Power ranking Padres’ potential rookie superstars in 2024 season

4. Woo-Suk Go, Padres RHP

Go will be returning to his native South Korea for the first game of the Padres season. The former KBO star will attempt to make the switch to the big leagues. After working as a closer overseas, Go is expected to work more of the middle innings, and perhaps some high-leverage situations as the season unfolds.

Go's first experience this spring has not yielded the type of results many Pads fans were hoping for after his signing was announced this offseason. Go posted a 12.46 ERA in five Cactus League games with a 2.308 WHIP.

But spring training offers players, especially newly-signed big league pitchers like Go, an opportunity to see how their stuff plays against major league talent. Go's three-pitch mix (fastball, curveball, slider) should play well in the majors, but there's still plenty of development ahead for the 25-year-old.

3. Graham Pauley, Padres OF

Pauley was on the plane to Korea earlier this week. With Manny Machado restricted to acting as the Padres designated hitter for the time being, Pauley could see plenty of starts at third base. The question surrounding Pauley will be the amount of playing time he'll receive once Machado is back to full strength.

With Jake Cronenworth firmly entrenched at first base and Xander Bogaerts now playing second base, getting regular at-bats could be a difficult task for Pauley. But the DH affords Mike Shildt some options, and perhaps the left-handed hitting slugger will see time in the outfield as well.

2. Yuki Matsui, Padres LHP

Maybe this is wishful thinking, but the Padres are high on Matsui. The Japanese pitcher signed a five-year, $28 million contract with the Padres this offseason, and is seen as a possible replacement for Josh Hader at the backend of the San Diego bullpen.

The split-finger fastball has gained a good deal of notoriety this spring, and a lot of pitchers appear to be adding it to their arsenal. That's a pitch that the diminutive Matsui has already mastered. At just 5-foot-8, Matsui is unlikely to possess the type of strength to blow opposing batters away with the high heat. But owning a plus-splitter may allow Matsui to own hitters during his rookie season with the Padres.

1. Jackson Merrill, Padres OF

Merrill is the Padres' top prospect not named Ethan Salas, and San Diego gave the 20-year-old the opportunity to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. The problem for Merrill was that the opportunity wasn't going to come at his natural position.

A shortstop by trade, Merrill made a seamless transition to the outfield grass and has started spring games in both left and center field. While Marsee is the more polished defender, Merrill is athletic enough to field the position well enough to be part of San Diego's starting lineup.

Merrill has Rookie of the Year potential. There will be stiff competition from other players in the National League like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jung Hoo Lee, and Jackson Chourio, but Merrill is going to be in the Padres lineup almost every day. If his defense is just average, and his hit-over-power makeup translates to the big leagues, the Padres could have a star on their hands.

More Padres News from Friars on Base