The San Diego Padres have released first baseman/designated hitter Leandro Cedeño after a short tenure with their Double-A affiliate, the San Antonio Missions. Cedeño joined the Padres in February 2021 on a minor league contract and showcased impressive performance in 26 games, hitting .315 with an OPS of .949, including four home runs and 14 RBIs. However, he has not played since May 15 due to an unspecified injury. Reports indicate that his release is linked to a new contract with the Yakult Swallows in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), where he previously played from 2023 to 2025. Over his 12-year career, Cedeño has not yet made his major league debut, despite a solid minor league record of 487 games, a batting average of .290, and 78 home runs. At 27, he still has opportunities ahead to fulfill his MLB aspirations, albeit outside the Padres organization.