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Padres prospect's wild power-speed display should have fans buzzing

Put him on your radar right now.
ByPJ Potter|
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May 30, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers outfielder Ryan Wideman (33) attempts to save a three home run hit by Georgia Tech Yellowjackets pitcher/infielder Alex Hernandez (4) during the first inning. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
May 30, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers outfielder Ryan Wideman (33) attempts to save a three home run hit by Georgia Tech Yellowjackets pitcher/infielder Alex Hernandez (4) during the first inning. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

There always needs to be a minor leaguer who fans can latch on to. In the past for the Padres, it's been guys like Leo De Vries or CJ Abrams or MacKenzie Gore. Obviously, all of them are no longer with San Diego, which doesn't set a pattern of confidence.

Besides that, who is someone Padres fans can currently rally behind? Ranked as the ninth best prospect in the organization, 22-year-old outfielder Ryan Wideman might be a prime candidate. What he's done this season should have us all excited for what's to cone.

A third-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, Wideman is already displaying flashes of greatness. Standing tall at 6-foot-4, Wideman is an athletic outfielder with a belt full of tools. His two-homer game with Single-A Lake Elsinore on April 21, one of which was an inside-the-parker, should have him on every Padres fans' radar.

San Diego Padres outfield prospect Ryan Wideman continues to improve

Not only did Wideman go deep twice on April 21, but he added a double and a single in his first career four-hit game.

In his first 17 games this season, Wideman is a .304 hitter with 10 extra-base hits, eight stolen bases, and a .939 OPS. There were bits and pieces of that production from him last year in his professional debut, but there is already a clear maturation. Wideman struck out 32 times in 26 games last year, which was his one worry point going into 2026, but that rate has declined.

He's gone down on strikes 14 times in the early going, which is still a decent amount of strikeouts, but it's nowhere as often as last season.

Wideman is one of four outfielders within the Padres' Top 30 list. He is ranked the highest ahead of Braedon Karpathios (No. 12), Alex McCoy (No. 21), and Tirso Ornelas (No. 25). He and Karpathios are each 22 years old, which is the youngest among the crop. So there's not only consistent production from Wideman, but youth remains on his side. It'll be fun to continue tracking him.

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