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The San Diego Padres have seen a significant exodus of talent from their minor league system, with 11 position players and eight pitchers electing free agency, according to the team's transaction log on MiLB.com. This wave of departures strips the organization of valuable depth and several players who were once considered promising prospects.
Position Players on the Move
Among the 11 position players leaving are a mix of former draft picks, international signings, and minor league free agent additions. Shortstop Francisco Acuna, 26, who joined the Padres in November 2024, spent the 2026 season at Double-A San Antonio, where he batted .195 with six home runs, 27 RBIs, and a .671 OPS over 85 games.
Second baseman Victor Duarte, 25, originally signed as an international free agent in 2018, saw action in 16 games at Triple-A El Paso this year, hitting .224 with a .631 OPS. Clay Dungan, a 30-year-old second baseman who has been in the organization since December 2023, played 100 games at Triple-A, posting a .228 average with nine home runs, 40 RBIs, and a .688 OPS. Dungan, a former Kansas City Royals draft pick in 2019, has yet to make his MLB debut.
Outfielder Albert Fabian, 24, another 2018 international signee, enjoyed a solid season at Double-A, hitting .268 with 12 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .758 OPS in 107 games. The most recognizable name on the list is outfielder Bryce Johnson, who has appeared in 134 games for the Padres over the past three seasons. Johnson, 31, batted .342 in 55 games in 2025 but struggled in 2026, hitting .178 over 32 games. Known for his defense and speed, he fell out of the outfield rotation and will now seek a new opportunity.
Outfielder Tirso Ornelas, who signed with San Diego as an international free agent in 2017, was once ranked as high as the team's No. 11 prospect by MLB Pipeline in 2025. He had a brief MLB stint in 2025, going 1-for-14, and spent the entire 2026 season at Double-A, where he hit .253 with 17 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .771 OPS. First baseman Nick Solak, 31, signed last offseason and appeared in four MLB games this year, going 1-for-10. In 116 games at El Paso, he hit .311 with 16 home runs, 80 RBIs, and an .863 OPS. Solak has played in 263 career MLB games, batting .249 with a .692 OPS.
Shortstop Carson Tucker, a former first-round pick by Cleveland in 2020, joined the Padres last offseason on a minor league deal. The 24-year-old hit .270 with a .692 OPS in 75 games at Double-A. Catcher Carlos Rodriguez, who has been with the organization since 2019 as an international signee, batted .218 with a .655 OPS in 83 games at High-A Fort Wayne. Outfielder Carlos Rodriguez, signed last offseason on a minor league deal, played 124 games at El Paso, hitting .308 with six home runs, 77 RBIs, and a .791 OPS. Third baseman Luis Verdugo, 26, signed in January on a minor league deal and appeared in 100 games at Double-A, hitting .248 with a .704 OPS.
Pitchers Also Departing
In addition to the position players, eight pitchers have also elected minor league free agency, though their names were not disclosed in the report. This further depletes the Padres' pitching depth as they look to rebuild their farm system.
Key Analysis
The loss of these players, particularly those with MLB experience like Johnson and Solak, highlights the challenges teams face in retaining minor league depth. While none are considered top-tier prospects, several have shown flashes of potential and could contribute elsewhere. The Padres will need to replenish their system through free agency and the draft to maintain organizational depth.