3 San Diego Padres prospects who could play big roles in 2024

The writing is on the wall, as the Friar Faithful is clamoring for new blood on the San Diego Padres roster in 2024. The call for a promotion of one of the organization’s top prospects grows louder with each passing day.

Last season, the Padres minor league system lacked major league-ready talent. partially due to the 2022 Juan Soto trade deadline deal. Now, the Friars' top prospects are ready to contribute after completing another season of seasoning.

Too often, rookies need to take their lumps before hitting their stride in the majors. Patience is needed if the rookies are struggling to make contact against big-league pitching ... but they can only contribute if their names are in the lineup. Sometimes, playing a big role is as simple as this.

Let’s take a look at three San Diego Padres prospects who could play big roles in 2024

Jackson Merrill, SS

The Friars could use their top infield prospect, Jackson Merrill, as a utility player next season. Shortstop is his primary position, but Merrill did play five games in the outfield with San Antonio last season. Also, he saw playing time at first base and second base. The reason is that Merrill is a great athlete and, to secure an opportunity in the majors, he better be open to play anywhere on the field.

Merrill will not be 21 until next April as he was the Padres first-round pick (27th overall) in the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft. In three minor league seasons, the young shortstop has a .295 lifetime batting average with 76 extra-base hits in 881 plate appearances. Merrill could provide a much-needed boost to the Padres listless offense.

He has shown there is nothing left to prove in the minors, but Merrill has never faced MLB pitching. A good spring training performance could force the Friars front office to put Merrill on the Opening Day roster. The move would save payroll to acquire a veteran starting pitcher.

Ethan Salas, C

Baseball has seen prospects take the leap from the low minors to the majors before. Michael Harris II of the Atlanta Braves won the 2022 National League Rookie of the Year after starting the season (43 games) in Double-A. Ethan Salas could make a similar impact with his bat in San Diego. The Padres offense needs to show some life in 2024.

The teenage catcher tore it up at each stop in the minors last season. Salas played 66 games in three minor league stops (A, A+ and AA). Collectively, he hit for .248 with nine home runs, 41 RBI and .831 OPS. Salas showed some power and the ability to hit to all fields from the left side of the plate.

Defensively, he has a strong arm with great mechanics in blocking pitches in the dirt. Still, veteran starters might be apprehensive about giving full control in calling a game to a 19-year-old. Gaining their confidence might be his biggest hurdle in 2024.

The front office will not waiver to put Salas on the roster if they deem him ready for the majors. But he will have to catch more than once or twice a week for the move to be successful.

Salas breaking camp with the Padres would be the exception, not the rule.