Checking in on How the Padres' Top Draft Picks are Performing in the Minors

[Bryan Jaeger]

The 2025 MLB Draft took place on July 13-14, and in almost two months since then, the franchise's hopefuls have started their pro careers at various levels. They have reported to the Arizona Complex League (ACL) Rookie League or the Padres' Single-A affiliate in Lake Elsinore, California.

 

The 2025 ACL season has already been completed, so top draft picks like Kruz Schoolcraft (first round), Michael Salina (fourth round), and Ty Harvey (fifth round) are preparing for the new short season, winter leagues, or to get the call-up to Single-A. Other top picks, including Ryan Wideman (third round), Jaxon Dalena (sixth round), and Kerrington Cross (seventh round), have reported to Single-A Lake Elsinore, beginning their pro careers while making their minor league debuts.

 

Wideman has struggled in 16 games with a .217/.309/.267 slash line. He's scored six runs, knocked in eight, and has zero home runs, but is striking out 35 percent of the time. Possessing great size (6-foot-5, 204 pounds) and considerable power, he faces concerns about his ability to handle pro pitching. Although among the worst in Division I for strikeout and groundball rates, Wideman was also the first Division I player since 2001 to have 35 extra-base hits and 45 stolen bases in one season. At 21 years old, there is hope that he can adjust and use his jaw-dropping tools, but the variance between his floor and ceiling is vast. The bust potential is high, but even a 70th-percentile outcome could make Wideman one of the steals of the draft.

 

Dalena, a right-handed pitcher drafted out of Shippensburg University as a fifth-year senior, has made just two Single-A appearances. In his first outing (one inning), he allowed one hit and one walk, but struck out two without giving up a run. He then surrendered two hits and an earned run across two innings in his next appearance on Aug. 26, though he struck out five. At 23, his stuff is clearly good enough to dominate at the lower levels of the minor leagues, though he'll have to learn better pitch sequencing to get more advanced batters out. His age could necessitate a quick climb through the minors, though don't doubt what someone with Dalena's proclivity for strikeouts can do.

 

Lastly, like Wideman, Cross is having early struggles in his minor league debut at Lake Elsinore. He's slashing .190/.433/.214 with zero home runs, 10 runs, and three RBIs over 10 games. Cross also has a 35 percent strikeout rate. Drafted from the University of Cincinnati as a fifth-year senior and last season's Big 12 Player of the Year, there remains optimism that he will adjust as he gets his feet wet int he organization. At 23 years old, this last month of the season will be important for Cross, as a strong finish could get him the bump to High-A Fort Wayne.

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How do you feel about the Padres' top draft picks thus far? Let us know in the comments!

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