Padres Sign Outfielder Kala'i Rosario to Minor League Deal
San Diego adds the 23-year-old right-handed hitting corner outfielder, who hit 11 home runs at Triple-A St. Paul in 2026.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Baseball
The San Diego Padres agreed to terms with outfielder Kala'i Rosario on a minor league contract after he became a free agent following his first season at Triple-A. In 42 games for Triple-A St. Paul, Rosario slashed .298/.350/.563 with 11 home runs.
Why it matters
The Padres needed to scramble after an injury to Ramon Laureano and the release of Nick Castellanos, and the club could use depth at right-handed hitting corner outfielder. The deal adds a minor league option for San Diego's organizational outfield depth.
Rosario's 2026 Triple-A line of .298/.350/.563 with 11 home runs in 42 games outpaced his Double-A output of .232/.375/.419 with 11 home runs in 58 games. His 2023 Midwest League MVP season included 21 home runs and 94 RBIs in 118 games for Cedar Rapids, though how his power numbers will translate to the Padres system remains unclear.
The players
Kala'i Rosario
A 23-year-old outfielder and former Twins fifth-round pick who won the Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby and was ranked 21st in the Twins' farm system by MLB Pipeline.
San Diego Padres
The Major League Baseball franchise based in San Diego that signed Rosario to a minor league contract.
Ken Rosenthal
The baseball reporter for The Athletic who first reported the Padres' agreement with Rosario on Twitter/X.
The details
Rosario was the Twins' fifth-round draft pick in 2020, a season in which he hit .343 with five home runs and 11 RBIs before his high school season was cut short. He later won the AFL Home Run Derby and slashed .291/.383/.430 in 21 games for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first reported the agreement on Twitter/X.
Timeline
2020: Minnesota Twins select Rosario in the fifth round of the draft.
2023: Rosario is named advanced Class-A Midwest League MVP.
January 2024: Rosario discusses swing changes with FanGraphs.
2026: Rosario reaches Triple-A and becomes a free agent.
November 13, 2026: Padres agree to terms with Rosario on a minor league deal.
Season Trajectory
The signing adds organizational outfield depth for a Padres club that lost Ramon Laureano to injury and released Nick Castellanos, forcing a roster scramble in the offseason. Rosario's path from a 2020 fifth-round pick to a Triple-A breakout places him among the mid-tier minor league outfield options that MLB clubs routinely use to fill depth gaps.
For fantasy and minor league followers, Rosario's Triple-A numbers offer a concrete signal about a right-handed corner outfielder's power, though his Double-A on-base percentage was higher than his Triple-A average. Fans tracking Padres prospect depth can watch whether he is assigned to an affiliate and how his power holds up at the next level.
The takeaway
Depth signings like this one often matter most when injuries hit, and Rosario's power profile gives San Diego a minor league option if its outfield needs help. Track his assignment and early stats to see whether the 2026 Triple-A production carries over.
Further reading
For more on the club's moves, see the latest Baseball coverage from San Diego.
