Accelerated promotions of Padres' top prospects might be crazy enough to work

The San Diego Padres, like a lot of teams in the league these days, have not been shy about aggressively promoting top prospects. While teams like the Los Angeles Angels are on the extreme end, the Padres don't waste much time allowing prospects to grind their way through their minor leagues.

San Diego defied the odds last spring after selecting 21 year-old Jackson Merrill to be part of the Opening Day roster while playing an entirely new position. Obviously, that worked out rather well.

There is some real unpredictability in this methodology. Advancing a player to a level that they're not yet ready for invites risks, such as learning bad habits while they are pressured to perform or permanently hurting a player's confidence while they inevitably struggle to find their footing.

Ha-Seong Kim & Kyle Higashioka's free agency could impact Padres' plans for their top prospects

Getting a potential top talent to the big leagues quickly is appealing, but shouldn't come at the cost of ruining a player's long-term future. However, it sounds like the Padres may be poised to take such a risk thanks, in part, to the possible departures of both Kyle Higashioka and Ha-Seong Kim this offseason.

Here is the fundamental problem the Padres face. The only catcher under contract for 2025 is Luis Campusano who the team definitely doesn't trust behind the plate. Higashioka was great this season, but is a free agent at a position with a talent deficit league-wide. Higashioka is going to command a raise regardless of where he plays next season. Elias Diaz isn't uninteresting as a reunion candidate, but may be best served as a backup rather than a primary catcher.

Meanwhile, the likelihood that Kim declines his mutual-option and tests free agency is extremely high at the moment. Even if Kim doesn't decline his option, or San Diego re-signs him, his bat is a genuine question mark as well as the shoulder injury that cost him the end of the 2024 season.

Padres prospects Ethan Salas and Leo De Vries could factor into San Diego's 2025 plans

The Padres have already shown their willingness to be aggressive with both of their top prospects. Salas was famously promoted all the way to Double-A in 2023 as a teenager and the Padres made the very optimistic choice to assign De Vries to a full season at A-ball this season. San Diego clearly likes both of these prospects and could have a real need at their positions this coming season.

In a perfect world, both Salas and De Vries would be given some time to learn how to be professional hitters in the minors. Salas in particular struggled at the plate after quickly moving up the ladder, and De Vries' shoulder injury cost him a big chunk of playing time this past season. However, Salas' defensive acumen could probably play in the big leagues right now even if his bat isn't ready, and De Vries' offensive upside is incredibly tempting.

Is there a chance that the Padres could actually give one or both of their top prospects a chance in 2025? Yes, but what steps the Padres take this offseason will be the ultimate determining factor in how quickly San Diego moves forward with their top two prospects.

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