Padres’ sneaky signing bets on the upside of a former Guardians first-round pick

The San Diego Padres don’t really do “big” the way other teams do. They don’t do “interesting” the same way, either. So a minor league deal for a former Guardians first-round pick who’s basically been living in baseball’s witness protection program the last couple years? Yeah, that’s interesting. Especially because Cleveland’s typically frugal operation isn’t exactly known for tossing aside upside.

Per multiple reports, San Diego signed infielder Carson Tucker (Cleveland’s 23rd overall pick in 2020) to a minor league contract for the 2026 season. Tucker was released by the Guardians in July 2024, then spent 2025 rebooting his career in independent ball with the Ogden Raptors in the Pioneer League.  And here’s the hook: Tucker hit .323 in Ogden with a .469 on-base percentage and six stolen bases. 

Padres’ quiet move reunites Carson Tucker with opportunity after Cleveland

Okay, this is not some immediate major-league fix. The Padres aren’t signing him to bump a veteran off shortstop in February. They’re doing what A.J. Preller-led teams have always been good at — grabbing low-cost lottery tickets that still come with pedigree, especially at premium positions. San Diego’s big-league infield is already built around expensive, established names, so the value here is depth and optionality, not instant impact. 

Tucker’s affiliated track record with Cleveland was… messy. Injuries interrupted his early pro run, and his production in the Guardians system never matched the “first-round pick” label, with his batting line sitting well below .200 in the low minors. That’s why the indie detour matters: it’s the first time in a while you can point to a stat line and say, “Okay, something changed.”

Is that change real? That’s the entire gamble. The Pioneer League isn’t Double-A, and 18 games isn’t a season. But the Padres don’t need Tucker to become a star to win this move. If the improved approach carries over even halfway in affiliated ball, you’re suddenly looking at a useful upper-minors infielder who can cover multiple spots and keep the organization from scrambling the first time injuries hit. If it doesn’t translate, it’s a minor league contract and a spring training look. No harm, no headlines.

Also, there’s a nice little baseball-family wrinkle here: Tucker is the younger brother of Cole Tucker, who reached the majors. San Diego is betting that the first-round talent didn’t vanish — it just got delayed. For a team always hunting for sneaky value, this is exactly the kind of flier worth taking.