2026 prospect preview: Infielders to watch in the Padres’ farm system

Fernando Tatis Jr. was the Padres’ shortstop of the future before winning two Platinum Gloves in right field. Jackson Merrill held that title before moving to center field the spring before his MLB debut. Other shortstops of the future include CJ Abrams before his trade to Washington and Leo De Vries before this summer’s trade to the Athletics.

Not only do the Padres begin this season without an obvious heir apparent at A.J. Preller’s favorite position to cultivate, the Padres’ infield prospects aren’t particularly close to the majors.

Here’s a look at the club’s top infield prospects heading into the 2026 season:

1   |   3B Kale Fountain

• Opening-day age: 20
• How acquired: Drafted in the fifth round in 2024 (Norris High, Neb.)
• Height/weight: 6-foot-5 / 225 pounds
• Bats/throws: Right/right
• 2025 teams: ACL Padres (Rookie), Lake Elsinore (high-A)
• 2025 stats: .226 AVG, .346 OBP, .309 SLG, 3 HRs, 34 RBIs, 40 runs, 35 walks, 65 strikeouts, 21 steals (65 games, 280 plate appearances)
• Need to know: Nebraska’s high school home run record-holder, Fountain was committed to LSU when the Padres signed him for $1.7 million — nearly four times the recommended bonus for the 151st overall pick in the draft. He underwent Tommy John surgery in the fall after the draft and then began his career in the Arizona Complex League (.751 OPS) before moving to Lake Elsinore (.571 OPS). The comeback began with Fountain playing first base and DH, but he got into games at third base late in his stay in the California League. Power will be Fountain’s carrying tool, although he showed he can run a bit, too.

2   |   SS Jorge Quintana

• Opening-day age: 18
• How acquired: Via trade with the Milwaukee Brewers in July
• Height/weight: 6-foot-2 /183 pounds
• Bats/throws: Both / Right
• 2025 teams: ACL Brewers (Rookie), Lake Elsinore (high-A)
• 2025 stats: .243 AVG, .339 OBP, .363 SLG, 4 HRs, 28 RBIs, 42 runs, 39 walks, 84 strikeouts, 26 steals (75 games, 330 plate appearances)
• Need to know: Quintana signed for $1.7 million in the same window that saw the Padres reel in De Vries, had a .741 OPS in 53 games that year in the Dominican Summer League and had a .752 OPS in the Arizona Complex League when he was included in the Nestor Cortes trade. The step up to the California League after joining the Padres organization was a challenge: Quintana hit .193/.317/.265 with one homer in 25 games with the Storm. He could develop more power as he fills out, which may also slow him down. For now, Quintana is a stolen base threat who’ll get every chance to stick in the middle of the infield.

2026 prospect preview: Catchers to watch in the Padres’ farm system

3   |   SS Jhoan De La Cruz

• Opening-day age: 18
• How acquired: Signed as an international free agent in February
• Height/weight: 5-foot-9 /165 pounds
• Bats/throws: Both/right
• 2025 team: DSL Padres Gold (Rookie)
• 2025 stats: .259 AVG, .477 OBP, .360 SLG, 1 HR, 21 RBIs, 37 runs, 46 walks, 45 strikeouts, 11 steals
• Need to know: One of three top-50 international amateurs the Padres signed after missing out on Roki Sasaki, De La Cruz received a $1 million bonus to join the organization out of the Dominican Republic. An advanced strike-zone awareness that he showed as an amateur played in his debut: De La Cruz walked more than he struck out and hit for extra bases in the Dominican Summer League.

4   |   SS Deivid Coronil

• Opening-day age: 18
• How acquired: Signed as an international free agent in January
• Height/weight: 6-foot-3 / 162 pounds
• Bats/throws: Both/right
• 2025 team: DSL Padres Gold (Rookie)
• 2025 stats: .186 AVG, .327 OBP, .214 SLG, 0 HRs, 12 RBIs, 23 runs, 21 walks, 47 strikeouts, 8 steals (45 games, 174 plate appearances)
• Need to know: Signed for $900,000 out of Venezuela, Coronil struck out at a 27% clip in his debut season. He was billed as a future table-setter who could grow into more power if he adds muscle to a fast-growing 6-foot-3 frame. He could also be an elite defender, especially if he can improve his arm strength.

5   |   1B Romeo Sanabria

• Opening-day age: 23
• How acquired: Drafted in the 18th round in 2022 (Indian River State College)
• Height/weight: 6-foot-3/200 pounds
• Bats/throws: Left/right
• 2025 team: San Antonio (Double-A)
• 2025 stats: .257 AVG, .309 OBP, .376 SLG, 12 HRs, 56 RBIs, 54 runs, 38 walks, 107 strikeouts, 4 steals (119 games, 499 plate appearances)
• Need to know: The hit tool overshadows Sanabria’s raw power as he rose three levels in 2024, moving from low Single-A Lake Elsinore (.926 OPS) to high Single-A Fort Wayne (.736 OPS) to Double-A San Antonio (.708 OPS). That trajectory looked to have him reach Triple-A El Paso at some point this year, but Sanabria fell off a cliff after posting an .875 OPS through the first two months of the season. He had a .491 OPS in June and a .623 OPS in the second half, all but ensuring the Padres would not protect him from this month’s Rule 5 draft.

6   |   INF Marcos Castañon

• Opening-day age: 27
• How acquired: Drafted in the 12th round in 2021 (UC Santa Barbara)
• Height/weight: 5-foot-10/195 pounds
• Bats/throws: Right/right
• 2025 teams: San Antonio (Double-A), El Paso (Triple-A)
• 2025 stats: .273 AVG, .339 OBP, .442 SLG, 15 HRs, 75 RBIs, 61 runs, 40 walks, 113 strikeouts, 4 steals (122 games, 501 plate appearances)
• Need to know: He hit 23 homers in low Single-A in his first full year in the system, but began 2025 with his third tour at San Antonio, where he has a .732 OPS over 270 games after beginning the season with a .757 OPS over 106 games. Castañon got his first taste of the Pacific Coast League in September, pairing three homers with a .936 OPS over 16 games. Castañon should begin 2026 at El Paso as organizational depth that can cover first, second and third base.

Others to know: INF Clay Dungan (Triple-A), INF Francisco Acuña (Triple-A), SS Ryan Jackson (Double-A), INF Rosman Verdugo (high A), INF Devin Ortiz (Double-A), INF Zach Evans (high A), INF Wyatt Hoffman (Double-A), 1B Jack Costello (high A), SS Jonathan Vastine (high A), 1B Luke Cantwell (high A), 1B Ethan Long (high A), 2B Dylan Grego (A), 3B Kerrington Cross (A), INF Justin DeCriscio (A).