Leo De Vries’ rise through the Padres’ system has hit a major pause.
The former San Diego top prospect, now with the Athletics, is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery on Sept. 13 and is expected to miss about eight months, according to Bill Moriarity, who covers the A’s farm system. Moriarity reported on X: "A's top prospect Leo De Vries is set to have shoulder surgery (anterior labrum) on Sept.
- He's expected to be sidelined approx. 8 months.
Hoping to see him back in action as soon as possible."
De Vries landed with the A’s in last year’s blockbuster deal that sent Mason Miller and JP Sears to the Padres. San Diego also included De Vries, Braden Nett, Henry Baez and Eduarniel Núñez in the trade.
Before that move, De Vries was the No. 1 player in the Padres’ farm system, a status he reached after a fast climb and strong minor league production. The Padres signed him in early January 2024 for $4.2 million, and he was viewed as one of the best prospects in the 2024 class. That signing also gave San Diego back-to-back years of landing the top international prospect, following catcher Ethan Salas the year before.
De Vries began his Padres minor league journey with the Single-A Lake Elsinore Storm. In 75 games in 2024, the 19-year-old hit .237 with a .802 OPS, 11 home runs, 38 RBIs and 71 hits in 299 at-bats. He took another step forward in 2025, opening the season with High-A Fort Wayne and batting .255 with a .806 OPS, 15 home runs, 74 RBIs and 116 hits in 455 at-bats.
After the trade, the A’s sent him to High-A Lansing, then moved him up to Double-A Midland a few weeks later. De Vries will still be just 20 once he gets past this injury.
Across his minor league career, he has hit .262 with 39 home runs, 167 RBIs, 58 stolen bases and an .815 OPS in 1,123 at-bats.
Meanwhile, the Padres have gotten exactly what they hoped for from Miller. He owns a 1.16 ERA across 62.1 innings with 115 strikeouts and 35 saves this year, and his 2026 All-Star nod was the second of his career.
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