6 Padres storylines to watch at Spring Breakout

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PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres host the A's in Friday's Spring Breakout game at Peoria Stadium -- a showcase of top prospects from each organization. First pitch is slated for 2:40 p.m. PT, with a big league game against Texas to follow shortly thereafter.

Here are six intriguing Padres storylines to watch in their second annual Spring Breakout game:

1. Salas aims to start strong
Ethan Salas, who was reassigned to Minor League camp last week, remains the only Padres catcher to record an extra-base hit in Cactus League play -- a booming double against the Dodgers on Feb. 23.

For all of their short-term question marks, the Padres can take solace in knowing their future is bright behind the plate. They remain extremely high on Salas, ranked as MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 33 overall prospect, even after his struggles at the plate last season. The 2025 season figures to be a critical year ahead in the development of the 18-year-old backstop -- beginning with Friday's showcase event.

"I'm always trying to win," Salas said. "Every time I go out on the field, I don't think it's any different. ... You try to go out there and show out for your organization."

2. De Vries' ascension
Leo De Vries is the Padres' top-ranked prospect, and he is on a clear big league trajectory. A switch-hitting shortstop with all sorts of tools, his skill set is tantalizing. But the Padres have come away just as impressed with his makeup. Particularly, the impact De Vries has on his teammates.

No reason to expect anything different at Spring Breakout.

"It¡¯s going to be a beautiful event on a beautiful stage," De Vries said through interpreter Danny Sanchez. "And I have the opportunity to share that with my teammates. Playing against other prospects, it¡¯s going to be a really fun experience, a really beautiful experience. I¡¯m looking forward to it."

3. Nett's up
One of the fastest risers in the Padres¡¯ system, Braden Nett, an undrafted 22-year-old, is coming off an excellent season between High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio. He also made five starts for San Juan in the Puerto Rican Winter League, posting a 1.02 ERA. Now, he¡¯s set to take the ball first for the Padres at Spring Breakout.

Nett recently checked in as the team¡¯s No. 9 prospect. If he continues to impress -- and can find a way to lower his walk rate -- there¡¯s a path for him to earn a big league breakthrough at some point later this year.

¡°He¡¯s a beast,¡± said Salas, who worked closely with Nett at Fort Wayne last season. ¡°You¡¯ve seen his growth and maturity skyrocket. He¡¯s a true pro now. The way he keeps pitching, he¡¯s going to be up there. He¡¯s going to be helping the big league team really soon.¡±

4. Bateman's first showcase
The Padres drafted a pair of high school lefties with their first two selections in last year¡¯s Draft. Kash Mayfield, their first-round pick, recently battled a bout of the flu and isn¡¯t yet built up to pitch in Friday¡¯s game. But second-rounder Boston Bateman is on the roster, set for his first true game action as a Padre.

Bateman, selected No. 52 overall last summer, didn¡¯t appear in a game, but he pitched in game settings at the team¡¯s complex in Peoria during fall instructional ball. The 6-foot-8 left-hander currently ranks as the Padres¡¯ No. 5 prospect.

5. More Bradgley
Count Bradgley Rodriguez among the non-roster invites to turn heads in big league camp this year. The Padres¡¯ No. 14 prospect was reassigned to the Minors on Wednesday. But he¡¯s available to pitch in relief on Friday -- possibly in a save situation.

Rodriguez skyrocketed three levels last season, from Single-A Lake Elsinore to High-A Fort Wayne to Double-A San Antonio, combining to post a 2.64 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings. He pitched four Cactus League innings, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks, while striking out four.

¡°Bradgley was fantastic,¡± manager Mike Shildt said. ¡°He put himself on the radar to get here. And he put himself on the radar to get here and stay here. ¡­ I just liked the way he competed. This guy gets after it, with good stuff. A lot of positives and a bright future.¡±

6. Hells Bells?
Speaking of closers ¡­ the Padres¡¯ pitching coach on Friday will be none other than Trevor Hoffman.

¡°It¡¯s a showcase game,¡± Hoffman said. ¡°It¡¯ll be fun. They get to compete against the A¡¯s. I¡¯ve been around these guys when their work is going on on the back fields. I¡¯m just excited to be around them in a situation where they get to go compete.¡±

The Hall of Fame closer is a special advisor in the Padres¡¯ baseball operations department. Hoffman generally defers to the player development staff on working with young pitchers. But he¡¯s always willing to work with them -- specifically to ¡°talk changeup, talk command, talk pounding the zone.¡± (Seriously, who better to learn from?)

Hoffman joked that it would feel a bit odd to be the one walking to the mound, having been on the other end of that process thousands of times. No word yet on whether ¡°Hells Bells¡± will play when he emerges from the dugout.