The San Diego Padres farm system is burgeoning.

Some believe that A.J. Preller gutted the farm system for talent, and there is nothing left. That could not be farther from the truth. Sure, a lot of talented young players were dealt over the last few seasons, but the Padres have done well to re-stock and develop young players.

Ethan Salas and Jackson Merrill currently lead the hype train, and there are a few more who have advanced this season.

Robby Snelling and Graham Pauley both excelled in 2023, and each is considered a top prospect now. Snelling (a left-handed starting pitcher), in particular, advanced all the way to Double-A this season and could be a factor for the Padres as soon as next season. That is very exciting.

In a recent piece in May, EVT discussed Leodalis De Vries, who is linked to the Padres.

De Vries comes with a lot of fanfare as he is easily considered one of the best players in the upcoming international class. The 16-year-old switch-hitter is 6-foot-2 and full of so much promise. The infielder is blessed with tremendous footwork and should be able to stick at the shortstop position.

On January 15, 2024, the Padres may add international talent during this period. De Vries is expected to sign with the club then. The young Dominican is already sporting Padres gear as he works out, and reports are pretty solid with him signing with the Padres this winter. His social media accounts are plastered with Padres logos. He will be a Friar.

Do not expect De Vries to debut in the States right away, but you really never know. The Padres have been very aggressive with prospects in the past. Ethan Salas, the phenom catcher, debuted with the Lake Elsinore Storm a few days short of his 17th birthday, and he ended the season with the Double-A San Antonio Missions. Salas was signed during the last international period, and like De Vries, he posted his preference for San Diego before the signing period.

There is a lot of early hype surrounding De Vries, and the Padres are all in on him.

The swing is fluid and filled with power potential. His hands are soft, and his footwork is excellent, given his age. The intangibles are also very high for this young player, who is described as having an above-average feel for the game. At this point, it would be a surprise if he fizzled out in the minor leagues like some past international players.

As the calendar flips to a whole new year, the Padres will be once again poised to add to their blossoming minor league system.

Leodalis De Vries is a name to remember.

Expect the Padres’ minor league system to get better this winter.

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.