Padres top prospect pushing for promotion as red-hot July continues

As the trade deadline looms and postseason aspirations intensify, the San Diego Padres have more than just the big-league roster to keep an eye on. Down on the farm, Leo De Vries, the club’s No. 1 overall prospect and the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball, is making a loud case for a promotion with a red-hot July performance that’s hard to ignore.

The 18-year-old shortstop has been lighting up High-A pitching this month, capping off a standout stretch with his seventh home run of the season on Sunday, July 20th for the Fort Wayne TinCaps. De Vries has now tallied seven extra-base hits in just 11 games this month while consistently being one of the youngest players on the field. His advanced plate discipline and offensive instincts are already on display, posting a strong .359 on-base percentage and showcasing an all-fields approach that’s rare for a teenager at this level.

Padres’ 18-year-old phenom turning heads in July with breakout performance

De Vries, already a standout name among prospect followers, continues to build a résumé that includes a 2024 Spring Training invite and a spot on the MLB All-Star Futures Game roster. He slashed .237/.361/.441 in his first professional season in 2024 at Single-A, flashing his potential at the plate.

This season, De Vries has shown steady progression. Scouts and evaluators have long touted him as a potential 30/30 player with his rare blend of power and speed. His recent play suggests that ceiling may be more realistic than speculative.

The Padres have a reputation for being one of baseball’s most aggressive organizations when it comes to player development, often fast-tracking their top talent when the performance justifies it. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill are great examples of prospects who rose through the system swiftly — and De Vries is starting to echo those trajectories.

Still, with San Diego’s front office reportedly exploring all angles ahead of the deadline, De Vries’ name has surfaced in trade rumors. Alongside fellow top prospect Ethan Salas, De Vries could be a valuable chip if the Padres swing big at the deadline. A contending team could certainly covet an 18-year-old shortstop with elite upside.

So where does that leave the Padres? Two compelling directions emerge. One option is to sell high and go all in, using De Vries as the centerpiece in a blockbuster trade to bring in immediate impact talent for a postseason push. The other path is to stay the course, allowing De Vries to continue his ascent through the system, likely reaching Double-A soon. Then potentially arriving in San Diego by 2027 as a key piece of the next Padres core.

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