The Padres stayed up the middle Tuesday.
On the second day of the draft, the Padres selected four pitchers (one left-hander), a catcher and three center fielders as they restock a system depleted during General Manager A.J. Preller’s busy offseason. While Jacob Nix is the most recognizable name on the list due to last year’s soap opera with the Astros, several names come with considerable upside.
Take catcher Austin Allen, for instance.
Florida Tech’s big-bodied backstop – 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds – has a left-handed swing that produced 11 homers, 25 homers and a .421 average during a junior season that saw Allen rise up draft boards despite playing Division II ball. The questions, as they tend to with catchers, have mostly to do with his defense, according to MLB.com’s scouting report:
“He has plus bat speed from the left side of the plate with a good overall approach that should allow him to hit for average. He has plenty of power and could have even more as he learns to pull the ball more when needed. His overall catching is a work in progress, as he has limited agility, but many think he has the chance to stick behind the plate. He does have decent hands and good raw arm strength, though his exchange and footwork make his overall arm just average. Even if a team isn't sure Allen can be a catcher long-term, there's a good chance one will buy the bat at some point in the early rounds.”
Padres' 2015 draft class
| Rd (Overall) | Player | School | Slot value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 (51) | RHP Austin Smith | Park Vista Community (Fla.) HS) | $1,178,400 |
| 3 (86) | RHP Jacob Nix | None (Fla.) | $687,300 |
| 4 (117) | C Austin Allen | Florida Tech | $484,000 |
| 5 (147) | CF Josh Magee | Franklinton (La.) HS | $362,300 |
| 6 (177) | RHP Jordan Guerrero | Polk State College (Fla.) | $271,300 |
| 7 (207) | RHP Trevor Megill | Loyola Marymount University | $203,300 |
| 8 (237) | CF Aldemar Burgos | Carlos Beltran Academy (Puerto Rico) | $172,600 |
| 9 (267) | LHP Jerry Keel | Cal State Northridge | $161,400 |
| 10 (297) | CF Justin Pacchioli | Lehigh (Pa.) | $150,600 |
For now, Padres scouting director Mark Conners says he believes Allen could remain behind the plate, giving the organization an interesting piece behind top prospect Austin Hedges.
Also of note is the seventh-round selection of Loyola Marymount right-hander Trevor Megill, a third-rounder by the Cardinals a year ago. He missed all of 2014 following Tommy John surgery, did not sign and went 5-4 with a 3.60 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 70 innings upon making it back onto the mound this year for Loyola.
Last year’s Brady Aiken soap opera cost Jacob Nix his $1.5 million deal with the Astros, the fifth-rounder’s above-slot agreement crumbling when Houston failed to sign their top pick. Now, he’s getting a second shot with a team: the Padres, who opened Day 2 of the MLB draft by selecting the 6-foot-4 right-hander with their third-rounder.
Nix, then a UCLA commit, settled with Houston and had been playing for IMG Academy’s post-graduate team with an eye on starting his big league career. More from MLB.com’s scouting report:
“Nix got off to a strong start, showing the same kind of stuff that initially piqued scouts' interest. His fastball gets up to 95 mph and consistently sits in the low 90s. He's improved his breaking ball, making it more of a curveball, but it and his changeup remain inconsistent. He's also made strides with his delivery, but still struggles at times to find his release point. Nix has some rough edges that will have to be refined in the Minor Leagues, but he has the upside to become a big league starter. He earns praise for his makeup.”
DAY ONE COVERAGE
Update: At some point, Austin Smith figures to make his way to Petco Park. He is, of course, no stranger to these parts, having thrown there in the 2014 Perfect Game All-American Classic.
Now some quick tidbits from his conference call with San Diego media:
- On signability (He's committed to Florida Atlantic): "Just got drafted. Haven't really talked to them yet. Hopefully it works out well."
- On being former high school teammates with Trea Turner: "He's a good buddy of mine. Even throughout what's going on, it's been a great organization. I’m totally excited to become a Padre. I couldn't be more excited to become a Padre."
