Following a seemingly endless amount of trades in recent years, the San Diego Padres’ farm system ranks near the bottom of the league, regardless of which outlet is doing the analysis.

But at Padres Mission, we are focusing on the players who are still with the Friars and will be looking to climb to the majors. As we continue our countdown of the top 20 Padres prospects ahead of the 2026 season, this group provides quite a range, with one having already made his MLB debut and another still looking to move past Low-A.

In the first chapter of this series, we looked prospects No. 16-20.

Here is who the writers at Padres Mission ranked No. 11-15:

No. 15 Tirso Ornelas (El Paso Chihuahuas, San Diego Padres)

Ornelas signed with the Padres in 2016 as an international free agent as a 16-year-old. Now about to turn 26, the native of Tijuana, Mexico, has certainly gone through a few trials and tribulations with the Friars. After reaching minor-league free agency following the 2023 season, the outfielder re-signed with the Padres. Then, he was curiously added to the 40-man roster July 17, 2024, but not called up to the majors.

That didn’t happen until Ornelas made his MLB debut on April 19, 2025, when he replaced an injured Jason Heyward on the roster. He played in seven games, sticking in the majors until being sent back to Triple-A El Paso on May 2. He went just 1-for-14 in 16 plate appearances. Just recently, Ornelas was designated for assignment to make room for Griffin Canning on the 40-man roster, though he went unclaimed on waivers and was outrighted to El Paso.

The issue with Ornelas has been his power, or lack thereof. Home runs were supposed to be Ornelas’ calling card, but he has hit just 74 in 808 minor-league games over eight seasons. His best showing was 23 at El Paso in 2024, when he was named the Padres’ Minor League Player of the Year. He has been a solid hitter, producing a .269/.355/.411 slash line in the minors. He has walked 11.3% of the time and struck out 19.6%, both better than the MLB averages. Defensively, he has played both corner outfield spots, with spot time in center and a handful of games at first base.

Year

Age

AgeDif

Tm

Lg

Lev

Aff

G

PA

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

SB

CS

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

OPS

TB

GDP

HBP

SH

SF

IBB

2025

25

-1.8

El Paso

PCL

AAA

SDP

82

371

318

63

92

21

0

10

57

7

2

46

64

.289

.384

.450

.833

143

7

4

1

2

0

2025

25

-3.1

SDP

NL

Maj

SDP

7

16

14

0

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

2

2

.071

.188

.071

.259

1

1

0

0

0

0

There doesn’t seem to be a lot of potential here unless he somehow finds his power stroke again. A third straight Opening Day in El Paso is in his future, where he will be waiting for a second call-up should injuries strike the outfield.

No. 14 Garrett Hawkins (Fort Wayne TinCaps, San Antonio Missions)

The right-handed pitcher was selected in the ninth round of the 2021 draft out of a college in his native Canada. He didn’t advance much before requiring Tommy John surgery after just four starts at High-A Fort Wayne in 2023, which wiped out his entire 2024 campaign as well.

But Hawkins bounced back in style in 2025 in a new role. After all 25 of his appearances in 2022 and 2023 came as a starter, he was used exclusively as a reliever last season. After some early struggles, the 6-foot-5 Hawkins ripped off an amazing 29 consecutive scoreless outings that covered 38 innings and included his first promotion to Double-A San Antonio. Between the two stops, he compiled a 1.50 ERA in 45 games. In those 60 innings, Hawkins walked 23 and struck out 80. That performance earned him the Padres’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year award.

Moving to the bullpen has allowed Hawkins’ fastball to take a jump from 92-94 mph before the Tommy John surgery to now sitting at 95-96. That is one reason he is in camp this spring. The newfound role could earn him a trip to Triple-A El Paso on Opening Day, and perhaps even a chance to contribute at the MLB level at some point during the season.

Year

Age

AgeDif

Tm

Lg

Lev

Aff

W

L

W-L%

ERA

RA9

G

GS

GF

CG

SHO

SV

IP

H

R

ER

HR

BB

IBB

SO

HBP

BK

WP

BF

WHIP

H9

HR9

BB9

SO9

SO/W

2025

25

0.5

San Antonio

TL

AA

SDP

1

0

1.000

1.69

1.69

13

0

10

0

0

2

16.0

11

3

3

0

10

1

20

0

0

1

66

1.313

6.2

0.0

5.6

11.3

2.00

2025

25

1.9

Fort Wayne

MIDW

A+

SDP

8

1

.889

1.43

1.43

32

0

20

0

0

8

44.0

17

7

7

1

13

0

60

2

2

0

162

0.682

3.5

0.2

2.7

12.3

4.62

No. 13 Lamar King Jr. (Lake Elsinore Storm, Fort Wayne TinCaps)

Selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft out of a Maryland high school, the catcher has battled a few injuries in the early portion of his pro career. The son of Seattle Seahawks defensive end Lamar King, a first-round draft choice in 1999, King Jr. had shoulder and concussion issues that limited his time behind the plate, putting him at designated hitter and first base.

