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The lower minors are formatted differently these days, with Single-A playing more like rookie or short-season leagues of the past, but Leo De Vries' summer run as a 17-year-old in the Cal League brought to mind past debuts from elite international signees like Vladimir Guerrero and Wander Franco. There were already whispers about De Vries' bat being extremely special before his signing ($4.2 million bonus) with San Diego was official Jan. 15, and indeed, he skipped over both the Dominican Summer League and the Arizona Complex League. De Vries hit .195 with zero home runs and a 26 percent strikeout rate in his first 31 games and slashed .267/.393/.534 with 11 home runs, nine steals and a 21.5 percent strikeout rate in his final 44 games. Even when factoring in his poor start, he was 16 percent better than the average Cal League hitter while being over a year younger than the next youngest qualified hitter on the circuit. He was predictably overmatched in the Arizona Fall League, but De Vries, who turned 18 in October, did become the youngest prospect to homer in the AFL since Bryce Harper in 2010. De Vries has a pretty classic shortstop build at 6-foot, 183 pounds, and he hits home runs to all fields more due to his barrel control and ability to work his way into hitters' counts, rather than premium raw power. If the switch-hitting prodigy reaches his ceiling, his fantasy production will be similar to that of Francisco Lindor, contributing significantly across the board with a lengthy prime. He is on track to be up sometime in 2026, or potentially early 2027.

Fantasy News

  • Padres' Leo De Vries: Cut from big-league camp

    The Padres reassigned De Vries to minor-league camp Thursday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The 18-year-old De Vries and fellow teenage prospect Ethan Salas were among the 11 cuts the Padres made Thursday. De Vries posted an .803 OPS with 11 homers and 13 steals with Single-A Lake Elsinore in 2024 and could move up to High-A Fort Wayne in 2025.
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  • Padres' Leodalis De Vries: Invited to spring training

    The Padres have extended De Vries an invitation to major-league camp during spring training. De Vries is only 18 and spent the entirety of the 2024 season at Single-A Lake Elsinore, so he is not under real consideration to make the Padres' Opening Day roster. However, San Diego did want to give the youngster a look this spring. Fellow top prospect Ethan Salas will also be in big-league camp.
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  • Padres' Leodalis De Vries: Included on Fall League roster

    The Padres list De Vries (shoulder) as one the organization's eight prospects on the Peoria Javelinas' Arizona Fall League roster, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. A right shoulder strain prevented De Vries from playing in any games for Single-A Lake Elsinore after Aug. 17, but his inclusion on the Peoria roster implies that he's expected to be healthy by the time Arizona Fall League play gets underway Oct. 7. De Vries won't turn 18 years old until next month, but the infielder has already established himself as one of the top lower-level prospects in baseball after slashing .237/.361/.441 with 11 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 360 plate appearances in the California League this season.
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  • Padres' Leodalis De Vries: Suffers shoulder injury

    De Vries will miss time due to a right shoulder strain suffered during Sunday's game at Single-A Lake Elsinore, AJ Cassavell of MiLB.com reports. De Vries attempted to make a diving play in the field and paid the price. According to Cassavell, the team expects the injury to sideline one of its top prospects for the remainder of the season, though it's still too early to officially shut him down.
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  • Padres' Leodalis De Vries: Struggling in Single-A ball

    De Vries is slashing .148/.303/.259 with a 30.3 percent strikeout rate through seven games with Single-A Lake Elsinore. San Diego was aggressive in placing De Vries in Single-A as a 17-year-old, and the prized international prospect began his professional career by going 4-for-13 with four RBI over his first three games. However, he's gone 0-for-14 with six strikeouts over his subsequent four contests, highlighting the inevitable growing pains given his age. On a positive note, De Vries has compiled a 15.2 percent walk rate thus far, so he's at least demonstrating some patience at the plate.
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