Re-ranking the Padres’ top prospects after another A.J. Preller deadline purge

Once again, A.J. Preller didn’t nibble around the edges at the 2026 trade deadline. The Padres needed starting pitching, and he made sure to grab the best prospects options left in an already-thin farm system and started spending.

The Friars acquired Robbie Ray from the Giants for right-hander Miguel Mendez and shortstop Joniel Hernandez. Then Casey Mize from Detroit for left-hander Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf. They strengthened the rotation and paid a serious prospect price.

Mayfield was the biggest loss. He had become San Diego’s safest young starting pitcher, combining improving command with a mature three-pitch mix at High-A. Mendez was closer to the majors and possessed late-inning upside with an upper-90s fastball and hard slider. Hernandez was the long-range gamble, a 17-year-old shortstop with enough physical projection to make this trade hurt years down the road.

The Padres understood what they were surrendering, and Preller was unapologetic about it. That is how he operates. Prospects are currency, and he rarely leaves much sitting in the account when the major league roster needs help. Unfortunately, this account was already pretty low. Baseball America ranked San Diego’s system 30th before the deadline because of its lack of depth. Removing Mayfield, Mendez and Hernandez only widened the gap behind Ethan Salas.

Padres’ post-deadline top 10 prospects

1. Ethan Salas, C
2. Coleman Borthwick, RHP
3. Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP
4. Elliot Lascelles, SS
5. Tucker Musgrove, RHP
6. Ty Harvey, C
7. Ryan Wideman, OF
8. Bryan Balzer, RHP
9. Lan-Hong Su, RHP
10. Jorge Quintana, SS

Why Coleman Borthwick ranks ahead of Kruz Schoolcraft

Putting Borthwick second is aggressive. And we’re comfortable with that. Probably just as much as Preller is with moving prospects.

Schoolcraft remains one of San Diego’s highest-upside prospects. The 6-foot-8 lefty can reach the upper 90s, creates enormous extension and owns a changeup that could become a plus offering. His first full professional season has been pretty messy. He’s posted a 5.32 ERA and 1.75 WHIP through 71 innings, struggling to repeat his delivery and consistently throw strikes.

Still, he’s just a 19-year-old pitcher having command problems, especially one built like a power forward. The talent is there, he just needs to continue his development.

Borthwick gets the edge because his foundation appears cleaner. The Padres selected the 6-foot-6, 260-pound righty 21st overall in July. His fastball has touched 100 mph, and his slider sits in the mid-80’s and has already received a strong rating. He also demonstrated better amateur control than most teenage pitchers his size.

Borthwick simply brings the louder fastball-slider combo and a stronger chance of consistently locating it.

Ryan Wideman has earned his rise to No. 7

Wideman entered professional baseball with loud athleticism and serious questions about his bat. He has done nothing but spend 2026 answering those questions.

The 2025 third-round pick is slashing .296/.358/.420 across his first 426 at-bats while stealing 62 bases. His performance earned him a promotion from Single-A Lake Elsinore to High-A Fort Wayne. Wideman has continued producing while facing better competition, which is way more important than the initial scouting report.

The power remains limited, but a center fielder who reaches base, creates chaos and plays quality defense doesn’t need to hit 25 home runs. Wideman has improved more consistently with the bat than scouts expected. That progress earns him the bump, even in a system filled with more traditionally projectable arms.

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