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The San Diego Padres have begun their offseason work without much fanfare, securing two players on minor league agreements. According to a report from MadFriars on Twitter/X, the club has signed first baseman/outfielder Nick Pratto and pitcher Angel Hernandez.
Among the two, Pratto stands out as the more notable addition. The Texas Rangers released him from his minor league contract in June, and he joined the Padres just one day later. Pratto wrapped up the 2026 campaign at Triple-A El Paso, where he posted a .271/.377/.441 slash line across 71 games. Although his performance did not prompt a call-up during the season, it evidently led the Padres to reach out to his agent once the year concluded.
Once a highly regarded prospect, Pratto was selected 14th overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2017 MLB Draft, a class that was considered relatively weak. He spent five seasons in the minors before making his big league debut in 2022. Over 145 games from 2022 to 2023, he slashed .216/.295/.364. His strikeout rate climbed to 40% and his walk rate dropped to 8.4% from his first to second year. The Royals did not give Pratto a chance to rebound in a third year; after he was outrighted off Kansas City's 40-man roster in March 2025, he hit .196/.289/.331 for Triple-A Omaha and then became a free agent.
The 2026 season was a tale of two halves for Pratto. After joining the Padres, his walk rate jumped from 5.9% to 14.6%, and his strikeout rate fell from 32.7% to 17.8%. At 28 years old, Pratto still has time to revive his career, and the Padres apparently believe he has plenty of baseball left. It is also easy to see why Pratto was interested in a reunion: the change of scenery worked. Whether or not the El Paso Chihuahuas' coaching staff was directly responsible for his midseason turnaround, Pratto understandably wants to keep the momentum going.
It remains unclear whether his new contract includes an invitation to 2027 spring training, whenever it is held. If it does, Pratto deserves consideration on any short list of internal candidates to replace Ty France if the Padres cannot re-sign the first baseman in free agency. Pratto also saw time in left field and at designated hitter for El Paso in 2026.
As for Hernandez, the 23-year-old from Michoacan, Mexico, resurfaced in the Mexican League one year after the Miami Marlins released him in November 2024. He is currently pitching for Hermosillo in the Mexican Winter League after making 16 relief appearances for Oaxaca (1-0, 7.66 ERA) during the Mexican summer league season.
Key Analysis
The Padres' early offseason signings are low-risk, depth-oriented moves. Pratto, a former first-round pick, showed improved plate discipline with El Paso and could provide insurance at first base or in the outfield. Hernandez, still young, offers organizational pitching depth after rebuilding his career in Mexico. Both players will likely compete for roles in spring training, but neither is guaranteed a spot on the major league roster.