MESA, Ariz. -- The Padres aren't afraid to challenge elite young prospects. They sent Ethan Salas, the top player in the 2023 international class, to Double-A at age 17 last summer. They had Leo De Vries, the best player in this year's international crop, spend all of this season as the lone 17-year-old in the Single-A California League.

Now De Vries is taking on the Arizona Fall League, where he became the developmental circuit's first 17-year-old since Rangers shortstop Michael De León in 2014. He celebrated his 18th birthday Friday night with some family in Arizona, then notched his first Fall League hit the next day with a double off Wander Guante (Athletics).

"I'm excited to be here sharing a locker room with a lot of future big leaguers," De Vries said via translator Juan Pena, a trainer with the Padres. "I'm excited for the opportunity and enjoying it. I feel like I'm getting the hang of things. I'm feeling better at the plate and my shoulder is feeling good."

De Vries' season appeared to come to an end on Aug. 17, when he strained his right shoulder diving for a ball. He was enjoying his hottest stretch of the season when he got hurt, slashing .284/.407/.589 in July and August after missing a month earlier in the year with a left shoulder injury.

San Diego has De Vries easing slowly into the Fall League, DHing just twice in his first week with the Peoria Javelinas, who lost 4-1, to the Mesa Solar Sox on Saturday. He went 1-for-8 in those two contests and should play at his normal position at shortstop later in the six-week schedule.

Ranked No. 28 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, De Vries signed for $4.2 million out of the Dominican Republic in January. He has the potential for solid or better or tools across the board, could develop into a 30/30 player and shows the polish to develop skills to go with his impressive tools. The biggest question is whether he'll stay at shortstop, but his offensive production should make him a star even if he winds up at second or third base.

De Vries finished his first professional season with a .238/.361/.442 slash line, 11 homers and 13 steals in 75 games at a level where he was four years younger than the average player. He said he's hoping to build on that performance in Arizona.

"I just started adjusting after coming back from my first shoulder injury and things started out playing better," De Vries said. "I was recognizing pitches better, taking better swings and making better contact. Everything just fell into place.

"I want to keep working on the strike zone and recognizing pitches, keep making good contact. I just want to get some more at-bats and progress from there."

Salas also has joined the Javelinas, giving De Vries the opportunity to learn from a player who has gone through many of the same experiences. Salas has gone 4-for-17 with a homer in four games with Peoria.

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"I am proud of being with Ethan here," De Vries said. "I knew him in the Dominican Republic even before pro ball. We have a really good relationship and he's happy to help me and hang out with me."