Every year, a handful of players ranked outside the top 10 in their respective farm systems take meaningful steps forward to improve their stock and vault up prospect rankings. Part of the fun is trying to identify those breakouts before it happens. So today, we\u2019re identifying Padres prospects who have the potential to make a jump in 2026.<\/p>\n
To qualify, a player must rank outside the organization\u2019s preseason Top 10 prospects.\u00a0All scouting reports are from Baseball America\u2019s 2026 Prospect handbook, which you can purchase here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can find Top 30 prospect rankings\u00a0for all teams here<\/a>\u00a0and all breakout candidates here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Breakout Prospects<\/p>\n Tucker Musgrove<\/a>, RHP<\/p>\n BA Grade\/Risk: 50\/High Track Record: Musgrove was drafted as a pitcher in 2023 after a standout two-way career at NAIA Mobile in Alabama. The Padres signed him for $175,000, and he had Tommy John surgery shortly after signing. He was on the shelf for all of 2024 and made his pro debut in 2025 with Low-A Lake Elsinore. Across 14 appearances and 20.1 innings, Musgrove compiled a 5.40 ERA and collected 26 strikeouts. Musgrove made six appearances in the Arizona Fall League after the season.<\/p>\n Scouting Report: Musgrove is an athletic righthander who works exclusively out of the stretch and attacks out of a three-quarters arm slot. He moves well on the mound with present arm speed and relies heavily on his fastball\/slider combination. If it wasn\u2019t for Michael Salina, Musgrove\u2019s heater would arguably be the best in the system. It sits in the mid-to-upper 90s and has been up to 100 mph with solid carry in the top half of the zone. His average spin rate on his four-seamer was an impressive 2,486 rpm, and Musgrove\u2019s flat vertical approach angle enhances the pitch\u2019s riding effect. It consistently gets above the barrel of opposing hitters, and in 2025 it generated a 39% miss rate. Musgrove\u2019s mid-to-upper-80s sweeper is inconsistent in shape, but at its best it flashes sharp, lateral life with a bit of late bite. Like his heater, Musgrove\u2019s slider also is a consistent generator of whiffs. Musgrove rounds out his arsenal with a seldom-used mid-to-upper-80s curveball that\u2019s bigger in shape with downward bite. Musgrove\u2019s command is scattershot at the moment but should improve as he continues to add mileage to his arm.<\/p>\n The Future: Musgrove\u2019s athleticism and high-end stuff both serve as exciting building blocks for his development. He will get the chance to prove himself as a starter, but if he eventually moves to the bullpen, he profiles as a dynamic reliever.<\/p>\n Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Control: 40<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Adjusted Grade: 35<\/p>\n