Padres Add Power Potential with Minor League Signing of Leandro Cedeño
The Padres' offseason search for lineup depth has taken them around the globe, and now it’s brought them to a familiar baseball crossroads: power upside with a low-risk investment. On February 5, San Diego agreed to a minor league deal with corner outfielder and first baseman Leandro Cedeño, a slugger with international experience and some serious pop in his bat.
Cedeño, 27, comes stateside after spending the last three seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), where he showcased both his raw power and the inconsistencies that have followed him throughout his career. Most recently, he was reportedly in talks with a Mexican League club before the Padres stepped in and got a deal done.
Originally signed by the St. Louis Cardinals, Cedeño never cracked top prospect lists, but he always had one tool that turned heads-his bat.
The early years were a grind, with four seasons spent in Rookie-level ball from 2015 to 2018. But post-2020, he began to tap into his power more consistently.
In 2021, he slugged 12 homers and 22 doubles over 96 games, though a sky-high 31.5% strikeout rate kept him from earning a spot on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster.
That opened the door for a fresh start with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ system, and Cedeño made the most of it. In 2022, he turned in a monster season: 32 home runs, 103 RBI, and a .300/.369/.549 slash line. He even got a taste of Triple-A with the Reno Aces, where he showed improved plate discipline-doubling his walk total from the previous season and trimming his strikeout rate to 26.2%.
But despite that breakout, Arizona’s depth at first base-headlined by Christian Walker, Pavin Smith, and top prospects like Deyvison De Los Santos and Ivan Melendez-left Cedeño without a clear path forward. So he took his game overseas, signing with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan.
With Orix, Cedeño split time between the top club and the minors, but still managed to make an impact. Over two seasons in the Pacific League, he hit .254 with 24 home runs in 480 at-bats. He even appeared in the 2023 Japan Series, though he played a limited role as the Buffaloes fell to the Hanshin Tigers in a seven-game battle.
In 2025, Cedeño signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions, staying in the Pacific League. The move didn’t yield the results he or the team hoped for. He slashed .228/.280/.357 with seven home runs and 26 RBI at the top level, while spending 39 games with the Lions’ minor league affiliate, where he looked far more comfortable-posting a .359/.411/.586 line with eight home runs and 28 RBI.
After his NPB stint, Cedeño returned to the Venezuelan Winter League and found his rhythm again with Leones de Caracas. In 24 games, he slashed .297/.357/.595 with four homers and 17 RBI, flashing the same power that’s been his calling card throughout his career. He also shared the field with Padres catcher Freddy Fermin, adding a layer of familiarity heading into spring.
So what does this mean for the Padres?
Cedeño profiles as a bat-first option with limited defensive versatility. He’s primarily a first baseman and designated hitter-positions where San Diego’s upper minors are still sorting things out.
Romeo Sanabria and Marcos Castanon are in the mix at Triple-A El Paso, while Jose Miranda and Tirso Ornelas could see DH at-bats. Beyond that, there’s a bit of a depth gap at Double-A, which could open a lane for Cedeño to carve out a role, much like Moises Gomez did in 2025.
It’s unclear whether Cedeño will get a look in big league spring training, but he’s expected to see some late-inning action. Whether he sticks around long-term or not, this is a no-risk move that adds a power bat to the system-something the Padres have been actively targeting this offseason.
For a team looking to add thump without spending big, this is exactly the kind of flyer worth taking. If Cedeño can recapture the form he showed in Arizona or Venezuela, San Diego might just have found a hidden gem.