Here is a look at five San Diego Padres prospect pitchers who enjoyed a great 2024 and are on the rise.

They say the San Diego Padres don’t possess any relevant prospects.

I hear it all the time. “The Padres traded all their best prospects.”

That regurgitation of the truth is constantly thrown in the faces of Padres fans, but nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, the Padres dealt several of their highly-regarded prospects to obtain Dylan Cease, Luis Arraez, Jason Adam, and Tanner Scott. It happened.

However, all the prospects dealt for major league-relevant players were exactly that- prospects. There is no guarantee, and some were years away from service time in the majors. Perhaps one or two will have excellent major league careers, but history says- most will fizzle out. Some will not even reach the majors. That’s just how it goes.

Now, addressing the fact the Padres “traded all their prospects.”

Sure, the well-known ones are gone, but that does not mean more are not rising up and replenishing the farm. Kash Mayfield, Humberto Cruz, and Boston Bateman will begin 2025 with a full-season team, each capable of being a fast riser. Isaiah Lowe and Victor Lizarraga are developing in the rotation, and both are already at the Double-A level. And let’s not forget Ethan Salas and Leodalis De Vries. Both are destined to be stars in the league and are the Padres top-2 prospects.

The Padres have plenty of prospect value.

Let’s take a look at some pitchers and identify some men who are stepping up.

Francis Pena– RHP  (23) 6-foot-1  170 lbs  (6-4 2.43 ERA/1.02 WHIP  3 Saves) (Triple-A)

This relief pitcher was really close to pitching in the majors in 2024. He flew through three stops, ending in El Paso with a 5.17 ERA in 15.2 innings pitched. The PCL is notoriously tough on pitchers, and Pena was knocked around to some degree. He struck out 16 in that span, showing that the swing-and-miss stuff will translate to the higher leagues.

In total, the Dominican pitcher struck out 64 in 63 innings pitched during the 2024 season. He has a power fastball that is close to topping out in the triple digits. He cuts the fastball and uses that as his off-speed pitch. Pena needs to develop some kind of a third pitch. At this point, he is a two-pitch pitcher. Though his stuff is excellent, major-league hitters will time him. There is some development needed, but there is an upside here of a high-leverage reliever or closer.

Bradgley Rodriguez– RHP  (20) 6-foot-1  160 lbs  (2-1 2.64 ERA/1.14 WHIP  7 Saves) (Double-A)

Rodriguez started the season in Lake Elsinore, pitching in the lowest level of the Padres system. He put up a 1.69 ERA in his first four games and was sent to the Midwest League to pitch for the TinCaps. In Fort Wayne, Rodriguez recorded a 2.59 ERA and struck out 45 batters in 41.2 innings pitched. The right-handed pitcher was then sent to San Antonio, where he saved four games and put up a 3.14 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched.

The Venezuelan native has an excellent changeup. He also throws in the upper 90s and uses a serviceable slider. Rodriguez struck out 75 men in 61.1 total innings pitched in 2024. There is a lot to like about his arm. The command is an issue, as he allowed 31 free passes last season. At the age of 20, there is plenty of time to develop, and it looks like it is full speed ahead for this pitcher. Though he possesses three pitches of average ability or better, Rodriguez is likely to remain in the bullpen.

Sean Reynolds– RHP  (26)  6-foot-8  250 lbs  (2-0  6.17 ERA/1.69 WHIP) (Triple-A)

Blessed with tremendous size, Padres fans got a glimpse of Reynolds late last season. The power pitcher appeared in nine games for the Padres and recorded a 0.82 ERA in 11 innings pitched. Reynolds struck out 21 in that time and looked flat-out dominating. He was left off the playoff roster because of the depth of the Padres bullpen. However, there are strong signs that Reynolds could be a real factor in 2025 and beyond.

At 6-foot-8, he gets tremendous extension off the mound. Reynolds tops out at 99 mph, and the pitch has a little run to it. His slider/sweeper is his best secondary pitch at this time. There is some nice vertical movement with the pitch, but he struggles with command from time to time. Reynolds also throws a curve ball and a change-up, though both are considered a work in progress. Command is the biggest red flag for Reynolds, as he can get wild on the mound. If the mechanics can be refined, you have a high-leverage reliever here with an upside.

Manuel Davila– RHP (17) 6-foot-0  140 lbs  (4-2  2.41 ERA/1.013 WHIP) (DSL Padres)

There is little known about this Mexican pitcher. Humberto Cruz seems to get most of the publicity as far as Padres prospect pitchers from Mexico go, but Davila is an interesting player to keep tabs on. He was dominant last year in the DSL pitching as a 16 and 17-year-old. He throws a sinking fastball and throws strikes. His innate ability to pound the zone as a teenager is a great sign for the Padres. Davila pitched in 52.2 innings last season and did not give up a home run.

At the moment, Davila is not considered a top-30 prospect, but he will be soon. If he can replicate his number in the States next season, eyes will begin to turn his way. He will not be 18 until August and will be hard-pressed to begin the 2025 campaign on a full-season roster. The Padres are aggressive with their prospects, but most pitchers take time to cultivate their craft.

Braden Nett– RHP (22)  6-foot-3 185 lbs  (5-2  3.88 ERA/1.42 WHIP)  (Double-A)

At 22, there is a lot to be excited about when it comes to Braden Nett. He threw in 20 games last year, and 19 of them were as a starter. With 73 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched, the stuff is there. Nett walked 4o at that time, and that is a problem. There is a lot of movement in his windup and delivery, and he will need to clean that up in order to get the most out of his mechanics.

The fastball is slowly rising with major league coaching, as Nett regularly throws in the mid-90s now. He has a tight slider with great spin and also cuts his fastball. The right-handed pitcher also throws a change-up, but the pitch is in need of refinement. The fastball action and tight slider give him an excellent one-two punch, but Nett will need a third pitch to stay a starter. He will also need to get command of his pitches. There is an outside chance he remains a starter, but the likelihood is that he will soon become a relief pitcher.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.