The Padres entered the 2025 draft with one of the smallest signing bonus pools in the league and limited picks at the top of the draft.
Despite that, they stuck with an approach that has defined the organization’s approach to player acquisition since A.J. Preller took over baseball operations in late 2014; bet on talent and unique tools.
Kruz Schoolcraft was a standout on the showcase circuit in 2024. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
While the Padres had been tied to a variety of high school hitters in the weeks leading up to the draft, it was 6-foot-8 lefty Kruz Schoolcraft whose name kept coming up most often in connection to the organization. The youngest pitcher taken in the first round certainly offers unique physical tools, though they aren’t the only differentiator in the Padres’ eyes.
The club’s baseball operations group – who pride themselves on a scouting department that outworks other organizations – also homed in on intangibles.
“The way he goes about his process is on another level than most kids his age,” said scouting director Chris Kemp. “His history of work ethic, focus level, wanting to learn,” all stood out to the 20-year scout.
It has been widely reported that Schoolcraft has a signing bonus demand that will eat up much of the just under $6.9 million the Padres can spend on their entire draft class – though such public reports are often wildly inaccurate.
Even if his cost is that high, the Padres seem confident in what they’re getting for such a major investment.
Kruz Schoolcraft’s lower delivery creates problems for left-handed batters. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
“A year from now, he should be in that 93-97 [mph range] on the fastball,” said Kemp. “His slider will be mid- to upper-80s once he gets with our player development group, and it’s a plus changeup he can throw any count.”
Schoolcraft becomes the fourth left-handed pitcher and ninth high school player in the last nine years to lead off a Padres draft class.
Having forfeited their second-round pick to sign starter Nick Pivetta late in the offseason, the Padres needed to wait until deep in the third round to make another pick. There, they departed from precedent to select collegiate outfielder Ryan Wideman.
A physical specimen at 6-foot-5 with top-of-the-scale speed, Wideman burst onto the national scene in his lone year of Division I baseball at Western Kentucky after going undrafted through two junior college seasons.
“He’s a double-plus defender in our scouts’ eyes, and he’s always performed,” said Kemp. “There’s still a lot of projection left to the body and we’re excited about the upside.”
Questions about Wideman’s hit tool – especially against higher velocity pitching – likely mean he will sign below slot value. However, the Padres have helped some long-levered batters develop after the draft in recent years.
After drafting six senior signs for five-figure bonuses last year to accommodate Boston Bateman and Kale Fountain, the Padres will likely have a bit more room to navigate on the second and final day of the draft this year.
[…] NextPadres Stay Consistent in Drafting Kruz […]