In an era that places a premium on platoon advantages, switch-hitters can be the most versatile members of a lineup -- even if they've become increasingly hard to find. Over the past four seasons, the number of switch-hitting batters in the Majors has slowly ticked down from 10.7 percent in

After a multi-season hiatus, Crooked Numbers returns with a heaping portion of Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. This edition, covering the start of the season through the end of April, has a disproportionate number of items from the Triple-A level. As for why that is, who knows? Maybe

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Last month, a newsletter reader named Karen emailed the following question: “What is the most

It’s often said to not let a shooter on the basketball court see one go through the net, lest they heat up and find their rhythm. That might be an apt analogy for Leodalis De Vries, the No. 1 international prospect in the 2024 class, who excelled on the basketball

In recent years, the Padres have shown they are not afraid to push their top prospects. For the second straight season, they are starting a 17-year-old No. 1 international prospect at Single-A Lake Elsinore rather than in rookie ball, and in turn, challenging him from the moment he enters the

The Padres signed the top prospect of his international class. They brought him over stateside in his first professional spring, and his Minor League debut will come at a full-season level. Sound familiar?

Following last Friday’s second Opening Day, all four full-season levels of Minor League Baseball are officially playing their 2024 regular seasons. That has given us a few days to take in and digest rosters across Triple-A, Double-A, High-A and Single-A to determine the best of the best. Some are loaded

When Ethan Salas and Dylan Lesko learned they were going to begin the 2024 season together at High-A, they quickly decided to room together. One start into the season and that relationship between two of the top Padres prospects is already paying off.

Minor League games are known for the strange, remarkable and wacky, but some games even exceed those expectations. Enter the El Paso Chihuahuas and Albuquerque Isotopes.

From historic to anthropomorphic, Minor League hats are something else. They can represent the city, the culture, the cuisine, and they look good doing it. For the sixth straight season, MiLB celebrates National Hat Day by looking at some of the top-selling Minor League caps per New Era and MiLBStore.com.

We talk about breakout prospects all the time, like Ethan Salas going from being a 16-year-old new signee to a Double-A player in just a few months or Junior Caminero starting the season outside the Top 100 and ending it at No. 6 (and likely higher by the time of

Some prospects never struggle on their way to the Major Leagues. For example, the first two guys on our Top 100 Prospects list, Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday and Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, have yet to taste failure in pro ball. They're the exceptions, however. Most prospects face adversity at some

Looking for a respite from the sameness of the seat and the banality of the berm? Then consider visiting these six Minor League ballparks. You can watch the game from a unique and memorable location at each one. - Ballpark Guides Presented by Wyndham for EVERY Minor League team -

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.

Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2023 Organization All-Stars series are the San Diego Padres. 2023 organization summary: Triple-A El Paso:

Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Jakob Marsee quickly has made a name for himself in pro ball, going from a sixth-round pick out of Central Michigan in 2022 to a prospect whom clubs asked the Padres about in trade talks this summer. Marsee is a well-rounded player yet not particularly known for

Each month, MiLB.com spotlights an aspect of Copa de la Diversión, Minor League Baseball's Hispanic fan engagement initiative sponsored by Nationwide, the program's official insurance partner. This edition celebrates the unique ballpark entertainment that lives up to the spirit of the Copa program. Check out our look at the similar

In the past couple of weeks, the news surrounding the Padres' affiliate in San Antonio revolved around Ethan Salas becoming the youngest Double-A player since 2014. On Wednesday night, Robby Snelling entered the conversation, one that did still feature Salas. The No. 3 left-handed pitching prospect in baseball per MLB

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. While many clubs are battling for the final postseason spots, others have already booked their playoff tickets with

By virtue of merely suiting up for Double-A San Antonio on Tuesday night, Ethan Salas made history by becoming the first player to appear at the level at 17 years old since 2014. But Salas didn’t just put on his gear -- he ripped a walk-off double in the 10th

Ethan Salas won’t turn 18 years old until June 2024. But the Padres' top prospect continues to rise up the Minor League ranks. Salas, MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 prospect, has been promoted to Double-A San Antonio, according to multiple reports. The club has not confirmed the news. The 17-year-old catcher

With each passing day, Jackson Merrill is proving to be one of the most dynamic players in the Minors. MLB Pipeline's No. 9 overall prospect left the yard and also swiped home for Double-A San Antonio, which fell to Midland, 9-4, on Thursday night at Nelson Wolff Stadium. The performance

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at Padres fourth-ranked prospect Robby Snelling. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. With multiple options in front of him coming out

From the moment the Padres inked Ethan Salas to a professional contract in January, the preternaturally gifted catcher has carried lofty expectations. His first foray into the affiliate ball ranks has proven that not only can the 17-year-old carry his own, he’s lapping any preconceived notions of how quickly a