San Diego Padres

TRACK RECORD: A touted amateur drafted in the supplemental second round in 2016, Lawson interspersed flashes of brilliance with rough outings before missing most of 2019 with an elbow strain. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection and returned to make three dominant appearances in the Arizona Fall League, but the PRP didn't hold and he had Tommy John surgery in March 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lawson looks like a pitcher straight out of central casting with a strong, well-proportioned frame and a loose, athletic delivery. He tops his three-pitch mix with a 93-96 mph fastball with late life he holds deep into games. His 76-80 mph curveball has steadily added power and bite to get swings and misses and his mid-80s changeup flashes above-average with sink at the bottom of the zone. Lawson's stuff is loud, but his secondaries and his control vary widely, leading to dominant outings mixed with disastrous ones. He's at his best in big games.

THE FUTURE: Lawson has the ingredients of a mid-rotation starter, but he has to get healthy and find consistency. He may return in mid-2021 depending on his rehab progress.

TRACK RECORD: The Padres purchased Contreras' rights for $50,000 from the Mexican League's Veracruz franchise in 2017. He jumped on radars when he finished eighth in the low Class A Midwest League in strikeouts in his full-season debut in 2019 and took a leap in 2020, where he earned raves as the Padres' top pitcher in instructional league. He left one of his final instructs starts with an elbow injury, however, and had Tommy John surgery in November.

SCOUTING REPORT: Contreras long showed the ability to throw three pitches for strikes and has steadily improved his fastball velocity. Strong in his square, stocky build, Contreras' fastball now sits 92-93 mph and touches 95 with carry up in the zone. His combination of velocity, life and pinpoint command makes his fastball a swing-and-miss weapon, and he confidently challenges hitters with a hint of bravado. Contreras drops his sharp, downer curveball in the strike zone in any count and shows the makings of an above-average low-80s changeup with deception and fade. He fills up the strike zone with plus control and works quickly with a composed, business-like demeanor.

THE FUTURE: The Padres felt confident Contreras would pitch in the majors and be a potential back-of-the-rotation starter based on what he showed in instructional league. He'll be out all of 2021 recovering and is set to return in 2022.

TRACK RECORD: Lange topped out in the low 90s during the Area Code Games entering his senior year of high school, but came back sitting 95-98 mph in the spring and rocketed up draft boards. The Padres drafted him 34th overall and signed him for $2 million to forgo a Dallas Baptist commitment. Lange joined the alternate training site after signing but was limited by shoulder fatigue in instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lange has a projectable 6-foot-4 frame and is extraordinarily athletic. He originally committed to DBU as an infielder and is a plus-plus runner. Lange's fastball sits 94-95 mph, touches 98 with ease and has clipped 100 mph. He doesn't quite have command of it yet, but that should improve as he grows into his long limbs and gets stronger. Lange's secondaries are works in progress. He flashes an above-average slider at 86-89 mph but gets under the ball too often and has rarely used his mid-80s changeup. His control of his secondaries is behind his fastball control.

THE FUTURE: Lange is a bit of a lottery ticket. His athleticism and velocity are a good foundation, and the Padres will see if his secondaries and control come along.

TRACK RECORD: Mears stood out for his physicality at the 2018 Area Code Games and showed prolific power throughout high school. The Padres drafted him 48th overall in 2019 and signed him for $1 million. Mears impressed in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League, but he suffered a broken hamate bone in 2020 that kept him off the field until the end of instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mears is built like a major league slugger at a chiseled 6-foot-3, 230 pounds. He destroys baseballs with plus-plus raw power and has already posted exit velocities as high as 117 mph-- which would have been fourth-highest in the major leagues in 2020. Mears' power is monstrous, but it's a question how much he'll get to it. He has rarely faced good velocity and his swing length and pitch recognition need improvement for him to be an average hitter. Mears is athletic for his size but projects to slow down as he gets older. He fits in right field with his above-average arm strength.

