Newly Signed Padres Prospect Cracks Prestigious Top-100 List

The kid has the potential to be San Diego's next superstar.

The San Diego Padres signed one of the best young international players in the open market this offseason in shortstop Leodalis de Vries. 

De Vries will make some noise in the major leagues whenever that time comes. Although he is only 17 years old and has been with the Padres for only two weeks, Baseball America is already showing love to the Dominican. 

Baseball America ranked de Vries at No. 99 in the top-100 prospects list coming into the 2024 season. Here's what one of Baseball America's writers, Ben Badler, had to say about de Vries in a separate article. 

De Vries, who

signed with the Padres for $4.2 million

out of the Dominican Republic when the international signing period opened on Jan. 15, is a talented switch-hitter with a compact, adjustable swing and an innate feel for the barrel. He consistently finds the sweet spot, showing an advanced approach for his age to be able to control the strike zone with a low miss rate, squaring up both fastballs and offspeed stuff. Some players with those contact skills are spray hitters who don’t do much extra-base damage, but De Vries has shown power as well, power that translates in games. He could stick at shortstop, though if he ends up having to move to second or third base, he has the offensive upside to project as an above-average regular at those spots as well if everything clicks for him.

(per Brad Badler via Baseball America)

The 17-year-old is ahead of his time. There are a ton of people, including the ones inside the Padres organization, who believe this kid will pan out, and have every reason to feel that way. 

On top of making BA's top-110 prospect list, he also made BA's "nine players primed to rise" ranking. Here's what BA writer Josh Norris had to say about the youngster. 

In 2023, Padres catcher Ethan Salas rose through the ranks of the minor leagues in a nearly unprecedented way for players his age. In 2024, De Vries could follow in those footsteps and blaze a quick trail from his first pro contract to the full-season minor leagues. He was arguably the most talented prospect available in the most recent international class and has a blend of contact and impact that’s shown up both in showcases and in games. He’s a strong defender at shortstop as well, and should fit right in with the line of high-upside prospects who have come through San Diego in recent years.

(per Brad Norris via Baseball America)

It's unclear where De Vries will start the 2024 season. But with how aggressive the Padres have been with prospects in the past, expect to see him playing in High-A very quickly.