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2025 Draft
#41 · July 14, 2025, 4:04 pm
Interesting (different) draft by the Padres with every player (except a C drafted in the 11th round) were College Jr / Sr after the 5th round and none of them hit Pipeline's Top 250 list. So not even a sliding HS potential over slot sign to use over slot money on (in the past there were always a few) ... yet they "should" be generating a lot of under slot money.
Maybe Schoolcraft is way over slot ... maybe Harvey the 5th round HS catcher needs some extra. However, one sobering thought is that maybe the Padres just needed to come under the total allocation to save Cash in a tight budget rather than spend on low probability picks ... instead use the the savings in a trade deadline add?
#42 · July 15, 2025, 10:37 am
Quote from fenn68 on July 14, 2025, 4:04 pmInteresting (different) draft by the Padres with every player (except a C drafted in the 11th round) were College Jr / Sr after the 5th round and none of them hit Pipeline's Top 250 list. So not even a sliding HS potential over slot sign to use over slot money on (in the past there were always a few) ... yet they "should" be generating a lot of under slot money.
Maybe Schoolcraft is way over slot ... maybe Harvey the 5th round HS catcher needs some extra. However, one sobering thought is that maybe the Padres just needed to come under the total allocation to save Cash in a tight budget rather than spend on low probability picks ... instead use the the savings in a trade deadline add?
The paper today contemplated both HS catchers possibly requiring over slot money. Combine that with our meager draft pool and Schoolcraft possibly requiring over slot... maybe those college senior savings do get soaked up by three players.
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#43 · July 15, 2025, 10:51 am
Looks like we signed a handful of UDFAs.
Tyler Dietz, RHP Florida Tech
Qrey Lott, OF, Northwest Florida
Charlie Walker, RHP, Northeastern
Bradley Frye, SS, Mercer
Jake Bold, C, Princeton
#44 · July 15, 2025, 10:54 am
Historically, it appears the Padres draft players in rounds 6-10 that will sign for significantly under slot value to use the money saved to sign either over slot value players in the first 5 rounds, or more commonly an over slot signee in the 11th (or occasionally the 12th) round pick(s).
Not sure if Schoolcraft & Harvey will require over slot value or not, but probably some will be re-directed to them but more probably, to buy out their college commitments (Schoolcraft to Tennessee and Harvey to Florida State) but a significant amount of the money saved will be directed towards 11th round HS catcher Truitt Madonna in my opinion to buy him out of his college commitment to UCLA.
#45 · July 15, 2025, 11:41 am
It feels pretty safe to assume Schoolcraft will go over slot and take up the majority of the pool. Wideman, Harvey and Madonna should get significant bonuses and take up most of what's left. Everyone else will get pretty minimal paydays.
#46 · July 16, 2025, 11:04 am
Keith Law in his Athletic write up on the NL West draft:
San Diego Padres: Kruz Schoolcraft fits their mold, while Ty Harvey is a steal from Round 5
Stop the presses: The Padres took a giant high school pitcher in the first round. Kruz Schoolcraft (1) is 6-feet-8, left-handed, athletic, can swing the bat, and has been up to 98. He’s been inconsistent, sometimes flashing a plus slider, sometimes showing an above-average changeup, while the foundation is good — he can generate spin and he turns the changeup over well, so you can dream on both and see a guy who might have three above-average pitches. He’s just a long way from big-league ready.
Outfielder Ryan Wideman (3) moved to Western Kentucky this spring out of junior college, posting a hard-hit rate over 50 percent and showing 70 speed while also chasing pitches out of the zone an alarming 40 percent of the time — and that’s against mid-major competition, not the SEC. He takes a big swing where he gets his front foot down late, perhaps something the Padres can help him calm down. He was going to transfer to Clemson but now I assume he’ll sign.
St. Bonaventure right-hander Michael Salina (4) hit triple-digits this year before blowing out his elbow, although the four starts he did make were a step forward from his 2024 performance. His sharp, downward-breaking slider might be plus, although there’s enough effort to the whole thing that I think he’s more likely to be a reliever than a starter.
Catcher Ty Harvey (5) was a second-round talent who flew a bit under the radar this spring until he hit a ball 115 mph at the MLB Draft Combine in June. It is a great swing, one of the best ones in the draft, quiet and simple to the ball with power and loft through contact, and he hit well at showcases last year. He’s a plus runner and has a plus arm, with a good shot at sticking behind the plate given his athleticism. He’ll turn 19 in late July.
