SAN DIEGO — The Padres are taking a chance on a high school left-hander with upside — which probably should not come as a surprise.
With the 25th overall pick in the MLB Draft on Sunday, San Diego selected 6-foot-8 left-hander Kruz Schoolcraft out of Sunset High School in Portland, Ore. It’s the ninth straight year the Padres have taken a high school player with a first-round pick and the fourth time in that span they’ve gone with a lefty starter.
“Obviously it’s a great honor,” Schoolcraft said on a Zoom call. “It’s something that my family and I have been working at for a long time. It’s just the start of a new chapter. I am excited to get after it.”
MLB Pipeline’s No. 19 Draft prospect and the top left-handed high school prospect, Schoolcraft is a two-time Oregon High School Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year. In 40 innings during his senior season, he had a 0.53 ERA and 82 strikeouts.
Schoolcraft also excelled as a hitter, posting a 1.657 OPS and homering 10 times. The Padres devised a possible two-way plan for Schoolcraft at one point. But they always viewed him primarily as a pitcher, and the two sides ultimately settled on that path.
“He understands his fastest route to the big leagues will be as a pitcher only,” said Padres scouting director Chris Kemp. “So we’ll be going that route.”
Said Schoolcraft: “Obviously, I want to hit as long as I can. But I want to be a big leaguer as long as I can and as fast as I can. Whatever I can do to get there, that’s the path I’ll take.”
There’s plenty to like about Schoolcraft — the fastball that hits 97 mph, a slider and a changeup that both look like potential out pitches, above-average control, a smooth delivery (particularly for a pitcher his size). But something else stood out to Kemp:
“One of the smartest players I think I’ve scouted,” he said.
So … the name fits. Kemp praised Schoolcraft’s work ethic and his willingness to learn. General manager A.J. Preller also revealed that Schoolcraft’s family had served as a host family for Minor League players with the Hillsboro Hops, so Schoolcraft spent time around future big leaguers.
“It was a nice combination for us of somebody that’s very dedicated and very focused, with a good baseball family and a good mind,” said Preller. “There’s also a lot of upside.”
Schoolcraft has an offer to play at the University of Tennessee. But given where he was drafted, he is widely expected to sign his professional deal. He joins MacKenzie Gore (2017), Ryan Weathers (2018) and Kash Mayfield (2024) as high school lefties taken under Preller.
When Preller sat down with Schoolcraft, he made note of the fact that he brought up winning a high school state championship ahead of any personal accolades or Draft possibilities. That state title, quite clearly, meant something special to Schoolcraft.
“We’re trying to bring a championship to San Diego,” Preller said. “We’ve got a really good big league team. We’ve had really good farm systems here consistently. It’s all with the idea of winning championships.
“We aligned pretty quickly on that when we started talking about what’s super important to Kruz and super important to our organization.”
The Padres did not have a second-round pick — the cost of signing Nick Pivetta, a qualified free agent, during the offseason. They could probably feel pretty good about that decision on Sunday, as Pivetta completed a monster first half with a 6 2/3 excellent innings against Philadelphia.
“We obviously value the Draft a ton, so the picks are worth a ton,” Preller said. “The Pivetta signing — obviously he’s had a great first half. He’s been a huge part of us being in contention. He’s pitched very, very well — an All-Star-caliber first half for him. I think that makes it easier.
“You get into a day like today, and you always wish you had 10 picks. But our group does a great job. We’re very resourceful. … We preach a complete 20-round Draft. Even missing that second-round pick, I know Chris and his group do such a good job, I know we’re going to end up with a lot of players who are going to end up being very valuable to the Padres.”
The Padres ended Day 1 of the Draft by selecting Wideman, one of the most intriguing athletes in the class. The son of former Clemson basketball player Tom Wideman, Ryan Wideman boasts elite speed and the potential to become an elite defensive outfielder.
Kemp touted him as a potential 50-steal threat and “a real center fielder.” There are questions about his bat — particularly his plate discipline and a swing that features some moving parts. But Wideman, the Conference USA player of the year, batted .398 with a 1.119 OPS during his junior season.
“He’s always performed,” Kemp said. “There’s still a lot of projection left to the body. We’re excited about his upside.”
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