Top 25 San Diego Padres Player Assets of 2026: 11-15

This section of our top 25 San Diego Padres player assets is quite diverse and perhaps reflects why the team is still trying to get over the hump. From a top prospect to a fan favorite to a newcomer to the U.S., these five players range across the whole spectrum of expectations.

This list ranks the 25 Padres players and prospects with this in mind: Who are the most valuable in the organization's pursuit of building a champion? To make this list, we considered age, upside, and contract.

Each player's age and control years are based on his Baseball Reference age for the 2026 season and when Baseball Reference says he can become a free agent.

For what we wrote in this series previously, check out Nos. 16-20 and 21-25.

15. Jake Cronenworth, 1B/2B

2026 season age: 32

Controlled through: 2030

Everyone loves Cronenworth, especially when he hits the Crone Zone (h/t Don Orsillo). But is it time to have the conversation about Cronenworth's production? Let's start with the obvious: his positional versatility makes him a flexible piece to move around the infield. In 2025, he was mainly the starting second baseman, but also slid over for some first base and even saw action at shortstop. The right side of the infield seems to be his best fit, although new manager Craig Stammen is likely to lean into Cronenworth's ability to play multiple positions.

But, are Cronenworth's offensive contributions — which have been lacking since he signed a seven-year, $80 million contract extension following the 2023 season — enough to move the needle? The move was a bit surprising in that it was in the 2023 season where Cronenworth's offense took a step back. After a combined slash line of .256/.338/.431 from 2020-22, his 2023 slumped to a .229/.312/.378 mark with 10 homers and 48 RBIs, both the lowest of any of his full MLB seasons. Of course, he missed all of September that year with a fractured right wrist, but the ink was mostly dry on his stats.

Cronenworth bounced back slightly with .241/.324/.390 with 17 homers and 83 RBIs and .246/.367/.377 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs in 2024 and '25, respectively. His most recent campaign was marred by an early-season non-displaced rib fracture that cost him about a month. Still, he put up a 2.4 bWAR this past season, his highest since 2022's 3.9 figure. With his contract running through 2030 while making $12.3 million per year, the Friars could use more offense from him. That price tag also makes Cronenworth a valuable trade chip if the Padres decide to go that route.

14. Sung Mun Song, IF

2026 season age: 29

Controlled through: 2029

Song is the great unknown for the Padres at the moment. Where will he play? Will he move around? Is the outfield a real possibility? How will his offense translate from South Korea to MLB? The good news for the Friars is that the investment in the 29-year-old infielder is low-level, more on par with a backup. The fact that Song, primarily a third baseman in the Korean Baseball Organization, can also play second and first will help with lineup flexibility.

In particular, that will give Stammen a presumably reliable option to either rest third baseman Manny Machado or allow Machado to be the designated hitter. It will also provide more matchup opportunities. It was also floated by president of baseball operations A.J. Preller at the press conference announcing the signing that Song could see time in the outfield. That would only add to his and the team's versatility and depth.

But offensively is where Song could make the biggest difference. After being rather nondescript in most of his KBO career, Song took off in 2024 and 2025, with slash lines of .340/.409/.518 (19 homers, 104 RBIs) and .315/.387/.530 (26 homers, 90 RBIs), respectively. He also had 21 and 25 steals in those seasons. The lack of previous noteworthy production could mean Song could take time to adjust to MLB.

13. Jason Adam, RHP

2026 season age: 31

Controlled through: 2026

Adam is one of the more unsung relievers in all of MLB. Since joining the Tampa Bay Rays to begin the 2022 season, he has put up a 3.20 FIP, 0.939 WHIP and 196 ERA+. But his 2025 ended Sept. 1 due to a ruptured left quadriceps. Initially, it was thought Adam could miss Opening Day, but an optimistic update in mid-November suggested that he could be ready to go for beginning of the season.

That would be huge, as the Padres are expected to have six of their top seven relievers in terms of appearances from 2025 returning, with only closer Robert Suarez exiting the mix after joining Atlanta as a free agent. But Mason Miller will replace Suarez in that closer role, and Adam should be a premier set-up man once again. He uses a good mix of pitches, favoring his slider and changeup while factoring in a four-seamer and sweeper.

This is a big season for Adam, as he is arbitration-eligible for the final time before hitting free agency.

12. Ramon Laureano, OF

2026 season age: 31

Controlled through: 2026

Laureano will be one of those guys that you see from a "Remember that Guy" social-media account in about 10 years and you will smile while remembering that he played for the Padres. Laureano is a solid defensive outfielder, with an elite arm and good-enough range that allows him to play any of the three spots, though he's probably more suited for either of the corners. With Fernando Tatis Jr. entrenched in right field following his second NL Platinum Glove in three seasons and young Jackson Merrill holding down center, Laureano will be a lockdown left fielder.

He also puts up pretty good offensive numbers. While playing for four teams over the last two seasons, Laureano has logged a .272/.330/.483 slash line with 35 homers and 109 RBIs for a 125 OPS+. That included a .269/.323/.489 mark with nine homers and 30 RBIs in the final two months of the 2025 season with the Padres after coming over at the trade deadline from the Baltimore Orioles with Ryan O'Hearn.

That all made it a no-brainer for the Padres to exercise their $6.5 million club option on Laureano for 2026. As long as he performs up to what he has done recently, he could be a candidate to stick around after becoming a free agent after next season.

11. Ethan Salas, C

2026 season age: 20

Controlled through: TBD

Salas doesn't turn 20 until June 1, but 2026 marks his fourth season in affiliated ball. Some of the luster has come off of Salas since being the No. 1 prospect in the international free-agent class of 2023, but he still ranks at the very top of the Padres' organization. The Padres have pushed Salas, who appeared at Low-A Lake Elsinore, High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio in 2023 as an 18-year-old. In 2024, Salas spent the season back at Fort Wayne, where he was still more than four years younger than the average player. He also played in the Arizona Fall League. Salas only played in 10 games in 2025, all at Double-A, after sustaining a stress fracture in his lower back in spring training.

While his defense has been his calling card, his offense still needs a lot of work. In 2023 at High=A, Salas had a .206/.288/.311 slash line with four homers and 53 RBIs in 113 games. He did draw 47 walks, but also struck out 98 times. Salas then hit four more homers in 23 games in the Arizona Fall League, although his slash line was .228/.327/.424.

Salas is likely to return to Double-A in 2026. He might be best served to stick the entire season at San Antonio just to build confidence in his approach at the plate. It doesn't make any sense to rush Salas at this point, with Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano capably holding down the catcher spot in 2026. Also, Fermin is under club control through 2029, Let Salas mature and become the offensive threat the Friars dreamed on when they signed him. The defense is already there.