THE FUTURE: Mears was committed to Purdue to study engineering and took college classes while still in high school. That intelligence and work ethic should help him get the most from his abilities.

TRACK RECORD: Mateo was a top prospect when the Yankees traded him and two others to the A's for Sonny Gray at the 2017 trade deadline. Mateo's bat never came around, and the A's traded him to the Padres for a player to be named last June. He appeared in 22 big league games, mostly as a pinch-runner.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mateo is one of the fastest players in baseball. He's capable of stealing a base at any time and can score on shallow balls in play that others can't. Mateo's offensive value derives almost entirely from his plus-plus grade speed. He has shown flashes of a quick, direct swing, but overall he's a bottom of the scale hitter who is tentative against velocity and doesn't recognize spin. He does have some gap power when he connects. Mateo came up as a shortstop but is better in the outfield, where he covers a lot of ground and his plus arm is less encumbered by iffy accuracy.

THE FUTURE: Mateo is purely a pinch-runner and defensive replacement, but he can create runs and add value at the bottom of a roster. He'll fill that role for the Padres in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Knehr was a standout pitcher at Fordham and was the Rams' second baseman or designated hitter on days he didn't pitch. The Padres liked his athleticism and drafted him in the 20th round in 2018. Knehr struggled with an aggressive assignment to high Class A Lake Elsinore in his first full season, but he made adjustments and was the Padres' biggest breakout performer at instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Knehr's stuff has improved now that he is focused on pitching only. His fastball sat in the low 90s in college and now comfortably sits 93-96 mph. His slider has ticked up from a low-80s pitch to an average 84-87 mph offering with shape and depth, and he is increasingly showing a feel for upper-80s changeup. Knehr has a history of walks and his control is inconsistent, but he's gradually challenging hitters and throwing more strikes. He is a good athlete with a big, durable frame and a quick arm.

THE FUTURE: Knehr's upward trend has the Padres excited. He may see Double-A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Thompson had Tommy John surgery in high school and pitched only one inning his senior year. The Padres still drafted him in the third round in 2016 based on his pre-surgery success. Injuries continued to afflict Thompson in pro ball—he had biceps tendinitis and shoulder inflammation in 2017, a triceps strain in 2018 and elbow issues in 2019—and have contributed to a career 5.08 ERA. But Thompson used the 2020 shutdown to get healthy, and he turned heads at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Thompson has filled out his 6-foot-7 frame and now sits 94-98 mph on his fastball in short stints. His main secondary is a power slider at 88-90 mph that gets swings and misses. Thompson's 12-to-6 curveball and fading changeup each flashed above-average in the past, but they've taken a back seat to his fastball and slider. Thompson can only locate pitches to his glove side, but that's enough to dominate righthanded batters in 1-2 inning bursts. Lefties see him better and present a difficult matchup.

THE FUTURE: Thompson is likely a reliever moving forward. If he can stay healthy, he has a chance to pitch in middle or late relief.

TRACK RECORD: Valdez was lightly regarded as an amateur and signed with the Padres for just $10,000 late in the 2015-16 international signing period. He exploded physically into a 6-foot-8, 254-pound behemoth and quickly rose through the minors as a hard-throwing reliever. Valdez spent all of 2019 at Double-A and pitched at instructional league in 2020 before heading to the Dominican Winter League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Valdez is an enormous human being whose nickname is "Exxon" Valdez, after the oil tanker. He is an intimidating presence on the mound and blows hitters away with a fastball that averages 98-99 mph and touches 101-102 mph out of a short arm action. Valdez's slider has transformed from a loopy, 78-80 mph pitch into a hard, 87-88 mph power offering with late snap to give him a needed secondary offering. His 89-90 changeup with hard sink has also come along to be a solid pitch. Both of his secondaries flash plus at their best but need more consistency. Valdez's control is below-average, but he throws enough strikes to be an effective late-game reliever.

