Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we maintain and update our existing Top 50 lists annually.  We are pleased to present our pre-2026 revision of our top 50 San Diego Padres.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball, we look at the following: 

1.  Duration and Impact.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the Major League Baseball.

3.  Advanced Statistics.

4.  Playoff performance.

5. Their respective legacy on the team.

6. How successful the team was when he was there.

7. Respecting the era in which they played.

Criteria 1-4 will make up the lion’s share of the algorithm.  Please note that we have implemented this for the first time.  This has changed the rankings all throughout the board.

Last year, the Padres finished second in the National League West with a 90-72 record and made the playoffs, though they fell to the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card.  There were multiple elevations on the list for the 2025 season, along with one new entrant.  Notably, there is one new addition, but that is based on the algorithm.

As always, we present our top five, which saw significant changes.

1. Tony Gwynn
2. Trevor Hoffman
3. Jake Peavy
4. Dave Winfield
5. Fernando Tatis Jr.

You can find the entire list here.

According to the new algorithm, Jake Peavy and Dave Winfield switched their #3 and #4 rankings.

Tatis Jr., who was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner last season, moved from #7 to #5.  He was also 8th in MVP voting last year.

Notably, while Manny Machado had a good 2025 season, he did not move from the #6 spot.  He overtook former Cy Young winner Randy Jones, but Tatis Jr. passed both of them.

Jake Cronenworth went from #28 to #22.

Despite pitching sparingly in 2025, Yu Darvish benefited from the new algorithm and went up from #44 to #41.

The algorithm also brought back Gaylord Perry.  He returns at #47.

Robert Suarez, who is now an Atlanta Brave, did enough last year to enter the list.  He is at #50.

Jurickson Profar and Trent Grisham fell off the list.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

Robert Suarez's journey to the back end of the San Diego Padres' bullpen is truly remarkable and inspiring. Ignored by scouts in Venezuela during his youth, Suarez worked construction and grocery jobs in his early twenties before finally making his professional debut in the Mexican League at 24. His talents flourished in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball over five dominant seasons, turning raw ability into top-tier bullpen performance. Recognizing his late-blooming, explosive potential, the Padres signed the 31-year-old rookie before the 2022 season, bringing a blazing fastball right into their late-inning plans.

His first year in Southern California was simply extraordinary. As the go-to setup man behind closer Josh Hader, Suarez dazzled National League batters with his powerful fastball and changeup combo. He finished his rookie season with a fantastic 5–1 record and a very impressive 2.27 ERA across 45 appearances, striking out 61 hitters in just 47.2 innings. Suarez kept up his stellar form into October, throwing scoreless innings throughout the NLDS against the Dodgers, quickly becoming a fan favorite at Petco Park.

His outstanding start earned him a generous five-year, $46 million contract extension in November 2022, ensuring he would be part of the Padres’ future. Despite facing challenges like elbow inflammation and a sticky-substance suspension that limited his 2023 season and raised his ERA to 4.23, the team remained confident in his incredible talent. When Hader left in free agency, manager Mike Shildt trusted Suarez to step into the closer role for 2024, setting the stage for another exciting chapter in his career.

Suarez seized this opportunity with a breakout season in 2024. He proved he was back at his best, successfully recording 36 saves to finish third in the National League and anchoring a strong Padres bullpen. He pitched 65 innings with a tidy 2.77 ERA, earning his first All-Star nod and taking on a key leadership role for a team pushing hard for October again.

His momentum soared even higher during an exceptional 2025 season, his personal masterpiece with the Padres. Suarez emerged as a true workhorse, making a career-high 70 appearances and tossing nearly 70 innings. He led the National League with 40 saves, registered a stellar 2.97 ERA, and achieved a career-best 2.3 bWAR. His consistent performance down the stretch proved to be the backbone for a talented San Diego squad chasing postseason success.

After that historic 40-save season, Suarez chose to test free agency, turning his outstanding closing record into a lucrative contract with the Atlanta Braves. Over his three seasons with the Padres, Suarez amassed 18 wins, 77 saves, and maintained a sharp 2.94 ERA over 141 high-pressure games.