Justin DeCriscio spent a year turning a draft disappointment into momentum, and now the Padres prospect is cashing in on the opportunity.
Passed over in the 2024 MLB Draft after his junior season at the University of San Diego, DeCriscio made the move to North Carolina State for one last shot to get on scouts’ radar. It worked. San Diego took him in the 10th round of the 2025 draft and signed him for $15,000.
Since then, the 23-year-old infielder has kept moving forward, and his latest statement came Tuesday in the Arizona Fall League. DeCriscio launched a three-run homer for the Peoria Javelinas in an 11-10 win, turning around a changeup from Yankees prospect Chris Veach and sending it over the left-field fence.
He added a little more to the showcase later in the game, beating out a bunt single against a 98.8 mph sinker.
The offensive growth is part of what has made DeCriscio worth watching. According to MLB Pipeline's Sam Dykstra, he has been working to slow down his movements at the plate so he can identify pitches earlier and square up the ball more consistently.
That matters because DeCriscio already brings a valuable defensive profile. During the 2026 minor league season, he played five different positions, spending most of his time at shortstop, second base and third base while also seeing action in both corner outfield spots.
Across 121 games, he hit .270 with 13 home runs, 22 stolen bases and a .783 OPS.
His rise is happening at a time when several other Padres prospects are also making noise in Arizona. DeCriscio isn’t listed among San Diego’s top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline, but his quick climb and ability to move around the diamond give him a real chance to get noticed.
The bat still has to keep proving itself against better pitching, especially the kind he’s seeing in the Fall League. But Tuesday’s homer was a reminder that his development isn’t just about versatility in the field.
For a player who went undrafted in 2024 and signed for just $15,000 a year later, reaching Double-A in his first full professional season already marked a meaningful step. Now he has another chance to show he belongs in the conversation with the Padres’ more intriguing young talents.
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