Ranking every first-round pick AJ Preller has traded since joining the Padres

AJ Preller has no fear when it comes to trading away his top prospects. Every year, the San Diego Padres are at the epicenter of trade deadline rumors, and for good reason. Preller feasts on the thrill of revamping the team every summer, even if it doesn't ever pan out.

For the 2026 MLB Draft, the Padres are gearing up for the 21st overall pick. The question is, though: Will that player stay with San Diego for long? Ahead of the festivities this weekend, let's take a look at every first-round pick that AJ Preller has traded since he took over in August 2014.

Hint: Preller has taken 12 players in the first round since 2015, and nine have been traded. Seven consecutive first-rounders were traded from 2016-2020 before Jackson Merrill was selected 27th overall in 2021. It's caused Padres fans plenty of heartache, but some of these trades were imperative. A few of them being let go still hurts the soul.

AJ Preller has traded away nine first-round Padres picks since 2015. How do they stack up?

1. CJ Abrams

-Draft: 2019
-Overall pick: 6th
-Time with Padres organization: 3 years, 2 months

Abrams played in 46 games with the Padres before getting dealt for Juan Soto in 2022. Including this season, Abrams is a two-time All-Star with four consecutive seasons reaching at least a 3.0 bWAR with the Nationals.

2. MacKenzie Gore

-Draft: 2017
-Overall pick: 3rd
-Time with Padres organization: 5 years, 2 months

Gore, now with the Rangers, pitched in one big league season as a Padre before getting packaged with Abrams in the Soto trade. In five MLB seasons, Gore owns a 9.9 career K/9 with one All-Star nod in 2025 as a National.

3. Eric Lauer

-Draft: 2016
-Overall pick: 25th
-Time with Padres organization: 3 years, 5 months

Lauer's first two MLB seasons were with San Diego, where he had a 4.40 overall ERA. Since then, he's had stints with the Brewers, Blue Jays, and now the Dodgers. He logged a 138 ERA+ with Toronto last year. This season, in seven outings with Los Angeles, he has a 3.12 ERA across 40.1 frames.

4. Cal Quantrill

-Draft: 2016
-Overall pick: 8th
-Time with Padres organization: 4 years, 2 months

Quantrill has been a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher for the Padres, Guardians, Rockies, Marlins, Braves, and Rangers. This season with Texas, Quantrill has been more so out of the bullpen, where he is 3-1 with a 115 ERA+.

5. Ryan Weathers

-Draft: 2018
-Overall pick: 7th
-Time with Padres organization: 5 years, 2 months

Weathers was traded in 2023 for Garrett Cooper, a rental, and Sean Reynolds. Weathers had a 70 ERA+ in two-and-a-half seasons with San Diego, so it made sense to dish him somewhere. He's been better ever since, too. With the Marlins, he logged a 106 ERA+ in 138 innings before getting traded to the Yankees for the 2026 season. He's a starter in the Bronx and holds a K/9 over 10 this season.

6. Robert Hassell III

-Draft: 2020
-Overall pick: 8th
-Time with Padres organization: 2 years, 2 months

Hassell III made his MLB debut in 2025 with the Nationals, where he drove in 18 runs across 70 games, but that's really been it for him. He is struggling in Triple-A this year, batting .215 with 67 strikeouts in 63 games. He was also packaged in the trade for Soto in 2022.

7. Dillon Head

-Draft: 2023
-Overall pick: 25th
-Time with Padres organization: 2 years, 10 months

Head was part of the trade for Luis Arraez in 2024. Still within the Marlins' system, Head, 21, is currently with High-A Beloit, batting .256 with 27 stolen bases in 51 games.

8. Dylan Lesko

-Draft: 2022
-Overall pick: 15th
-Time with Padres organization: 2 years

As part of the trade for Jason Adam in 2024, Lesko, 22, has yet to fully put it together. In his fourth pro season, he is 3-20 with a 6.59 ERA. He's been a bit better in 2026 with Single-A Charleston, holding opponents to a .145 batting average out of the bullpen.

9. Hudson Potts

-Draft: 2016
-Overall pick: 24th
-Time with Padres organization: 4 years, 2 months

Formerly known as Hudson Sanchez, Potts never reached the major leagues. His final professional campaign was in 2023, playing for two minor league teams within the Braves' system. He batted .239 in seven minor league seasons.

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