The San Diego Padres came out of the draft with a class that spread across the board, but the clearest theme was easy to spot: pitching was the priority. Of their 21 picks, 10 were pitchers, and the group included players at every position except third base.
That haul comes after a rough finish to the first half for San Diego. The Padres had spent time among the top teams in Major League Baseball and even briefly took control of the National League West, but they head into the second half without much momentum. Even so, the draft weekend gave the organization what looks like a solid foundation.
The headliner is first-round pick Coleman Borthwick, a right-hander out of South Walton High School in Florida. He could move quickly through the system if the Padres can sign him, though that may not be simple because of his Auburn commitment.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel broke down the draft class and flagged Borthwick as one of the tougher signings among the top 50 prospects.
“RHP Coleman Borthwick (first round) was considered one of the toughest signs among the players in the mix for the top 50 picks because of a strong commitment to Auburn to play both ways,” McDaniel wrote Tuesday. “His market was believed to be in the 30s where his demands would likely have been above slot, but I think the Padres can get this done.”
McDaniel also praised Borthwick’s stuff, calling him a clutch pitcher who can reach 100 mph while showing elite control of all his pitches, most of which sit in the low 90s.
The best value pick, in McDaniel’s view, was second-round shortstop Elliot Lascelles. He sees Lascelles as a left-handed bat who handled high-level pitching well and should be able to stay at shortstop long-term. The power may not jump off the page, but McDaniel believes he brings plenty of value everywhere else.
San Diego’s third-rounder, right-handed pitcher Ryan Lynch, was McDaniel’s pick for the fastest path to the big leagues.
“RHP Ryan Lynch (third round) had second-round buzz much of the spring because of his en vogue low launch to his fastball due to his low arm slot. His sweeper has big spin rates (2,836 rpm on average), but he rarely throws a third pitch and his fastball command needs some work.”
Lynch is an interesting arm, but the lack of a deeper pitch mix stands out. Most pitchers don’t get very far relying on just two pitches, so some refinement will matter.
McDaniel’s sleeper pick was catcher Robbie Lavey, a fourth-round selection whose stock climbed as spring went on. His raw power and strong arm behind the plate helped him stand out, though he still has work to do if he’s going to become an everyday catcher.
“He'll need some refinement behind the plate but can likely stick and his power-focused approach may lead to below average contact rates.”
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