Padres Select Stony Brook C Justin Echevarria With 40th Round Pick in 2010 MLB Draft

The Padres used eight straight picks (Rounds 32-39) of the 2010 MLB Draft on pitchers.

They finally broke the string in round 40, starting a three-round run on college senior catchers by picking Justin Echevarria from Stony Brook.

Echevarria, 22, isn’t too much of a hitter. He batted just .291/.348/.378 as a senior, offering little power. He does make contact, with just 16 Ks in 46 games.

Echevarria’s value is almost all defensive, as he threw out 13 of 32 runners (40.63%) attempting to steal as a senior.

Given that he’s been a four-year catcher in college, Echevarria also brings good experience to the table to help ease the transition of young pitchers to pro ball.

I don’t see this guy becoming a major leaguer: he just doesn’t hit enough, and at 22, he’s going to start out old for his levels. However, Echevarria can serve a valuable organizational role by tutoring the young pitching staff.

And hey, maybe he proves me wrong and starts hitting. I’d love to see it.