The Athletics made a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres, sending Mason Miller to San Diego for a package headlined by top prospect Leo De Vries as well as three right-handed pitchers at the trade deadline. De Vries is being called up to Double-A Midland.
De Vries is the No. 3 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He was the top international prospect in 2024 and signed with the Padres for $4.2 million. He started the season in High-A with the Padres. He slashed .249/.354/.426 in 97 games at the High-A level.
Since joining the Athletics’ High-A affiliate in Lansing, Mich., he had a .268/.338/.518 slash line. He will be the only 18-year-old in Double-A, per MLB Pipeline.
The Azua, Dominican Republic native is going to be over five years younger than the average player in the Texas League, per The Athletic’s Melissa Lockard. The switch-hitter has high expectations upon him after the Athletics gave away Miller to acquire him.
Miller was an All-Star last season and has an electric arsenal. His four-seam fastball sits in triple digits and is nearly seven mph faster than the league average for right-handed pitchers. His fastball velocity, strikeout percentage and whiff percentage are all in the 100th percentile per Baseball Savant. His chase percentage and expected batting average are both in the 99th percentile.
The A’s traded away a star pitcher who was under club control through 2029. De Vries has all the tools to be a star, but has loftier expectations after being traded for Miller. De Vries has a 60-grade hit tool and will now get to show it off in Double-A.
Photo: Leo De Vries in spring training with the San Diego Padres. (AP Photo)
