Home / Sports / Padres Release Former Top Prospect Nick Schnell
Padres Release Former Top Prospect Nick Schnell
17 Jul
Summary
- Former first-round pick Nick Schnell was released by the Padres organization.
- Schnell spent the 2026 season with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas.
- He previously played in the Rays and Nationals organizations without an MLB debut.
Former first-round draft pick Nick Schnell has been released by the San Diego Padres organization during the All-Star break. The outfielder spent the entire 2026 season with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. Schnell joined the Padres on a minor league deal last December and fought for an Opening Day roster spot, ultimately being a final spring training cut.
Across 59 games for El Paso, Schnell posted a .239 batting average with 12 home runs and a .798 OPS. Despite shuffling through other Triple-A players, he never received a call-up to the major leagues. Schnell, 26, has yet to make his MLB debut and will now look for an opportunity with another team.
Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, Schnell was a top prospect but struggled with development, remaining in Single-A through 2022. He progressed to High-A in 2023 and Triple-A in 2024. After a stint with the Washington Nationals in 2025, he was with the Padres' Triple-A affiliate this past season, still aiming for his first MLB appearance.
