Padres Spring Breakout roster highlights youth movement among club's position players

Following a successful effort in 2024, Major League Baseball is bringing back their Spring Breakout showcase to place a spotlight on the best prospects in the sport.

The San Diego Padres will have quite a few players representing the organization in a game against the A’s on March 14 at the Peoria Sports Complex, starting at 2:40 p.m. PT. Leo De Vries and Ethan Salas, who were just tabbed Top 100 prospects in all of baseball this week, are set to play in this showcase. Despite both players still being just 18 years old, they have long-term projections as the Friars' next biggest stars.

Before being sent to minor league camp, De Vries - the No. 1 prospect in San Diego's farm - batted 2-for-16 with one double and three walks. Salas was also assigned to minor league camp after going 1-for-8 this spring with five walks and one double.

Although De Vries and Salas are the headliners for San Diego at the Spring Breakout, keep an eye out for pitchers Kash Mayfield and Boston Bateman.

Mayfield, 20, is San Diego's No. 3 prospect. The 6-foot-4 southpaw was named the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year two times in high school, highlighted by a strong changeup. The 2024 first-round draft pick did not throw for the Padres last season after he was selected. They shut him down after a long season in high school, which saw him rack up 115 strikeouts. This will be an interesting pro debut for Mayfield, who has seen an increase in his fastball's velocity, which can reach 97 MPH.

Bateman, 19, is another extremely young Friar with plenty of upside. Just like Mayfield, Bateman is a left-handed pitcher, standing at 6-foot-8. The similarities don't stop there, either, as Bateman has yet to throw a pitch in professional ball, so his Spring Breakout performance will be watched carefully. His curveball is expected to be his best pitch alongside a fastball that sits in the mid-90s, but can touch 97 MPH.

One surprising Padres prospect not participating in the Spring Breakout is Tirso Ornelas, who is batting .421 in spring training (8-for-19) with five extra-base hits and four walks. Ornelas, however, is a bit older than the four aforementioned prospects. At 24 years old, he is hopeful of making the Opening Day roster, whereas the rest of the pack still needs more time to develop.