The Padres could use more young talent.
The San Diego Padres are in a position where they have to draft the best player available at pick No. 25. The Padres once had one of the better farm systems in Major League Baseball, but don't anymore.
It's an unfortunate situation, but one that was self-inflicted, as they made sure to have the prospects ready to trade for Juan Soto and did just that.
That's over with now, and the Padres can only look to the future, with MLB.com recently predicting them to select a very good player in the form of Slater de Brun.
“The Padres are contemplating many of the same position players as the Royals and Tigers, and prep middle infielders Ryan Mitchell and Dax Kilby could be sleepers here. They also aren't afraid of high school arms and could look at Schoolcraft (who would have trouble fitting in their $6.6 million bonus pool) and Aaron Watson, among others,” they wrote.
De Brun is a high school guy, which complicates things, but he’s one of the better players in the 2025 High School class. Ranked as the 13th overall player in his grade, according to Perfect Game, he's also the second-ranked player in Oregon.
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He's committed to Vanderbilt and runs a 6.39 60, showing off his elite speed. De Brun can do plenty on the diamond, which should intrigue the Padres.
He might not be as sure of a thing as some of the other prospects they've had in the past, but they likely won't find that at No. 25.
De Brun could eventually become a staple in the Padres' lineup alongside Jackson Merrill, but given he's only 18 years old and recently turned 18, it's tough to suggest that he'll be a big league player until at least 2029 or 2030.
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Category: Baseball
