San Diego Padres assigned eight players to the Arizona Fall League’s Peoria Javelinas on September 10. Last season’s AFL assignees included the likes of then-top prospects Leo De Vries and Ethan Salas, along with rising young players like Ryan Bergert and David Morgan, who have now firmly entrenched themselves on MLB rosters. 

Without further ado, let’s dive into the names the Padres are sending to the AFL this season. 

Eight (EIGHT!) #Padres prospects are going to the Arizona Fall League!@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/huONdxvp9u

— Diego Garcia (@StatNerd_Base) September 10, 2025

Ethan Salas, Catcher

Salas’ 2025 regular season was more or less a wash, as the catcher was only able to get into ten games before missing most of the season due to a stress fracture in his lower back. Reports from the Padres organization stated that Salas was doing light baseball activities in August, and based on his assignment, it is safe to say that the young catcher is either nearing or at full-go for baseball activities. Salas’ assignment to the AFL is likely meant to get him game reps before Spring Training 2026 to make up for lost time. Salas’ development has been anything but linear, and catchers notoriously take time to develop, but getting the young Salas game time in the AFL could allow him to get back in a rhythm and build some confidence for the 2026 season. 

Ethan Salas picks up his first hit of the year and it’s a RBI single to cut the lead to 1

4-3 1 Out B9 pic.twitter.com/gIIkx7Lwz5

— Austin Hartsfield (@HartsfieldPC) April 6, 2025

Isaiah Lowe, RHP

Isaiah Lowe entered the 2025 season with some prospect fanfare, as he posted a 3.33 ERA, 3.77 FIP, and 24.8% strikeout rate in 24 games in 2024. As a matter of fact, Lowe slotted in at No. 9 on the EVT Padres Top 30, noting that “his pitches are quality offerings with some projectability.” Even with his strong performance in 2024, as noted on his prospect profile by EVT, “Lowe did see a dip in strikeouts when facing harder competition, striking out only 14.9% of opponents in this small stretch [at High-A in 2024].” The season was more of the latter statement for Lowe, as in 22 starts, he struggled to a 5.69 ERA and 4.88 FIP in 91.2 innings. Lowe’s strikeout rate dropped to 16.2%, while his walk rate went up to a career-high 11.8%. The numbers under the hood told a similar story, as Lowe got swinging strikes at a career-low 9%. Despite the overall picture of an underwhelming season, Lowe had two strong months in which he showed he could be a long-term starter, and he is still just 22 years old. Lowe getting additional opportunities shows the faith the Padres have in the North Carolina native, as the AFL would provide Lowe with another environment to work on his command and approach on the mound. The opportunity served Ryan Bergert and David Morgan well last season, and the same could be said with Braden Nett two seasons ago. The organization clearly still believes in the right-hander’s potential, so a strong AFL performance against higher-level hitters could allow him to take the next step in 2026. 

The Padres #19 Prospect Isaiah Lowe has a 0.96 ERA with 22 strikeouts in June and on Sunday, he scorched the Ports 🔥

Pitcher Spotlight Presented by The Oscar Tortola Group pic.twitter.com/Tyk63Qs7kR

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) June 18, 2024

Braedon Karpathios, Outfielder

Karpathios had one of the most under-the-radar breakouts in the Padres’ system in 2024, posting a .388 on-base percentage, 17.2% walk rate, and 115 wRC+ with Single-A Lake Elsinore. His performance in 2024 slotted him in at No. 28 on the EVT Padres Top 30 prospects entering 2025. The 2025 campaign was more of the same for the left-handed hitting outfielder, as across two levels, Karpathios posted a 122 wRC+ and .249/.357/.413 slash line for a .770 OPS. Karpathios saw his OBP drop by 0.031 points, but made up for it with more in-game power, launching 15 home runs and upping his isolated power from .133 to .164. The power came with a balanced approach at the plate, as he hit more line drives and pulled the ball for more authoritative contact (career-high 37% pull% in ‘25). Even with the improvements in his batted ball profile, Karpathios struck out 28% of the time, despite a 14% walk rate across two levels. At the MLB level, this would rank in the bottom 8th percentile of hitters. Assigning Karpathios to the Arizona Fall League provides him further opportunities to face higher-level pitching while working on his in-zone approach at the plate. Karpathios took significant steps forward in 2025, and strengthening some of the areas of need in his game could allow his to rise through the system towards the MLB level next season. 

