Readers' Choice: Padres Mission's Top Five Stories Of 2025

A lot of places like to pump up the articles they liked from 2025. But here at Padres Mission, we are all about our readers. And that is why we are recapping the five most popular stories you liked from the previous 12 months.

From player performance to an international flavor to trade targets and a top prospect, here is what you read most in 2025:

5. The Decline of Luis Arraez

Headline: "Luis Arraez's Already-Slow Swing Has Slowed Down More, And It's A Problem"
Author: Ethan Penrod
Publish date: May 29

Summary: Arraez became the first player to win batting titles in three straight years with different teams (2022-24), but got off to a slow start by his lofty standards and came as the Friars were going through a rough month of May.

Penrod examined what might be contributing to the substandard performance of Arraez, who has never been known to hit the ball hard. While noting that Arraez had been successful in 2023 and 2024, ranking in the 100th percentile in expected batting average each year, Penrod noted that Arraez currently sported a .274 xBA, the lowest mark of his career.

"The thought that his luck is finally running out would be the initial thought, and could be correct. But once you dive into the numbers, there is a lot more at play than just luck. Arraez is literally slowing down in front of our eyes," Penrod wrote.

One reason Penrod cited for the decline was a torn ulnar collateral ligament in Arraez's left thumb that was sustained in June 2024, which significantly sapped his hard-hit rate by 7.5 percentage points and reduced his already-below-average exit velocity by another 3.5 mph.

"These drops in both hard-hit rate and exit velocity are large concerns," Penrod wrote. "His entire identity has been surrounded by his ability to make quality contact. Now that the contact has weakened, the batted balls are less likely to turn into hits."

4. The Arms Race

Headline: "17 Starting Pitchers Who Could Be Available At The MLB Trade Deadline"
Author: Bryan Jaeger
Publish date: July 21

Summary: With the trade deadline less than two weeks away, Jaeger took a spin through potential trade targets that would bolster the Padres' starting rotation.

This is always a popular subject for any team at the deadline, as a top starter can prove to be the difference in not only a battle for a division title, but in a deep postseason run, too. Jaeger highlighted 17 starters who could be on the move, with their contract situation and a summary of why they would be attractive to a contender.

Those included Zac Gallen, Mitch Keller, and Edward Cabrera. It turned out that the Padres didn't pursue any of the names mentioned; instead, they executed a blockbuster deal with the A's for closer Mason Miller, which also included starter JP Sears. In a much smaller deal, the Padres acquired Nestor Cortes from the Milwaukee Brewers. The Padres did trade away two starters in Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert as they acquired catcher Freddy Fermin from the Kansas City Royals.

3. Dominican Influence

Headline: "The Importance Of The Dominican Republic To The San Diego Padres"
Author: Ryan Hernandez
Publish date: Aug. 12

Summary: There is no doubt about the impact of the Dominican Republic on MLB teams. Not only the players, but the culture. You can probably attribute the loosening up of some of the unwritten rules — particularly when it comes to celebrating in the moment — to the presence of Dominican players.

In this piece, Hernandez explores how the Padres have embraced not only acquiring players with Dominican ties but also developing prospects at the ground floor of organized ball. The concept of academies, where teams not only work on baseball skills but also provide an educational component, began in 1987, and the Padres got involved in 1990 with a split academy with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. In 1997, the Friars opened their own academy in Boca Chica, which is still the Padres' home.

The culture makes sense in a city like San Diego, which is on the Mexican border and has a heavy influence from not only that country but also across Latin America, including the island countries of the DR, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. That helps attract players such as Fernando Tatis Jr., who signed as a 16-year-old in 2015. Also, Manny Machado, who was born in Miami to parents who are native Dominicans.

"The DR’s influence on Major League Baseball is spectacular, and it is continuing to grow as more and more Dominican-born players populate MLB rosters," Hernandez wrote. "Kids are playing baseball and going to camps to get out, and most of them are aspiring to be MLB players."

2. Best Fits for Japanese Star

Headline: "Who Will Land This Offseason's Biggest International Free Agent?"
Author: Lou Hennessy
Publish date: Nov. 3

Summary: No, this isn't about the new class of 16-year-olds who attended academies, like those in the previous article, or were scouted elsewhere in Latin America. Instead, this is about one particular free agent: Japanese third baseman Munetaka Murakami. At the time of this writing, Murakami hype was pretty big as he was 25 years old, the youngest a true free agent could be posted from Japan and not subject to the typical rookie setup that leads to the arbitration system like Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki.

Murakami's calling card is his power, which makes him that much more attractive to MLB teams, always in search of more homers.

Hennessy sorts through four teams, including the Padres, who he thought would be ideal situations for Murakami.

"It would undoubtedly give the Padres a different look in their lineup, as Arraez was more of an on-base threat with limited power," Hennessy wrote. "At the same time, Murakami would likely be a meat-of-the-order bat that hits behind Machado and the young table-setting duo of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill. It would move Gavin Sheets to designated hitter or corner outfield, where he’s a better fit anyway."

As we now know, questions about Murakami's strikeout rate and ability to make contact led him to sign a two-year, $34 million contract with the lowly Chicago White Sox. If Murakami does well, maybe the Padres will trade for him or sign him when he becomes a free agent.

1. Building the Future

Headline: "Boston Bateman Joins Padres As Promising Left-Handed Pitching Draft Pick"
Author: Scott Keene
Publish date: May 13

Summary: It was not hard to dream of Boston Bateman. The Padres selected the left-handed starter with their second-round pick in the 2024 draft out of Camarillo High School, further up the coast from Los Angeles. One of the traits that made Bateman attractive was his 6-foot-8 frame. High school pitchers are always risky propositions, and Bateman was the second prep pitcher taken, following first-rounder Kash Mayfield.

"Drafting a player straight out of high school is often a high-risk, high-reward proposition," Keene wrote. "However, the Padres’ scouting department, under (A.J.) Preller’s direction has shown a knack for identifying elite young talent. The success stories of Jackson Merrill and high-potential prospects like CJ Abrams and Robert Hassell III — now key trade assets — highlight their track record."

Bateman didn't pitch professionally in 2024, so he made his debut with the Low A Lake Elsinore Storm, which was one of the reasons Keene wrote about the pitcher. Bateman was off to a good start, having struck out 21 in 18⅔ innings, which covered four starts.

"Bateman’s frame gives him a unique advantage on the mound. His height allows for a steep downhill plane, making his pitches harder to pick up, especially for left-handed hitters," Keene wrote. "His fastball, which consistently sits in the 92-97 mph range, pairs well with his plus curveball, which has significant depth and late bite. Currently, he works primarily with those two offerings, but developing a third — and possibly a fourth — pitch will be critical if he hopes to claim a permanent spot in a major league rotation."

Unfortunately for Padres fans, they only saw 15 starts at Lake Elsinore. That is because Bateman was part of the six-prospect package sent to the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Ramon Laureano and first baseman-outfielder Ryan O'Hearn at the trade deadline.