Orey Lott didn’t need long to make himself impossible to ignore.
The Padres prospect helped push Low-A Lake Elsinore to a California League title, and his postseason burst was strong enough to land him at No. 9 on Ian Cundall’s list of the top 15 prospect performances from the 2026 MiLB postseason, according to Baseball America.
Lott is still a relatively fresh name in the San Diego system. The 6-foot-3 outfielder was originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 15th round in 2023, but he passed on that route and spent two years at Northwest Florida State Junior College instead. After the 2025 draft, he signed with the Padres as an undrafted free agent and made his pro debut with Lake Elsinore this season.
During the regular season, he put together a solid first showing in pro ball, hitting .272/.385/.420 with eight home runs and 27 steals across 95 games. He brings plus speed and athleticism, and his exit velocities were above average.
At the same time, there’s still polish to be earned. Lott is viewed as raw at the plate and continues to work on his approach.
The postseason, though, was a different level entirely.
The 21-year-old ripped through the California League playoffs with a .444/.524/.944 line, going 8-for-18 in Lake Elsinore’s run to the championship. He drove in five runs, scored seven times, and piled up two doubles, a triple and a homer.
All of that production came in three games of the best-of-five series against the San Jose Giants. In one game, he had a two-hit night with a home run.
In another, he delivered three hits including a triple. In the other, he came up with three hits, two doubles and a triple.
By the end of it, Lott led all minor leaguers in total bases for the postseason.
He still has a long way to go before he forces his way into the Padres picture, and he is not currently ranked among the Top 30 prospects in San Diego’s system. Even so, Cundall’s takeaway was clear: Lott is now an under-the-radar name to keep an eye on next year if he keeps moving forward over the offseason.
And with the Padres’ new ownership group still settling in, there may be openings that aren’t there right now. San Diego is using veteran outfielders at the moment, but there’s always the chance to become part of the next trade by GM A.J.
Preller, too.
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