Preseason, I wrote this about Braedon Karpathios, then my #28 prospect in the Padres’ system:

“Offensively, he has the tools that could make him an average to above-average everyday player at the MLB level down the road.”

The bat will play!@EVT_News
pic.twitter.com/4gXNYkJxLg

— Diego Garcia (@StatNerd_Base) August 28, 2025

Ryan Jackson, Infielder

Before the season, Jackson entered with minimal fanfare as the Padres’ 17th-round pick who posted a 105 wRC+ in his first 13 games with Lake Elsinore in 2024. 2025 was the true revelation, as Jackson opened the season in Single-A, leading the team in on-base percentage and posting a 147 wRC+ in 62 games before being promoted to High-A. Jackson continued to reach base with the TinCaps, slashing .254/.357/.287 in 48 games. While his slugging was noticeably down, he managed to continue playing solid defense and using his on-base abilities to manufacture runs. He was again promoted to Double-A, where he got into 19 games. Playing through three levels in his first full season, Jackson’s plate discipline and strong glovework continued to raise the bar for what he is capable of doing, and with the Padres’ middle infield talents at the upper minor league levels diminishing after the trade deadline, he became a more valuable player as the season went on. Jackson did struggle in his 19-game stint at Double-A, hitting .194 with a .270 OBP, but again… 19 games. The former USC Trojan has shown a strong approach at the plate, with a sort of controlled aggression that allowed him to capitalize on pitchers’ mistakes. His swing allowed him to send the ball to left and right field with regularity (41.2% pull%, 36.4% oppo% on batted balls), with his power playing to the pull side. He did put the ball on the ground 46.2% of the time, relying on his speed to beat out infield hits. There is a lot to like with his prospect profile, and with players like Brandon Butterworth no longer in the organization, Jackson could be entering top-30 consideration after his 2025 performance. His assignment to the Arizona Fall League would bring him an opportunity to continue to face higher levels of competition, while also working with the Peoria staff in the Padres’ Arizona facility. Jackson has been a quick riser in the Padres system, and his stock could rise even further with a strong AFL season. 

Ryan Jackson 💣 pic.twitter.com/EKMDur2RqV

— Fort Wayne TinCaps (@TinCaps) June 27, 2025

Maikel Miralles, RHP

Miralles earned the Lake Elsinore Storm’s Opening Day nod in 2025, and his season was one of ups and downs. Miralles struggled out of the gate, posting a 6.11 ERA in April before his season was interrupted by a lower-body injury in May. Miralles returned to the mound at the end of June and pitched his best month of the season in July with Lake Elsinore, allowing three earned runs in 17.2 innings across four starts. While he had some struggles in August, he was still promoted to High-A Fort Wayne at the end of August, where he immediately turned in two quality starts prior to the end of the TinCaps’ season. Miralles was assigned to Triple-A El Paso to help him make up for the month-plus he missed, and his assignment to the Arizona Fall League can partially be attributed to the missed time. There is another component to his selection for the AFL: developing the rest of his arsenal. Miralles entered the season as a heavy fastball-slider pitcher with a developing changeup. He has continued to use this three-pitch mix to successful outings, but his command remains an area for improvement. He struck out 20.2% of batters this season while walking 11.4%. Miralles has the stuff to be successful if he can get ahead of batters and locate his pitches effectively, and his approach on the mound is one that he can refine while facing older competition. Remember, Miralles is still only 20 years old, so while he still has a ways to go before he is MLB-ready, he has the tools to be a solid arm in the future. The hope for the Padres is that the AFL stint allows Miralles to refine his approach and command on the mound, which could set him up well for a breakout 2026. 

