Do The Padres Have Another Jackson Merrill In Single-A?
The San Diego Padres know how to draft contact hitting outfielders and Ryan Wideman is no exception. Coming out of Western Kentucky where he had a slash line of .398/.466/1.118 with 45 SB, Wideman is a what the Padres look for in their outfield – a speedster that can get extra-bases consistently.
Finding His Footing
Wideman was drafted in last years’ draft and immediately began his professional career within San Diego’s farm system though his numbers didn’t immediately translate from the college season. Taking the off-season to work with coaches and developing his approach has shown great strides.
Wideman’s biggest leaps have been Power (SLG +.234), Contact (SO -0.42/ game), and Run Production (RBI +0.24/ game). He also increased extra-base hits overall which shows his rapid progression. He has dipped a bit in BB/ game, though it is showing he is attacking pitches instead of watching.
Though his 2025 debut was a small sample size, his 2026 vast improvements across all categories has Wideman learning and adjusting quickly which could push him to the next level sooner rather than later.
But, It’s Not Just Power
Wideman is slightly older than the competition he is facing (age difference +.08), though his production shows he is ready for higher levels of competition.
- Dramatic increase in power: His slugging-percentage went up from .271 to .505
- Massive jump in Batting Average: His batting average to begin his career wasn’t anything to talk about, so he raised it to .314
- His speed hasn’t vanished: He was 11 for 12 in stolen base attempts last year, and though his average dipped to around .750, Wideman is running more often and has 36 successful attempts this year. He also has more triples than home runs on the season.
- His discipline numbers: Wideman dropped his strikeout rate while also dropping his walk-rate and improving his on-base percentage by +0.47 getting on more pitches he wants.
Will The Success Transfer
Single-A is a more hitter friendly atmosphere. At times stats will begin to level out once a player begins his ascent through their minor league system. Wideman is clearly ready for more of a challenge and competition more his age (or even older) to really see him shine. He has the tools to perform and the baseball IQ to adjust when needed to continually compete. He could stand to improve his stolen base percentage, and maybe that’s a timing thing, but Wideman has shown great strides in facing professional competition.
Areas to Watch
High-A is a slightly elevated competition and what Wideman had seen during his college career so don’t expect much of a change in numbers, and you may see a slight dip due to the elevated competition. He should maintain his on-base success and if he can increase his stolen base percentage he will be a tough one to keep from producing for the team.
It will be interesting to see if he will be as aggressive with his approach once he moves up, though doing so from the start can benefit him against elevated pitching.
Speed and Power, a Lethal Combination
The Padres’ Ryan Wideman is ranked top 10 in many major categories in the Single-A California League including Batting Average, RBIs, Doubles, and Triples all while tied for the lead in stolen bases in the entire minor leagues with 36. Wideman may not hit every one out of the park, but he will drive in those runs while collecting bases along the way.
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