Quote from MrPadre19 on June 20, 2025, 1:10 pm

65 arm.......wow.

Would be wasted at 1b but none of that matters at this point.

Get the guy you think will have the best major league bat, or arm, in 4 years.

I trust AJ to restock the system in the draft and with  Int signings....he's already restocked it three times in 10 years.

If history repeats itself SD will have a top 10 system by this time next year and top 5 by 2027

 

Quote from brent wolff on June 20, 2025, 5:34 pm

Quote from fenn68 on June 20, 2025, 10:03 am

The draft is about 3 weeks ...  not much reported / discussed in regards to the Padres as yet.

MLBPipeline has a mock with SD taking with their first pick:

25. Padres: Josh Hammond, 3B, Wesleyan Christian (N.C.) HS (No. 30)
San Diego has taken a high schooler with its first pick in nine consecutive Drafts. That streak doesn't end here. Hammond was a two-way player who turned himself into a first-round-caliber hitter.

HS player fits Preller but seems to go pitcher or SS over a corner player ... we will see who fits THEIR "best player available".

---

• AGE
  18
• BATS
  R
• DOB
  09/21/2006
• THROWS
  R
• HT
  6' 1"
• WT
  210
• COMMITTED
  Wake Forest

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 65 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

---

If they went that way ... and considering Machado is not going off 3B for years plus Fountain seems like a legit prospect ... might really see him just because of his bat and he ends up at 1B or LF or DH or trade bait. If he can hit ... OK with that.

 

I think Fountain ends up at first/DH.  If this guy could develop into a quality starting LF, I'd be fine with that.  Still have hopes for Tears, but he has to fix the weaknesses in his swing.

Man would James Wood look good in LF now.  So would Abrams at SS instead of X.  Gore in the rotation, Susana in the high minors knocking on the door of the majors and Hassell as a 4th OFer.

I get it, they were trying to win the WS before PS passed, doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt looking back at it now.

Quote from fenn68 on June 21, 2025, 3:31 am

Machado turns 33 next month ... so by the time these guys impact the ML he will be 37. So not unreasonable to see Machado getting days off from 3B as DH ... maybe creating a 3 man rotation covering 3B-1B-DH?

If they can hit ... they will play somewhere.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on July 12, 2025, 6:08 pm

I'm going to predict that our streak of taking a highschool kid in the 1st comes to an end. We have the 3rd smallest draft pool at $6,569,100. I think they could look to save a little money with a college kid and see if they can maneuver and figure out a way to come up with enough to fit a big bonus highschool kid in too. I also wonder if someone who might get to the big leagues a little faster might be more appealing with our current roster construction and financial situation. I would love to see Caden Bodine make it to our pick. Charles Davalan seems like a guy that fits our offensive philosophy too. Overall, the draft is the area where I have the most confidence in AJ and company. I've got faith in whatever path they choose.

Quote from brent wolff on July 13, 2025, 4:42 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on July 12, 2025, 6:08 pm

I'm going to predict that our streak of taking a highschool kid in the 1st comes to an end. We have the 3rd smallest draft pool at $6,569,100. I think they could look to save a little money with a college kid and see if they can maneuver and figure out a way to come up with enough to fit a big bonus highschool kid in too. I also wonder if someone who might get to the big leagues a little faster might be more appealing with our current roster construction and financial situation. I would love to see Caden Bodine make it to our pick. Charles Davalan seems like a guy that fits our offensive philosophy too. Overall, the draft is the area where I have the most confidence in AJ and company. I've got faith in whatever path they choose.

High schoolers I would like to see include 3B/OF Josh Hammond, a coach's son, Quentin Young, nephew of Dimitri & Delmon Young, 6-6, 225 3B-OF or LH 3B Xavier Neyens.  Also, like some college hitters such as North Carolina's C Luke Stevenson or Indiana's OF Devin Taylor or Wake Forest's OF Ethan Conrad.

Quote from fenn68 on July 13, 2025, 5:12 am

My bias is for the player with the best "HIT" skill then round it out with the other skills ... if close opt for the HS player.

Picking #25 requires a bit more gambling on upside since the obvious top players will be gone. Plus since the Padres have the 3rd lowest draft pool ... may need to go a bit "under the radar" for players under (or on) slot money. After #25 don't think they pick until #99 which is a long way down to get a top HS prospect sliding with an over slot deal considering with the pool money available.

Padres could go the other way and take an over slot player at #25 the cover that with under slot picks for the rest of the draft? HS first then a string of College types (some from JC or small schools or injured to roll the dice on hidden gems).

Now I would be in a quandary between Bodine and Young. Bodine is a top hitter (60 rating) but a college type with little power and not really a top defensive  catcher ... so maybe position challenged in pro ball but still enough for a high probability to make the ML even if just a back-up. Young is HS and the major athlete with top skills but does not rate well on the hit skill (45) ... he is the high upside low floor option. I would probably go with Bodine of the two ... that HIT skill and the fact he is a catcher that is becoming a hard role to fill.

Now I would not be surprised if Preller picked some obscure (to us) LHH HS SS with speed who can be converted to the OF

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 13, 2025, 5:21 am

Seems to be a lot of trading of Competitive Balance Picks this year ... so to that end might we see Preller make a deal to add one if they have their eyes on some player that will not be there at #99?

Padres have some decent prospect arms in the system that might appeal to a team that may not want to spend at their pool level plus get a more established prospect closer to the ML.

Think MINN, DET, and SEA have Competitive Balance Picks that are still eligible to be traded ... all are in playoff contention ... might like some depth add now vs a pick (in the 30s). Just a thought.

Quote from fenn68 on July 13, 2025, 3:23 pm

Well the draft starts off with surprises ... 1st pick was ranked #5 (no one considered him a #1) and the 2nd pick was ranked #18.

Clearly both picks are ticketed as under slot signings building a pool for WASH and LAA to go over slot later. Also, could reflect that demands of the presumptive top picks being unacceptable to the clubs.

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 13, 2025, 3:52 pm

First 8 picks: 4 SS / 4 SP .... 4 HS / 4 College ... just interesting on drafting strategy.