Maikel Miralles

4 IP – 8 SO pic.twitter.com/6V2Q3rs0ru

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) April 24, 2025

Carson Montgomery, RHP

Having missed the 2025 season due to Tommy John rehab, Carson Montgomery’s stint in the Arizona Fall League will be his first in-game action since the 2023 campaign. Montgomery had shown impressive velocity and secondary offerings in his brief 2023 debut, and was a borderline Top 30 prospect in the San Diego system despite his injury. His fastball clocked in between 93-97 mph in 2023, with strong sinking action and movement. His secondaries showed potential as well, as he showed a tight cutter and sharp mid-80s slider. WIth Montgomery, his assignment to the Arizona Fall League is straightforward – getting him in-game action. One thing to keep in mind will be the role he is used in. It is possible that he pitches in relief in the Arizona Fall League, and whatever role he works in during the AFL could be a precursor to his role in 2026. 

Per sources, Carson Montgomery is set to represent the Padres in the Arizona Fall League. Although he has yet to pitch in an affiliated game, he is currently ramping up in preparation for AFL action. pic.twitter.com/cABunwjweP

— Jesús Cano (@Jesus_Cano88) August 30, 2025

Johan Moreno, RHP

Another player who saw time at three levels this season, Johan Moreno, took major steps forward in his development throughout the 2025 season. This season, his strikeout rate surged from a below-average 18% in 2024 to 27.9% in 2025, with a walk rate that went down to 11.3%. For reference, Moreno’s 27.9% strikeout rate this season ranked third in the system (of players to pitch a minimum of 60 innings). Moreno is an arm that not many have heard of outside of the Padres-sphere, but he could be a name whose stuff could make him an intriguing arm in the AFL. Likely to pitch out of the bullpen, his mid-90s fastball and his slider will be tested against top prospects and hitters on the rise, but he has shown a bulldog mentality on the hill that can lead him to success. 

Johan Moreno (94) RHP Padres VZL #beisbolvenezolano #TalentoVenezolano #peloteroVenezolano #mlbvenezuela#padres #friarfaithful #BringTheGold #sandiegopadres #sdpadres #gopadres #GoMiLBPadres #lospadres@Friarsonthefarm@Padres_Farm @PadresProspects#ArizonaComplexLeague #ACL pic.twitter.com/GY0Dm6IAOF

— Phrake Photography (@phrakephoto) August 14, 2023

Tucker Musgrove, TWP

Musgrove, not related to Joe Musgrove, entered his first pro season as a two-way player, spending his playing time on the mound. His development on the mound was worth monitoring, as the right-hander spent 2024 on the mend from Tommy John surgery. The Alabama native had two stints on the injured list this season, and amassed only 20 innings of work. His early results were promising, as in 20 innings, he struck out 30.6% of batters while walking 11.8%. The metrics on his stuff indicate a strong arsenal that can allow for success, as his fastball consistently clocked in at 96-97 mph with 2400-2600 rpm, giving the pitch late life. His fastball is identical in shape, velocity, and movement to… Jacob Misiorowski?! HIs secondary offerings are strong as well, with his sweeper clocking in as a 60-grade offering. Musgrove will likely spend his time in the AFL pitching, as it appears the Padres organization is going forth with him as a full-time pitcher. 

Tucker Musgrove a name to look out for

Fastball is mid 90s with 19-20 inches of iVB. Also features a curve, gyro slider, and cutter. Mostly been a 2 inning guy but started yesterday and went 3 innings striking out 5. Stuff and strikeout upside is there if he can build up to be a… pic.twitter.com/Cjpjqvcbg2

— Giannis Auntiegotapoodle (@TooMuchMortons_) July 6, 2025

The Arizona Fall League did wonders for the players San Diego assigned there last offseason, with three of their players making the Fall Stars rosters. This 2025 batch of players has a chance to take further steps forward in their development, which will be a storyline worth watching.

Diego Garcia

A born and raised San Diegan, Diego Garcia is a lifetime Padres fan and self-proclaimed baseball nerd. Diego wrote about baseball on his own site between 2021-22 before joining the East Village Times team in 2024. He also posts baseball content on his YouTube channel “Stat Nerd Baseball”, creating content around trades, hypotheticals, player analyses, the San Diego Padres, and MLB as a whole.

A 2024 graduate of San Diego State, Diego aims to grow as a writer and content creator in the baseball community.