Report

BA Grade: 60/Extreme

Track Record: De Vries was the most talented prospect in the 2024 international class. When the signing period opened on Jan. 15, 2024, the Padres signed him for $4.2 million, the highest bonus for a Dominican prospect that year and second in the class behind only Braves shortstop Jose Perdomo ($5 million).

Scouting Report: De Vries is a polished hitter for 17, with significant game experience and a knack for consistently getting on base. He uses his hands well at the plate with a compact, adjustable swing that has good path through the hitting zone and enables him to cover the plate well with a low swing-and-miss rate. It’s a mature offensive approach for his age, with the ability to slow the game down at the plate, comfort using the opposite field with backspin or turning on pitches on the inner third. It’s a good mix of high contact and impact, with De Vries showing the bat speed and loft to drive the ball out of the park in games with potential above-average power. De Vries generates plenty of attention for his offensive game, but his hand-eye coordination and heady, instinctive play are evident at shortstop as well. He’s a tick above-average runner who has the hands and actions for shortstop, along with an average arm that has a chance to tick up. Some scouts think De Vries could end up at second or third base, with the offensive upside to develop into an impact player at those spots as well, but he should continue to develop at shortstop and has the athleticism that could allow him to stick there long term.

The Future: De Vries is advanced enough that he could come to Arizona for spring training with a chance to debut in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. If he’s hitting well during extended spring training, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Padres be even more aggressive with him after the way they pushed catcher Ethan Salas a year ago.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50