- On his pitching style: "I go out there and give it 110 percent. I have determination like a bulldog. I don't give up . I do my thing and throw my fastball."
UPDATE: Welcome to San Diego, Austin Smith.
With their first pick of the 2015 draft, at No. 51, the Padres selected the Park Vista Community (Fla.) High school right-handed pitcher on Monday night. We expect to get on the phone shortly with the newest Padre.
For now, here’s a scouting report from MLB.com:
“Smith may not be quite as advanced as the other top high school pitching prospects in the 2015 Draft, but he may deliver quality velocity as easily as any of them. He works at 90-92 mph and tops out at 96 while looking like he's just playing catch. He could sit in the mid-90s once he fills out his 6-foot-4 frame and gets more consistent. While his curveball and changeup have a ways to go, Smith has some power and depth to his breaking ball and some fade and deception to his changeup. His athleticism and lack of effort in his delivery bode well for his ability to throw strikes. He's part of the same Park Vista Community program that spawned Trea Turner, who went on to North Carolina State and became the 13th overall pick in the 2014 Draft. Smith has committed to Florida Atlantic.”
UPDATE: Contrary to popular belief, you can trade some picks – compensatory picks. Which the Padres did when they packaged Pick 41 into the Craig Kimbrel deal. With the pick, the Braves selected third baseman Austin Riley as Kimbrel prepared to protect a 5-3 lead in Atlanta. Funny how that worked out today, no?
Again, MLB.com has the scouting report on Riley, a high-schooler in Mississippi:
“Riley may not be the best two-way player available in the Draft, but he does create the most uncertainty about whether his future will come as a hitter more pitcher. Most teams preferred him on the mound before his stuff plateaued this spring, and now the Mississippi State recruit might have a brighter future as a third baseman. A shortstop at DeSoto Central, Riley profiles very well at the hot corner with his raw power and arm strength. His 6-foot-3 frame gives him strength and bat speed, though some scouts wonder if he has the bat speed to catch up to quality fastballs. While he lacks speed and will have to watch his weight, he has soft hands and clean infield actions. After routinely topping out at 94 mph with his fastball this summer, Riley has operated at 88-92 and dipped as low as 84 this spring. His curveball still has good depth but has lost some power as well, and he needs to do a better job of selling his changeup. A good athlete for his size, he repeats his delivery and fills the strike zone.”
UPDATE: Here’s the first of two what-if ponderings.
By agreeing to sign right-hander James Shields to a four-year, $75 million deal in February, the Padres surrendered the 13th overall pick – which is where they drafted Hunter Renfroe and Trea Turner each of the last two years. The forfeiture left that pick to the Rays, who selected outfielder Garrett Whitley (Niskayuna HS, N.Y.).
From MLB.com’s scouting report:
“Niskayuna (N.Y.) High has produced an NFL wide receiver (Andre Davis) but never a baseball Draft pick, but that will change in 2015. Whitley emerged as a potential first-rounder with a succession of strong performances late in the summer on the showcase circuit. He lived up to that billing by continuing to swing a good bat as spring came to the Northeast. Whitley has an advanced approach at the plate for a high schooler from a cold-weather state, and his strength and bat speed could produce above-average right-handed power. His pure speed is his best tool, grading as a legitimate plus. Whitley's wheels also give him plenty of range in center field, and he has a better arm than most players at that position. He has committed to Wake Forest.”
The Padres gave up their other first-round selection – Pick No. 41 – in the trade that fetched Craig Kimbrel from the Braves.
Without a first-round pick, the Padres will wait patiently – as will we – for the 51st spot to come up in this evening’s draft. Rookie General Manager A.J. Preller will have $1,178,400 to spend on that pick, their lone selection on the first day of this three-day event.
To pass the time, here’s a look at the slot values assigned to each of the Padres’ picks in the 2015 draft. Because the Padres don’t own a first-round pick, the $3.67 million they have to spend on the first 10 rounds of the draft (and any bonus over $100,000 over the final 30 rounds) is the second-lowest only to the Mets ($3.59 million).
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