3 San Diego Padres who could be first time All-Stars in 2025

This season, the San Diego Padres have no shortage of star power. Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, Luis Arraez, and Yu Darvish are some of the top players in Major League Baseball, and they definitely deserve the recognition for their talent.

However, there are still some players on the Friars' roster who could be labeled as unheralded, underrated, or unknown. Never being named to an All-Star team, that could very easily change for Jason Adam, Dylan Cease, and Michael King in 2025.

3 San Diego Padres who could be first time All-Stars in 2025

Jason Adam

For a guy with a career WHIP under 1.000, Jason Adam is one of the most underrated relievers in the game. Over the last three seasons, his ERA has been 1.56, 2.98, and 1.95, respectively. It's difficult for any reliever to maintain a consistent dominance, but Adam has figured it out after going through four elbow surgeries.

When he was traded from the Rays to the Padres, he was - dare I say, surprisingly? - unhittable. With San Diego, Adam surrendered three earned runs across 27 outings (1.01 ERA) with 31 strikeouts. Now this spring, Adam did not allow a hit, nor a run, in his first five appearances. One other helpful addition for Adam's potential All-Star candidacy is that he could eventually become the team's next closer. Robert Suarez, who logged 36 saves in 2024, could possibly be traded this year. If that happens, Adam would be an ideal replacement.

Dylan Cease

Shockingly, Dylan Cease has never been an All-Star. He's finished second and fourth place in the Cy Young Award race, but he was never selected to the Midsummer Classic. Although his name has been dangled all winter and spring as a trade candidate, Cease is likely to be an All-Star this season with the Padres if he pitches up to his standard. The right-handed starter is entering his second campaign in San Diego. Last year, he logged 33 starts, which was once again tops in the league. He had a rough two-month stretch beginning in mid-May, but was able to hold it down the rest of the year.

Michael King

Just like Cease, Michael King could be traded this season, especially with the New York Yankees needing someone to replace Gerrit Cole in the rotation. If King were to remain in San Diego, he's another right-handed starter who deserves some recognition.

He was arguably the best pitcher on the Padres in 2024, firing 201 strikeouts in a 2.95 ERA in his first year with the Friars. It was also his inaugural season as a starting pitcher, but his inexperience had no negative impact on his production. King was good all year, but he was especially strong towards the end of the season. In September, he allowed four earned runs in 23 innings (1.57 ERA) and had similar dominant numbers in July and in August.

If King is able to carry that success over into the 2025 campaign, he will be impossible to overlook as an All-Star selection.