Padres predicted to add young star to fix infield issues

Heading into the 2025 MLB draft next week, the San Diego Padres have been linked to a few names more than others. 

At the top of that list is Slater de Brun, a high school player widely regarded as one of the better players in the 2025 high school class. 

The Padres might look to go that route, as selecting a high school player has some value, as it allows them to be in their farm system for a few years and develop. However, the Padres could take a few different approaches.

Despite the enticing decision to take a college player, as they're more proven at this stage of their career, The Sporting Tribune recently linked them to another high school player in the form of Sean Gamble, an outfielder out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. 

“Hammond, de Brun and Mitchell are mentioned frequently here. With the third smallest bonus pool, you might be able to rule them out on Schoolcroft and Pierce, though they'd probably be tempted by the latter. Same could be said for Neyens who might be swayed to the comp picks.

“Brandon Compton is a name that popped late for San Diego, but I'll continue to lean prep with the Friars,” they wrote.

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Gamble, another player regarded as one of the better high school prospects in the nation, stands at 6-foot-2. 

The outfielder is committed to Vanderbilt and is the sixth-ranked player in the nation, according to Perfect Game. 

His Vanderbilt commitment could cause some issues here, but considering the Padres would be giving him a lot of money and he’ll have a different opportunity if they give him the full slot value, there's reason to believe they could poach him from the Commodores.