THE FUTURE: Valdez has a chance to be one of the hardest-throwing relievers in the majors. He is in position to make his major league debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Espinoza was one of baseball's top pitching prospects when the Red Sox traded him to the Padres for Drew Pomeranz at the 2016 all-star break. MLB later suspended Padres general manager A.J. Preller for 30 days after ruling he did not disclose Pomeranz's complete medical history to Boston. Espinoza, however, is the one whose injuries have been a bigger problem. He's had two Tommy John surgeries and has not pitched in a game since 2016.

SCOUTING REPORT: Despite having not pitched in four seasons, Espinoza will still be only 22 when spring training begins and has shown signs of his arm strength returning. He returned to the mound at the alternate training site and his fastball sat 94-96 mph and touched 98 mph with little effort during instructional league. He threw his fastball for strikes and, most importantly, had no setbacks. Espinoza's secondaries have further to go. He has not spun the ball well since returning and has yet to regain a feel for his once-dominant changeup after the long layoff.

THE FUTURE: Espinoza's youth and arm strength remain intriguing after all this time. Staying healthy will be his primary goal in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Padres signed one of the best true shortstops in the class with Victor Acosta from the Dominican Republic.

SCOUTING REPORT: Acosta is 5-foot-11, 165 pounds and moves around gracefully at shortstop, where he's light on his feet with soft hands and a plus arm. He reads the ball well off the bat with a nose for the ball, showing quick actions but with the ability to slow the game down and play under control, showing all the attributes to develop into a plus defender. A slightly above-average runner, Acosta is a switch-hitter with quick hands at the plate. He has a slasher type stroke that early on was more advanced from the left side, though his righthanded swing has caught up to the point where some scouts think that he has more impact now. Acosta isn't that big but he does have some sneaky power for his size to drive the ball out occasionally during BP thanks to his bat speed. He trained with Hector Evertz.

THE FUTURE: Still 16 years old, Acosta is years away and will likely make his initial debut in the Dominican Summer League.

TRACK RECORD: Zavala was one of the better pure hitters in the international class. He's still 16 until July 15, making him one of the younger players in the class, but his baseball IQ is advanced for his age, especially at the plate.

SCOUTING REPORT: Zavala has a loose, rhythmic stroke from the left side with good sequence. Zavala has a knack for barreling the ball against live pitching, driving the ball well the opposite way already. As he's gotten stronger, he's added more power with the loft in his swing to tap into in games. If everything clicks for Zavala, he could end up with above-average hit and power tools, which would fit well in either corner spot. The Padres have challenged Zavala to work at his speed, though, and he's an average runner now, so he should get reps in center field as well as the corners. He moves around well in the outfield and has good instincts with a 55 arm that could become plus as he gets stronger.

THE FUTURE: While he probably goes to a corner long term, the attributes are in place for him to develop into an above-average defender there. Zavala will make his pro debut in 2021 in the Dominican Summer League.

TRACK RECORD: The Padres purchased Ornelas' rights from the Mexican League for $1.5 million and pushed him quickly up their system. He stumbled at high Class A Lake Elsinore in 2019, batting .220 with one home run and while being demoted at midseason. Ornelas showed signs of breaking out with a new swing at the end of the year and carried it forward in the Mexican Winter League in 2020, but his time there was cut short when he broke his forearm diving for a ball in the outfield.

SCOUTING REPORT: Ornelas is a physical lefthanded hitter with exceptional strike-zone recognition and above-average raw power. His swing got long, slow and steep during his 2019 struggles, so the Padres reset his hand position to get him quicker to the ball. Ornelas is not particularly twitchy so he needs to keep his swing short. He swings at the right pitches and has the strength to drive the ball when he stays on plane and finds the barrel. Ornelas moves well for his size and is playable in right field. His arm strength previously flashed above-average but has regressed.

