Padres Mission Top 20 Prospect List Update: Draft And Deadline Make For Big Changes

[Steve Drumwright]

Prospect rankings following the draft and trade deadline are always the most volatile. Usually that is because of the prospects subtracted (or for some organizations added) from the San Diego Padres' system.

While 2026 isn't as bad as it was following the 2025 trade deadline for the Padres, there was some significant movement. Of course, catcher Ethan Salas is No. 1 and center fielder Ryan Wideman moved up to No. 2. But you can thank the trades of left-hander Kash Mayfield, the 2024 first-rounder who was Padres Mission's No. 2 prospect, and right-hander Miguel Mendez, who was our No. 3, for this year's impetus for big change. Most notably are first-round draft choice Coleman Borthwick springing up Padres Mission's Top 20 list from No. 10 to No. 3 and second-rounder Elliott Lascelles going from No. 18 to No. 11. Left fielder Alex McCoy climbed up six to No. 8. Borthwick and Lascelles, drafted out of high school, could make their pro debuts in the final few weeks of the season, likely at Low-A Lake Elsinore.

But our panel of writers and readers also moved catcher Ty Harvey up two spots to No. 5 and injured outfielder Kale Fountain, who hasn't played since April 21 and is out for the season, up two to No. 6. Somehow, right-handed reliever Tucker Musgrove moved down three rungs to No. 12.

Only one name jumped into our rankings and that was outfielder Jake Cunningham, who entered at No. 14 after being unranked.

Updated San Diego Padres Top-20 Prospect List

1. Ethan Salas, C, Triple-A El Paso
2. Ryan Wideman, CF, High-A Fort Wayne
3. Coleman Borthwick, RHP, Arizona Complex League
4. Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Low-A Lake Elsinore
5. Ty Harvey, C, Low-A Lake Elsinore
6. Kale Fountain, OF, Low-A Lake Elsinore (injured, out for season)
7. Jorge Quintana, SS, Low-A Lake Elsinore
8. Alex McCoy, LF, High-A Fort Wayne
9. Braedon Karpathios, RF, Double-A San Antonio
10. Lamar King Jr., C, High-A Fort Wayne
11. Elliot Lascelles, SS, Arizona Complex League
12. Tucker Musgrove, RHP, Double-A San Antonio
13. Jagger Haynes, LHP, Triple-A El Paso
14. Jake Cunningham, OF, Double-A San Antonio
15. Truitt Madonna, C, Low-A Lake Elsinore
16. Eric Yost, RHP, Double-A San Antonio
17. Winyer Chourio, RHP, High-A Fort Wayne
18. Jesus Castro, RHP, Low-A Lake Elsinore
19. Michael Salina, RHP, Low-A Lake Elsinore
20. Rosman Verdugo, SS, High-A Fort Wayne

Jake Cunningham, OF, Double-A San Antonio

The 24-year-old outfielder came to the Padres this past offseason after being released by the Baltimore Orioles, a little surprising not because of his stats from 2025—.206/.295/.303 slash line with three homers and 26 RBIs in just 76 games—but he had played in the Arizona Fall League following the 2024 season, usually a sign of the prospect's value to an organization. He had a terrific Fall League while playing just six games, putting up a .391/.423/.652 slash line with two homers and six RBIs. Whatever the reason, the Padres are reaping the benefits. Cunningham, a fifth-round draft choice of the Orioles in 2023 out of North Carolina-Charlotte, owns .283/.369/.516 slash line this season, hitting 19 homers and driving in 61 between High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio in 96 games. Cunningham's highlight of the year was a three-homer game June 5 while still with Fort Wayne, while also hitting an RBI triple off top Seattle Mariners prospect Kade Anderson.

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