Power ranking Padres’ potential rookie superstars in 2024 season

The San Diego Padres sacrificed some of their young talent in order to bring Dylan Cease into the fold. But the Friar faithful have become numb to president of baseball operations A.J. Preller making these types of blockbuster trades over the years.

Despite losing Drew Thorpe and Jairo Iriarte, the Padres still have several young prospects and players who will be suiting up for the major league club this season.

No, you're not going to see Dylan Lesko or Ethan Salas make it to The Show in 2024, but there are a handful of first-year players who were on the on flight to Seoul or will make their debut sometime during the 2024 season. How do the Padres' rookies-to-be rank ahead of the 2024 season.

Power ranking Padres’ potential rookie superstars in 2024 season

Honorable Mention: Randy Vásquez, Padres RHP

Vásquez has made his major league debut, but is still considered a rookie. His rocky start this spring, along with the addition of Cease, will likely see Vásquez begin the year at Triple-A. But that fifth starter job will be up for grabs throughout the season, and Vásquez has two above-average breaking pitches. It's debatable, however, whether Vásquez remains a starter or switches to the bullpen.

5. Jakob Marsee, Padres OF

Marsee missed out on the traveling party to South Korea. After being reassigned to minor league camp, the Padres coaching staff obviously feel that the Arizona Fall League MVP still has some work to do before making the jump to the big leagues.

Marsee, unlike Jackson Merrill, is an outfielder by trade. It's quite possible, by season's end, that both Marsee and Merrill are starting in the Friars outfield. It remains to be seen if Marsee can break into the Padres lineup as an everyday player or if he'll find a role as a platoon bat against right-handed pitching.

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.