THE FUTURE: Ornelas' swing improvements were a promising first step. They need to hold for him to rise in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Haynes went under the radar in tiny Cerro Gordo, N.C. and pitched only one game before the coronavirus pandemic canceled his high school senior season. Padres righthander Seth Frankoff, who also lives in Cerro Gordo, worked out with Haynes during the shutdown and recommended him to the Padres' scouting staff, who knew Haynes from previous showcases. The Padres drafted Haynes in the fifth round and signed him for an above-slot $300,000 to forgo a North Carolina commitment.

SCOUTING REPORT: Haynes is a tall, projectable lefthander who was the youngest pitcher selected in the 2020 draft. His fastball ranges from 87-93 mph with running life out of a clean, athletic delivery, and his wide shoulders portend future strength and velocity gains. Haynes' breaking ball is slurvy and he'll need to tighten it, but it shows average or better potential. He decently sells his fringy changeup with light fade. Haynes has the delivery and athleticism for average or better control, though he'll need time and experience to get there. He is an edgy competitor who isn't fazed by falling behind in the count.

THE FUTURE: Haynes is all projection but has lots of promising ingredients. The Padres think he could be a draft steal.

TRACK RECORD: The Padres signed one of the top pitchers in the international class in Lizarraga, who trained at the Mazatlan academy in Mexico.

SCOUTING REPORT: He's 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, with a ton of room on his long, lean frame to add weight and throw harder. Last year he pitched at 88-93, with a chance to throw in the mid 90s or better in the near future. He has a starter's repertoire with feel for two secondary offerings, led by a mid-to-upper 70s curveball with good shape and depth that's a potential out pitch, along with a solid changeup for his age. Lizarraga's feel for pitching is also advanced for his peer group.

THE FUTURE: Though still years away, Lizarraga’s knack for pitching could allow him to move more quickly than others in his age group. He will make his pro debut this summer in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Padres scouted Mexico heavily during the 2017-18 international signing period and purchased Valenzuela's rights for $100,000 from the Mexico City Red Devils. The switch-hitting catcher grew three inches after signing and impressed with more walks (34) than strikeouts (32) in the Rookie-level Arizona League. He earned plaudits during 2020 instructional league for his ability to catch older, more advanced pitchers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Valenzuela is a physical backstop with premium defensive ability for his age. He's an excellent framer who takes low pitches and turns them into strikes, records pop times in the 1.9s with his above-average arm and is often the smartest player on the field. He remembers hitters' tendencies and expertly guides his pitchers through difficult situations. Valenzuela has a simple swing from both sides of the plate. His bat speed is limited, but he doesn't chase outside the strike zone and draws enough walks to be an offensive contributor. His strength gives him a chance to reach double-digit home runs at maturity.

THE FUTURE: Valenzuela has the look and defensive attributes of a future major league catcher. He'll move to full-season ball in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Medina separated himself as Venezuela’s top pitcher in the 2019 international class and signed with the Padres for $700,00 on July 2. His expected pro debut in 2020 was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but he took the mound at instructional league and impressed as one of the youngest players on the Padres roster.

SCOUTING REPORT: Medina already boasts loud stuff at 18 years old and has the athleticism, arm speed and physicality to continue adding velocity. His fastball comfortably sits 92-94 mph, touches 95, and some observers think he’ll throw 100 mph in the future as he fills out and gets stronger. Medina’s slider shows excellent spin characteristics and flashes above-average with sharp bite, and he also shows feel for a changeup with late fade. Medina has an energetic delivery and will overthrow and lose the strike zone at times, but he’s a plus athlete who should make adjustments as he matures.

THE FUTURE: Medina’s arm strength and athleticism hold a lot of promise. He is set to make his professional debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Feole finished as Connecticut’s all-time strikeout leader after a decorated college career, which included pitching 11 scoreless innings for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Injury concerns caused him to fall in the 2019 draft—he missed the start of his junior season with a shoulder strain and showed diminished stuff when he returned—and he had Tommy John surgery shortly after the Padres picked him in the 11th round. Feole returned to the mound at instructional league in 2020 and showed a big uptick in his stuff, leading to a breakout showing.

