Both Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill are signed through 2034. The Padres have at least a one-year answer for left field in Ramón Laureano, but the system will need to produce a new outfielder in the coming years, either to take over in left field or give A.J. Preller currency.
One of the longest-tenured members of the organization got his first call-up in 2025, but it wasn’t an expansive opportunity, and he’s got one minor league option left.
Below him on the depth chart, recent draftees and an intriguing undrafted free agent are beginning to gather momentum for their careers.
1 | Tirso Ornelas
Opening-day age: 26
How acquired: Signed as an international free agent in July 2016
Height/weight: 6-foot-3/200 pounds
Bats/throws: Left/right
2025 team: El Paso (Triple-A)
2025 stats: .289 AVG, .384 OBP, .450 SLG, 10 HRs, 57 RBIs, 63 runs, 46 walks, 64 strikeouts, 7 steals (82 games, 371 plate appearances)
Need to know: Signed for $1.5 million out of Mexico as part of the Padres’ 2016-2017 international amateur spending spree, Ornelas made his MLB debut in 2025 after injuries tore through the Padres’ roster. He didn’t do much with the limited opportunity (1-for-14, 7 games) and missed time in the Pacific Coast League due to a bout of plantar fasciitis. Ornelas has always had a keen eye at the plate, but he spent much of his early years trying to lift the ball more and finally hit a career-high 23 homers in 2024 to force his way onto the Padres’ 40-man roster. After debuting in 2025, Ornelas has one minor league option left, meaning 2026 is the last year he can move between Triple-A El Paso and the majors.
2 | Ryan Wideman
Opening-day age: 22
How acquired: Drafted in the third round in 2025 (Western Kentucky)
Height/weight: 6-foot-5 / 204 pounds
Bats/throws: Right / Right
2025 team: Lake Elsinore (low A)
2025 stats: .229 AVG, .330 OBP, .271 SLG, 0 HRs, 12 RBIs, 13 runs, 12 walks, 32 strikeouts, 11 steals (26 games, 112 plate appearances)
Need to know: He signed for $650,000, slightly below slot, after pairing 45 steals with 10 homers in 60 games (1.118 OPS) in his final collegiate season. The Padres see Wideman as a true center fielder, an 80-grade runner who could swipe 50 bases a year and believe there’s plenty of power projection left in his 6-foot-5 frame. Wideman didn’t hit much after beginning his career with the Storm, but he was 11-for-12 in stolen base attempts. He should return to Lake Elsinore to start his first full season.
Padres prospect Kavares Tears is congratulated by Storm manager Brian Burres after hitting a home run for low Single-A Lake Elsinore. (Artur Ivanov / Lake Elsinore Storm)
3 | Kavares Tears
Opening-day age: 23
How acquired: Drafted in the fourth round in 2024 (Tennessee)
Height/weight: 6-foot / 200 pounds
Bats/throws: Left / Left
2025 team: Lake Elsinore (low A)
2025 stats: .227 AVG, .320 OBP, .385 SLG, 13 HRs, 65 RBIs, 49 runs, 58 walks, 138 strikeouts, 6 steals (107 games, 475 plate appearances)
Need to know: Tears redshirted the 2022 season as a University of Tennessee freshman, was limited to 29 games the next year (.897 OPS) and then hit 20 homers in 71 games (1.070 OPS) to help the Volunteers win the College World Series. He signed for slot ($525,200) after the draft and debuted in 2025, showcasing both the raw power the Padres are dreaming on while also striking out in 29.1% of his plate appearances with the Storm.
The Padres signed Alex McCoy for $150,000 as an undrafted free agent in July 2024. (Artur Ivanov / Lake Elsinore Storm)
(Artur Ivanov / Lake Elsinore Storm)
4 | Alex McCoy
Opening-day age: 24
How acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent in July 2024
Height/weight: 6-foot-6/260 pounds
Bats/throws: Right / Right
2025 team(s): ACL Padres (Rookie), Lake Elsinore (low A)
2025 stats: .315 AVG, .393 OBP, .521 SLG, 7 HRs, 40 RBIs, 49 runs, 20 walks, 60 strikeouts, 14 steals (58 games, 247 plate appearances)
Need to know: McCoy paired 11 homers with an .893 OPS in his last year at Hofstra. That wasn’t enough to get him drafted, but the Padres offered him $150,000 as an undrafted free agent, due in large part to 70- to 80-grade power and a 6.5-second 60-yard dash at their pre-draft workout. McCoy debuted with the Storm in April, lost more than two months to a left quad strain and then had a .979 OPS and four homers over his final 37 games.
Padres outfield prospect Braedon Karpathios hit a go-head home run against Visalia on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (Justin Jett / Lake Elsinore Storm)
5 | Braedon Karpathios
Opening-day age: 22
How acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent in July 2022
Height/weight: 5-foot-11/186 pounds
Bats/throws: Left/left
2025 team(s): Fort Wayne (high A), San Antonio (Double-A)
2025 stats: .249 AVG, .357 OBP, .413 SLG, 15 HRs, 65 RBIs, 63 runs, 75 walks, 146 strikeouts, 9 steals (124 games, 521 plate appearances)
Need to know: Karpathios underwent Tommy John surgery in high school, went undrafted after his senior year and again after a year as a two-way player at Harford Community College. The Padres signed him for $125,000 as an undrafted free agent and he has methodically climbed the system since, reaching Double-A for the first time this year. He nearly doubled his career high in homers this year, boasts a strong throwing arm as a former pitcher and hit .211/.333/.298 in 69 plate appearances this offseason in the Arizona Fall League.
Others to know: Albert Fabian (Double-A), Jacob Campbell (Double-A), Kai Murphy (Double-A), Kasen Wells (high A), Kai Roberts (high A), Sean Barnett (high A), Chase Valentine (high A), Fabian Alcantara (Rookie), Santiago Contreras (Rookie), Eduarlin Tejeda (Rookie), Moises Valdez (Rookie).