10 biggest draft busts in San Diego Padres history

The Padres have nailed a few draft picks in their history. Tony Gwynn, Jackson Merrill, Dave Winfield, just to name a few. But since their first season in 1969, the Padres have whiffed on a number draftees. Hopefully they don't miss on this season's draft, which they are currently predicted to take Kruz Schoolcraft.

Biggest draft busts in San Diego Padres history

Matt Antonelli

Draft Year: 2006 -- Round: 1 -- Pick: 17

Antonelli was originally drafted in the 19th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2003, but opted for college. He played at Wake Forest, which increased his draft stock, and the Padres took him in the first round in 2006.

He played in 21 major league games for his career, batting .193. Notable players drafted immediately after Antonelli are Daniel Bard, Adam Ottavino, and Ian Kennedy.

Matt Bush

Draft Year: 2004 -- Round: 1 -- Pick: 1

Matt Bush is perhaps the biggest disappointment in Padres history. He was a local kid drafted out of high school, and everyone in the area knew he was going to the Padres. There was a world of hope placed in Bush that he would be the one to save the franchise.

San Diego drafted him first overall following five consecutive sub-.500 seasons, but he never fully developed as an infielder in the minor leagues. He never reached the bigs with San Diego, but made an improbable comeback as a pitcher with the Texas Rangers before running into trouble with the law.

Who was drafted second overall after Matt Bush? None other than future first ballot Hall of Famer, Justin Verlander.

Cesar Carrillo

Draft Year: 2005 -- Round: 1 -- Pick: 18

Carrillo was drafted out of a college powerhouse in the University of Miami, where he is a school Hall of Famer. Teammates with Ryan Braun and Gaby Sanchez, Carrillo was expected to be a big prospect, too. He didn't make his MLB debut until he 25 years old, and pitched in just three games with San Diego.

He allowed 15 runs in 10 1/3 innings, walking 14 total batters and allowing four home runs. Some players taken right after Carrillo who had solid MLB careers: Jacoby Ellsbury, Matt Garza, Colby Rasmus.

Ben Davis

Draft Year: 1995 -- Round: 1 -- Pick: 2

Davis was the highest catcher selected by the Padres since Mike Ivie in 1970. Davis unfortunately accrued just 2.9 bWAR in the big leagues, spanning four season with San Diego. He had a career 78 OPS+, but he stuck around as a backup with the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox for a few seasons.

Big-time players selected immediately after Davis were Jose Cruz, Roy Halladay, Todd Helton, Geoff Jenkins, and Kerry Wood.

Brian Greer

Draft Year: 1977 -- Round: 1 -- Pick: 8

Greer made just four plate appearances in his big league career. His first at-bat in Major League Baseball came at age 18, and he struck out. He would see time with San Diego in four games two years later, and that would be it for him.

Wally Backman, Dave Henderson, and Bob Welch were selected in the first round after Greer.

Randy Elliott

Draft Year: 1969 -- Round: 1 -- Pick: 24

Elliott is the first player selected by the Padres that wasn't in the expansion draft. An outfielder, Elliott played 114 MLB games, and just 27 with the Padres. He batted .207 in San Diego in his minimal time there.

Jay Franklin

Draft Year: 1971 -- Round: 1 -- Pick: 2

Franklin pitched in three games with the Padres at 18 years old, then never saw another inning in the bigs again. He logged 5 2/3 innings, struck out four batters, and allowed four earned runs, including three homers.

Notable first round draft picks from 1971 taken after Franklin are Rick Rhoden, Jim Rice, and Frank Tanana.

Jimmy Jones

Draft Year: 1982 -- Round: 1 -- Pick: 3

One year after taking Kevin McReynolds in the first round, who logged 30.1 bWAR for his career, the Padres selected Jones. The right-hander pitched in over 300 innings with the Padres, but he had a 9.4 H/9 and had more runs allowed than strikeouts. His career bWAR is -1.9.

Dwight Gooden was taken two picks after Jones.

Hudson Potts

Draft Year: 2016 -- Round: 1 -- Pick: 24

San Diego had three first round picks in 2016, which is one of the worst overall drafts in baseball history. They took Cal Quantrill at No. 8 and Eric Lauer at No. 25 - two pitchers who drew respectable MLB service time.

Sandwiched between those two pitchers selected by the Friars was Potts, an infielder from Texas. He never made it to the big leagues while the other two first-rounders did. Other notable players taken after Potts are Cole Ragans and Will Smith.

Donovan Tate

Draft Year: 2009 -- Round: 1 -- Pick: 3

Once a Top 50 prospect in all of baseball, there was legit hype surrounding Tate. This was a solid draft, too, as Stephen Strasburg and Dustin Ackley were taken at No. 1 and No. 2.

Kyle Gibson, Randal Grichuk, Mike Leake, Mike Minor, James Paxton, AJ Pollock, Mike Trout, and Zack Wheeler were all taken in the first round, and yet, the Padres selected Tate. In total, 35 players from the top round made it to the bigs, but not Tate.