SCOUTING REPORT: Feole’s fastball dropped to 86-90 mph during his junior year, but after rehabbing from surgery he arrived at instructs sitting 94-98 mph in relief. He complements that enhanced fastball with a high-spin, 12-to-6 curveball with good depth in the mid 70s that gets swings and misses. Feole mostly lives on those two pitches. His changeup showed promise in college, but it’s not a significant part of his arsenal. Feole’s effortful, old-school delivery features a high leg kick and adds some deception, but it also leads to high walk totals and below-average control.

THE FUTURE: The Padres see Feole’s future as a reliever and note he resembles Brad Hand. If he can stay healthy, he has a chance to emerge as a late-inning option.

TRACK RECORD: The younger brother of former Cubs pitcher Lendy Castillo, Ivan bounced around a bit before finding his footing. He signed with the Indians in 2011, was drafted by the Blue Jays in the minor league phase of the 2017 Rule 5 Draft and signed with the Padres as a minor league free agent in 2019. He found his third organization was the charm and won the Texas League batting title (.313) at Double-A Amarillo in 2019. His only 2020 action came in the Dominican Winter League, where he hit .273 with a .360 on-base percentage.

SCOUTING REPORT: A late bloomer, Castillo has found his niche as a reliable player who isn’t flashy but gets the job done. He’s the rare switch-hitter who is productive from both sides of the plate, although he is stronger righthanded. He handles velocity, rarely strikes out and has tremendous instincts in the batter’s box. Castillo lacks power and rarely walks, but he consistently gets the bat to the ball and finds a way to get on base. Castillo’s average speed plays up with his excellent baserunning skills, helping him be successful on 74% of stolen base attempts in his career. He is a tick above average defender at second base and shortstop with an average arm, and he has also played third base, center field and left field.

THE FUTURE: Castillo has the well-rounded skillset to be a potential utilityman. He’ll begin 2021 at Triple-A El Paso.

TRACK RECORD: Avila signed with the Nationals for $50,000 in 2014 and was traded to the Padres for Derek Norris after the 2016 season. He finished among the organization’s strikeout leaders in both 2017 and 2018 and received his first big league callup in April 2019, when he pitched 5.1 strong innings in his lone start. He suffered an elbow strain that eventually led to Tommy John surgery in August, however, and missed the rest of the season and all of 2020 recovering.

SCOUTING REPORT: When healthy, Avila throws three quality pitches for strikes. He has a strong, sturdy frame that allows him to hold his 92-93 mph fastball deep in games and will touch 95. Avila’s best pitch is his curveball. It’s a plus offering at 73-77 mph with big break that freezes hitters and gets both called strikes and swings and misses. He rounds out his arsenal with an 82-84 mph changeup that shows above-average potential. Avila gets in trouble when he falls in love with his secondaries or throws his pitches out of sequence, but he’s a good athlete with a clean delivery and racks up strikeouts when he’s on.

THE FUTURE: Avila is slated to return in 2021. If his stuff returns intact, he has a chance to be a spot starter or swingman.

TRACK RECORD: Bachar was the kicker/punter on Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater’s football team before joining the school’s baseball team as a junior. He played both sports for one year before focusing on baseball exclusively as a senior, after which the Padres drafted him in the fifth round on the strength of his fresh right arm. Bachar worked his way to Double-A and was one of the top starting pitchers in the Texas League in 2019, but he suffered an elbow injury that limited him in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Bachar is a good athlete with a competitive streak on the mound. His fastball sits 92-93 mph as a starter and has touched 95. Bachar’s main weapons are his secondary pitches. He generates high spin rates on both his slider and curveball, with his slider flashing above-average and his curveball average. Bachar attacks hitters aggressively and throws plenty of strikes. His command is average, which is impressive for a pitcher with his lack of experience.

THE FUTURE: Bachar has spent time both starting and relieving, but most observers think he’d be best in the bullpen, where his stuff would tick up. He’ll see Triple-A in 2021.