Padres prospect update: Higginbotham stays hot, Karpathios' big month continues

Another week, another set of Padres minor leaguers doing big things. We are now settled into the second-half of the 2025 campaign, and we are still seeing some Friars farmhands stand out above the rest.

With Double-A San Antonio, Jake Higginbotham's electric season out of the bullpen continues, and with High-A Fort Wayne, Braedon Karpathios has ben red-hot this July.

Padres prospects Jake Higginbotham, Braedon Karpathios impress in Double-A, High-A

Higginbotham, a 29-year-old left-hander, picked up his 20th hold this past week. His overall numbers do not jump off the page, all thanks to his forgettable April (8.44 ERA to begin the season).

Since then, Higginbotham has figured it out, and has been an under-the-radar arm with the San Antonio Missions.

Jake Higginbotham by the numbers

May

• Batting average against: .206

• ERA: 1.93

• K/BB: 11/4

June

• Batting average against: .231

• ERA: 1.80

• K/BB: 16/4

July

• Batting average against: .250

• ERA: 1.35

• K/BB: 7/0

As for Karpathios, the 22-year-old outfielder has been a hitting machine in July. He's pieced together four multi-hit games over his last six contests, and is now slashing .294/.400/.490 this month - which is the best of his professional career.

Karpathios is not listed within the Padres' Top 30 prospects list, which only has three outfielders (Kavares Tears (No. 7), Tirso Ornelas (No. 11), Kai Roberts (No. 23)). He currently has an .800 OPS with 11 home runs this season, so if he continues his tirade at the plate, then perhaps there is room for one more outfielder among San Diego's best young talent.

Padres minor league schedule: July 22-27, 2025

Triple-A El Paso (50-46): Six-game home series vs. Sugar Land (Astros)

Double-A San Antonio (50-40): Six-game home series vs. Midland (Athletics)

High-A Fort Wayne (44-45): Six-game road series at Cedar Rapids (Twins)

Single-A Lake Elsinore (41-49): Six-game road series at Stockton (Athletics)