Padres Sign Two More Minor-League Free Agents

[Steve Drumwright]

 

The San Diego Padres continue to restock their minors, this time at the lower levels.

The Padres signed shortstop Raimundo De Los Santos and right-handed reliever Angel Hernandez to minor-league contracts Friday. The move came after the Padres signed six-year minor-league free agent Kala'i Rosario, a corner outfielder, to a similar deal. Also, the Padres released right-hander Yohn Melendez.

De Los Santos was assigned to the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps and Hernandez to the Arizona Complex League.

The 21-year-old De Los Santos mainly was at Low-A with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2026, although he also played at High-A and Double-A. In 81 games across those three stops, he slashed .241/.351/.332 with four homers, 29 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. He originally signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2023 out of the Dominican Republic, then was released at the end of spring training in 2025, latching on with the Jays that May. He has a career slash line of .241/.358/.296 with four homers, 60 RBIs and 74 stolen bases over 217 games.

Hernandez, 22, hasn't played in affiliated ball since being released by the Miami Marlins at the end of the 2024 season. He played in Mexico the last two seasons with Naranjeros de Hermosillo and Guerreros de Oaxaca. With the Marlins, he appeared in just 27 games over three seasons, tossing 45⅓ innings and having a 5.56 ERA, walking 21 and striking out 46. In Mexico, Hernandez had a 5.51 ERA over 25 games and 32⅔ innings, walking 16 and striking out 20.

Melendez, a 20-year-old signed in May, made 15 appearances, including four starts, and threw 31⅔ innings in the Dominican Summer League, with a 9.38 ERA.

 

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