They went for seniors and fifth-year players in rounds 6-10, presumably to pay Harvey well over slot.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6496058/2025/07/16/nl-west-draft-grades-picks-mlb-2025/
#47 · July 16, 2025, 11:10 am
ESPN's recap:
Best value: Ty Harvey (fifth round). He's a plus athletic-tester with plus raw power and has improved as a defensive catcher to the point that I think he'll stick there. He's older for the class and you can imagine contact being an issue, but I think he'll be a power-over-hit catching prospect with a big league future.
Quickest to the big leagues: Kruz Schoolcraft (No. 25 overall). Usually a prep pitcher isn't the best option for this category, but many of San Diego's college picks are lesser tools/bench types or projects with big tools. If the Padres can get Schoolcraft's breaking ball to be consistently average, he'll shoot through the minors.
Sleeper to watch: Michael Salina (fourth round). He has been over 100 mph with some effort from a high slot but blew out this spring when scouts were expecting to see him showing more feel in longer stints. He's an intriguing prospect. Ryan Wideman (No. 99 overall) has big tools but a worrying chase rate.
One big thought: It looks as if the Padres plowed their bonus money into the top four picks then went for savings after that, so Schoolcraft, Wideman, Salina, and Harvey will need to carry the class, though Kerrington Cross and Will Koger are a little better than just money savers.
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#48 · July 16, 2025, 11:12 am
Fangraph's Day 1 Reaction:
Schoolcraft is a souped-up version of the Boston Bateman pick from last year. He’s a giant kid and terrific athlete for his size, with a great arm and sketchy breaking ball. You might consider Wideman to be among the group of college outfielders that includes Korbyn Dickerson and James Quinn-Irons, toolsy center fielders with scary crude feel to hit. Wideman’s proponents think his small school background means there’s potential for growth in this area.
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#49 · July 19, 2025, 9:58 am
Found some info. on Truitt Madonnna from Friars on Base:
No. 340 Overall Pick - C Truitt Madonna
There’s a big “what if” lingering from the Padres’ 2025 draft haul — and it centers on a potentially electric pitcher-catcher duo that might never be. In the 11th round, San Diego selected high school catcher Truitt Madonna, a teammate of first-round pick Kruz Schoolcraft at the Area Code Games. The connection is compelling: two elite prep talents, already familiar with each other’s game, potentially growing together in the same organization. But whether that dream becomes reality hinges on one critical question — can the Padres sign him?
Madonna isn’t your typical late-round flier. He held his own against advanced competition in the MLB Draft League while suiting up for the Frederick Keys, posting an impressive .872 OPS against mostly older, college-level arms. That performance drew the eyes of Padres scouting director Chris Kemp, who cited Madonna’s at-bats against higher velocity pitching as a key reason for their conviction in his ability. “A kid like Truitt Madonna goes to the Draft League and does what he does, you’re really convicted that this is real,” Kemp said.
Still, the road to signing him isn’t clear. Madonna is currently committed to UCLA, and given where he was selected, it’s entirely possible he chooses to honor that commitment, bet on himself, and aim for a higher draft slot in a future year. From a development standpoint, it might be the smarter play for him. But from a Padres perspective, it would mean losing out on the rare opportunity to develop a high school battery with pre-built chemistry and upside on both sides of the ball.
The Padres are no strangers to navigating tricky situations, but this one feels particularly high-stakes. If they can convince Madonna to join the fold, it could be the beginning of something special. If not, it’s a tantalizing “what could’ve been” in a draft class otherwise loaded with promise.
#50 · July 19, 2025, 11:37 am
Would guess they have understandings with Schoolcraft and Harvey on the bonus needed to sign (and both likely over slot) ... not sure that Wideman and Salina will need over slot (maybe on slot) considering the risk in returning for another season of College ball actually lowering their negotiation position as SR. Wideman was planning to go to a tougher conference while Salina has to work through TJ rehab.
I think they have to lock in the rest of the Top 10 ... well below slot first, then close on the first four .. with the any pool money left (and the allowable overage at minimal penalty) aim that at Madonna to see if that sways him.
One point that makes me scratch my head ... even with Kemp giving a lot of praise to Madonna ... national scouts were all over Schoolcraft as a 1st round candidate yet they didn't seem to evaluate Madonna highly (not in Pipelines' Top 250) during the same scouting sessions.