Padres Top 10 prospect could be the answer to starting rotation questions

Almost at the last second, the Padres are still adding players to their roster. Just ahead of spring training, San Diego signed a few depth pieces, including one in more of a leadership role. Now, Padres fans can subside their worries of their team fielding a decent team, which means they can move their focus on to what to expect from younger players within the organization.

The current starting rotation looks strong at the top, headlined by Yu Darvish, Dylan Cease, and Michael King. But what about the rest of the staff? It might be time to give Henry Baez a shot in the rotation, who could be a youthful charge to an otherwise aging staff.

Padres pitching prospect Henry Baez could be the answer to starting rotation questions

Baez, 22, was named the Padres Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024. The right-hander, who was San Diego's No. 7 prospect a year ago, logged 126 1/3 innings between High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio.

Baez fanned 109 batters and only induced 40 walks. He closed out the season on a high note, combining for two runs allowed across 12 1/3 frames in his final two starts.

Baez has to like his chances of eventually landing in the San Diego rotation, even if it doesn't mean being named to the Opening Day roster. Randy Vásquez and Matt Waldron are currently etched in as the bottom-of-the-rotation guys, but Vásquez was sent up and down a few times. He's hasn't quite sold the Padres on his reliability, which can open the door for another guy to take his spot. Waldron was also optioned at one point following his stretch of five or more runs allowed in six of his last seven appearances.

Baez can rear back for a fastball hitting the mid-to-high 90s alongside mixing in a slider and a curveball. He very well could be San Diego's best option to complete the starting rotation, especially if he has a strong spring effort. He is the only Friars prospect in the Top 10 with an expected arrival time in 2025, so it is just a matter of when he will be promoted. It could be sooner than we expect.