Padres Prospect Hot Sheet: Joe Tiroly Goes On Power Binge

Let's check in on the San Diego Padres prospects who made a mark in the last week (check out Padres Mission's latest Top 20 rankings as well!).

Joe Tiroly, 2B-3B, Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm

Season stats: .308/.357/.673, 13 games, 7 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 6 HR, 3 BB, 12 K, 0 SB, 1 CS

The Padres' seventh-round draft pick this year made a splash by homering in his first pro game about three weeks ago. He definitely one-upped himself with what he did this past weekend. The 21-year-old infielder, drafted out of Virginia, hit four homers in his last three games and has five in his last six games, giving him six in 13 pro games. It was part of a nice week for Tiroly, whose display of power helped him put up a .353/.353/1.059 (6-for-17) slash line with six RBIs in four games against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Four of his six hits last week went out of the ballpark.

Tiroly hit 16 homers and had 66 RBIs, both team highs, this spring at Virginia. He played two seasons at Rider, where he hit 18 homers and was Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2025. In addition to three games at designated hitter for the Storm, Tiroly has split his 10 games in the field evenly between second and third base. His range has been questioned at second, while having enough of an arm to play third.

Carlos Rodriguez, OF, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas

Season stats: .313/.373/.430, 108 games, 55 R, 17 2B, 7 3B, 6 HR, 69 RBI, 44 BB, 48 K, 18 SB, 5 CS

One of the most consistent hitters in the Padres' system this year, the 25-year-old outfielder had another terrific week, producing a .478/.520/.609 slash line with a double, a triple and three RBIs. Rodriguez had back-to-back three-hit games after having back-to-back two-hit games in the series against the Oklahoma City Comets. Rodriguez ranks fifth in the Pacific Coast League. He doesn't bring much power to the plate, with just six homers this year, but he is a left-handed bat, which is always coveted. Those six long balls are the second-most of his eight minor-league seasons, two shy of his 2025 total. His big week boosted his August slash line to .341/.358/.516.

Lamar King Jr., C, High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps

Season stats: .232/.328/.328, 89 games, 33 R, 14 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 38 RBI, 36 BB, 88 K, 16 SB, 4 CS

In one game, you could see the offensive potential the Padres see in the 22-year-old. That game came Sunday when Padres Mission's No. 10 prospect had two doubles and a triple with four RBIs in a 9-3 win over the Dayton Dragons. Sunday capped a week in which he had a slash line of .375/.412/.688 (6-for-16) with a third double mixed in to go along with six RBIs. The 2022 fourth-round draft choice hasn't had the offensive season he has had the last three seasons. He had a .271/.379/.421 slash line in 2024 in the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Lake Elsinore and .274/.353/.384 in 2025 at Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne. He has spent the entire season with the TinCaps, playing in 89 games. 

Adler Cecil, LHP, Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm

Season stats: 2-3, 4.12, 18 games (11 starts), 59 IP, 38 H, 36 R, 27 ER, 36 BB, 102 K, .182 opponent average

Sure, the Padres' system isn't very deep in legit prospects. But the 6-foot-4 21-year-old wants to make sure you know who he is. The left-handed starter has been a strikeout machine in a limited number of innings. In his latest start, he fanned eight in a 6-1 loss to Rancho Cucamonga on Friday. He did that in 3⅔ innings. It was his fourth start this month in which he didn't go more than four innings and struck out at least six each time. His strikeout numbers are amazing. In 18 games and 59 innings, he has struck out 102, which is tied for third-most in the Padres' system. The only two higher totals are Winyer Chourio's 116 and Jagger Haynes' 110, and they have pitched 87⅔ and 123⅔ innings, respectively. Not a bad comeback after Tommy John surgery sidelined Cecil throughout all of 2025.

Will Varmette, RHP, High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps

Season stats: 3-2, 7.14 ERA, 40 games (all relief), 4 saves (6 chances), 51⅔ IP, 61 H, 44 R, 41 ER, 33 BB, 55 K, .292 opponent average

The 23-year-old right-handed reliever might be finally figuring some things out as he nears the end of his third full season and fourth overall since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2023. In two appearances last week against Dayton, Varmette struck out eight over 4⅓ innings while allowing just two hits and two walks. That continued a strong August in which he had a 2.61 ERA over eight appearances and 10⅓ innings. He has allowed three earned runs in his last 10 outings after giving up a seven-spot July 23 against Lake County. This has been his first season sticking at one level. Even in a partial 2023 debut season, he was at three levels, including one game at Fort Wayne, yet he has a 7.14 ERA. The last two seasons have been split between Fort Wayne and Low-A Lake Elsinore.

Interested in learning more about the San Diego Padres' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!