Padres Prospect Watch: Trenton Brooks Shines While Top Picks Salas and De Vries Start Slow
The 2025 Minor League Baseball season is heating up, and San Diego Padres prospects are starting to show what they’re made of. While top-ranked talents like Leo De Vries and Ethan Salas are still getting their footing, it’s 29-year-old Trenton Brooks who’s stealing the spotlight with a red-hot start. And don’t sleep on Tirso Ornelas—he’s quietly making a strong case for a call-up.
Let’s dive into the latest buzz from the Padres’ farm system.
Leo De Vries & Ethan Salas: Talented but Treading Carefully
Ranked as San Diego’s top two prospects—and the only ones cracking MLB’s Top 100—De Vries and Salas entered the season with high expectations. De Vries, playing for High-A Fort Wayne, is 4-for-16 across his first four games, but has struck out six times. Still, he’s managed to cross the plate once per game, showing a knack for finding ways to contribute even when the bat isn’t blazing.
Salas, now with Double-A San Antonio, has a .211 batting average through five games. While that’s not eye-popping, the 18-year-old catcher has racked up five RBIs and just two strikeouts, proving he can deliver in clutch moments.
Tirso Ornelas: Too Hot to Ignore
After a strong showing in spring training, many fans were calling for Ornelas to crack the big-league roster. Though he started the year with Triple-A El Paso, the outfielder has been on fire. Through 11 games, he’s slashing .293 (12-for-41) with six RBIs, a home run, a double, and eight walks. He’s also scored in six straight games and is riding a four-game hit streak. If he keeps this pace, a promotion may be just around the corner.
Trenton Brooks: The Unexpected Star
The biggest surprise of the Padres’ farm system? Trenton Brooks. The 29-year-old slugger has been nothing short of dominant for El Paso. In his first 11 games, he’s recorded five doubles, four homers, 16 RBIs, 12 runs, and 10 walks. He’s not only had six multi-hit games but has recorded at least one hit in every appearance—including a thrilling walk-off homer last Thursday.
If Brooks continues this tear, he could force the Padres’ hand, even as a late bloomer.
Bottom line: While the future of Padres baseball is still developing, the present belongs to a veteran making a serious statement.