These Padres Prospects Provide Hope For Team’s Future

The San Diego Padres have a lot of needs, but they don’t have a lot going on when it comes to immediate help. the Padres used their prospect capital when they brought up catcher Ethan Salas, who will be in the mix for a starting job next season. 

There is some hope, however. Ian Cundall of Baseball America identified three prospects who could help in the longer run, and they have some attributes that are well worth reviewing. 

Tucker Musgrove RHP 

Musgrove has the best raw stuff in the Padres’ system, but the problem to date has been keeping him healthy. The right-hander struck out 68 hitter in 34-1/3 innings this season, with his mid-90s fastball and sweeper both showing what Cundall called “premium bat-missing potential.”

But injuries and poor control have limited him throughout his career, and this season he wound up on the injured list. This is a familiar story for the Padres with their pitching, but if they can get him healthy next spring, he has the type of stuff that could fit in the back of the Padres’ bullpen at some point next year, per the writer. 

Jagger Haynes, LHP

The Padres rotation is in a state of total uncertainty right now, so much so that the only Padres starters under contract for next season are Randy Vásquez and Joe Musgrove. Nick Pivetta could join them if his club option is picked up, but Michael King (opt-out), Robbie Ray, and Walker Buehler could all be free agents. 

Haynes, meanwhile, is the highest-ranked starting pitching prospect in the high minors. His ceiling is considered limited, but he could play a key role in 2027 given their lack of depth. In 135 innings this season, Haynes had a 4.80 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 116 strikeouts, which isn’t exactly encouraging. 

Garrett Hawkins, RHP

This was a setback season for Hawkins, as he had a dominant 2025 season that helped him get added to the 40-man roster. But nothing went right after that, as he spent the entire season in the minrs and wound up pitching to a 5.47 ERA in 54-1/3 innings. 

Hawkins is a pure reliever with a three-pitch mix headlined by a mid-90s fastball with above-average ride, according to the writer, so if he can find more consistency next season, he could make his debut early in the season, and he’d fit right in as a good addition to the strong Padres bullpen.