But he was healthy in 2025 and played in 105 games, 22 more than he had in the previous two seasons combined. King flashed a lot of offensive potential, putting up a .286/.370/.408 slash line with four homers and 37 RBIs and 18 steals at Low-A Lake Elsinore. That earned him a promotion to High-A Fort Wayne, where he had a .233/.289/.300 slash line in 24 games. He also has a nice arm behind the plate.

The potential of the 22-year-old earned him a ticket to the Arizona Fall League prospect showcase, and he turned in a slash line of .255/.397/.294 in 17 games. While he shows a natural ability to go the opposite way, the right-handed hitter’s size (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) would portend more power, but that could come as he moves up the organizational ladder. The speed also adds to his potential and could be maintained if he moves out from behind the plate.

With Ethan Salas likely to begin 2026 at Double-A San Antonio, King probably returns to Fort Wayne to begin the season with the chance to move up if he evolves further with the bat in his hands.

Year

Age

AgeDif

Tm

Lg

Lev

Aff

G

PA

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

SB

CS

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

OPS

TB

GDP

HBP

SH

SF

IBB

2025

21

-0.3

Lake Elsinore

CALL

A

SDP

81

359

311

50

89

24

1

4

37

18

3

38

68

.286

.370

.408

.779

127

7

6

0

4

0

2025

21

-0.9

Peoria

AZFL

Fal

 

17

63

51

8

13

2

0

0

0

3

1

11

13

.255

.397

.294

.691

15

0

1

0

0

0

No. 12 Jorge Quintana (ACL Brewers, Lake Elsinore Storm)

Acquired along with left-handed starter Nestor Cortes for outfielder Brandon Lockridge at the 2025 trade deadline from the Milwaukee Brewers, Quintana was the No. 12 prospect in the 2024 international signing class by MLB Pipeline. He signed with the Brewers for $1.7 million as the headliner of a class in which Milwaukee also signed Jesus Made and Luis Pena.

Quintana hasn’t had the meteoric rise that his former teammates have experienced, but remember that he doesn’t turn 19 until April 5. He was slashing .264/.349/.403 in 50 games in the Arizona Complex League at the time of the trade and then was assigned to Low-A Lake Elsinore, where he had a .193/.317/.265 slash line in 25 games. He had a combined four homers and 26 stolen bases between the two stops. A switch-hitter who has played shortstop and third base, Quintana is expected to develop power as his body matures (6-foot-2, 183 pounds).

With his size, speed and power potential, Quintana would become a high-end shortstop prospect if his offense develops. All would still play at third base, but that is less of a premium position. Lake Elsinore will probably be his starting point in 2026, but a trip to Fort Wayne is likely at some point during the season.

Year

Age

AgeDif

Tm

Lg

Lev

Aff

G

PA

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

SB

CS

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

OPS

TB

GDP

HBP

SH

SF

IBB

2025

18

-3.3

Lake Elsinore

CALL

A

SDP

25

101

83

12

16

3

0

1

5

7

4

15

34

.193

.317

.265

.582

22

0

1

0

2

1

2025

18

-1.8

Brewers

ACL

Rk

MIL

50

229

201

30

53

13

3

3

23

19

4

24

50

.264

.349

.403

.752

81

4

3

0

1

0

No. 11 Romeo Sanabria (San Antonio Missions)

Taken in the 18th round of the 2022 draft out of a Florida junior college, Sanabria could be the Friars’ starting first baseman in the near future. He has steadily worked his way through the organization since being drafted, spending all of 2025 at Double-A San Antonio.

While he hasn’t flashed the power typically associated with the position, Sanabria put together a 2025 slash line of .257/.309/.376 with a career-high 12 homers to go along with 56 RBIs in 119 games. That line was down from his 2024, where he had a .288/.396/.427 showing with 11 homers and 78 RBIs at three stops: Low A Lake Elsinore, High A Fort Wayne and San Antonio. Still, his 30 doubles and on-base percentage were the best in the organization. That earned him a shot in the Arizona Fall League, where he posted a .276/.364/.345 line in 15 games, though that came with no homers and four RBIs. He was also named the Padres’ Hitting Prospect of the Year by MLB Pipeline.

With a .283 batting average across four seasons and just 31 homers, Sanabria is more contact-focused despite his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. Maybe more power comes with experience, but the batting average would certainly help to offset that — the Padres have experience with such an archetype at the cold corner, having just employed Luis Arraez. Sanabria needs to improve his walk rate (just 7.6% in 2025) and reduce his strikeout rate (21.4%), which would make him an even better hitter.

While the Padres have a lot of coverage at first base in 2026, Sanabria has already made a splash in his second trip to the team’s major-league spring camp. In his first five games, he went 4-for-7 with two doubles and a homer, while driving in six. He has a ticket to El Paso waiting for him, a needed stop in his development. But an MLB debut could come this year with a chance to win the starting job in 2027.

Year

Age

AgeDif

Tm

Lg

Lev

Aff

G

PA

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

SB

CS

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

OPS

TB

GDP

HBP

SH

SF

IBB

2025

23

-1.0

San Antonio

TL

AA

SDP

119

499

452

54

116

18

0

12

56

4

1

38

107

.257

.309

.376

.685

170

6

0

1

8

3

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!

View Top Prospects
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