backstopped
Here's the Padres' Spring Breakout roster
PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres' reloaded farm system has, naturally, produced one of the most loaded Spring Breakout rosters in baseball. Next week, when Padres prospects square off against the Mariners in the first-of-its-kind event, the San Diego roster could feature three Top 100 prospects.
Ranking the 10 best Spring Breakout rosters
The 2024 MLB Pipeline preseason Farm System Rankings were published Friday night, giving fans an idea of how the young talent of each organization lines up. Supporters for all 30 clubs will get a closer look at the next generation of stars this week during MLB's inaugural Spring Breakout --
Good or bad at baseball? Bush knows now
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Homer Bush Jr. calls the past few years of his baseball experience "a whirlwind." And, really, how else could he describe it? The Padres' No. 14 prospect in the MLB Pipeline rankings was drafted last summer and ascended as high as Double-A in his first professional season.
Merrill's breakout spring earns him a trip to Seoul
PEORIA, Ariz. -- If there were any lingering doubts regarding Jackson Merrill's status on the Padres' Opening Day roster, he answered that question with one emphatic swing on Tuesday afternoon. D-backs starter Zac Gallen threw an 0-1 fastball on the outer half of the plate. Merrill, San Diego's No. 2
17 and ready: De Vries set to impress
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Leodalis De Vries signed in January. A few weeks later, he boarded a plane for the first time in his life en route to Padres Spring Training. The 17-year-old shortstop with the sweet swing from both sides of the plate arrived and took his pre-camp physical on
King to make (brief) return to bullpen for Seoul Series
PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres vowed to make Michael King a full-time starter when they landed him from the Yankees in December. And, sure, that’s still the plan -- King is the third option in a Padres rotation featuring Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove at the top. But evidently King’s
Who's San Diego's Opening Day 3B? Jury's still out
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Padres appear to be in need of an Opening Day third baseman. Recently, Manny Machado took a few days off from his throwing program, putting a heavier emphasis on the hitting side of his recovery, manager Mike Shildt said. (That increased focus on the bat paid
New position, new opportunity: Why Merrill could join elite company
PEORIA, Ariz. -- In the past half-century, only two players have started Opening Day in center field before their 21st birthday. You’ve probably heard of them: Ken Griffey Jr. and Andruw Jones. Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio, the top outfield prospect in the sport, seems destined to join that list. But suddenly,
A breakout Padres prospect makes his roster case
This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell’s Padres Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. I didn't expect to have my interest piqued in the seventh inning of an early-March Cactus League game on the other side of the
Here are the Padres' 2024 Top 30 prospects
Jackson Merrill has been one of the talks of Padres Spring Training camp as he fights for a Major League spot as a 20-year-old. Consider the journey the farm system has been on since he was taken 27th overall in the Draft less than three years ago. Since July 2021,
Kannon Kemp highlights
Braden Nett highlights
Austin Krob highlights
Leodalis De Vries highlights
Padres reassign top prospect Salas to Minor League camp
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Naturally, with their season slated to start early, the Padres are making early cuts this spring, too. On Sunday afternoon, they made a flurry of moves, paring their big league roster to 50 with 10 days remaining until they depart for Korea and their season-opening two-game series
More than Merrill trying to leap to Majors
PEORIA, Ariz. -- As the Padres weigh roster construction, Jackson Merrill is not the only young position player who could provide an impact. On a team that skews right-handed, young lefty hitters Jakob Marsee, Graham Pauley and Nathan Martorella have seen significant time early in Cactus League play after moving
Merrill cozy as can be in camp: 'I could sleep here'
MESA, Ariz. -- Jackson Merrill started two of the Padres’ first three games this spring, doing so while learning a new position defensively. For most players at this stage of camp, Sunday would have been a natural off-day. Not Merrill. The Padres bused across the Valley to face the Cubs
Merrill flashy at new position; Matsui K's the side
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Glass half full, it’s baseball season. Glass half empty, this was an inauspicious way for the 2024 Padres to get things started. Given that it’s Feb. 22, the Padres will gladly take the glass-half-full view following their 14-1 loss to the rival Dodgers on Thursday afternoon in
'Love a challenge,' says Salas, in camp at 17
This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell's Padres Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
'I'm betting on our guys': SD prospects hyped for Spring Breakout showcase
PEORIA, Ariz. -- A month ahead of the Padres' “Spring Breakout” showdown against the Mariners -- a game featuring some of the top prospects from each organization -- Major League Baseball unveiled further details for the league-wide event on Thursday. All 30 clubs will participate, with 15 games airing on
Explore Lake Elsinore's The Diamond
Welcome to The Diamond, where the Lake Elsinore Storm float on with some of the wackiest promos in Minor League Baseball, while Padres prospects lure San Diego fans and mascot Thunder the Dog steals the spotlight.