Padres Draft LHP Max Fried 7th Overall; Draft 3 Pitchers

The Padres went for pitching with their first pick in the 2012 MLB draft, selecting high school pitcher Max Fried with the 7th overall pick. Fried, who turned 18 in January has drawn comparisons to Clayton Kershaw, according to a tweet by Baseball America’s Jim Callis. He is 6’4, 170 lbs. MLB.com had this to say, in regards to Fried:

“Has a good three-pitch mix and knows how to use it. Fastball sits at 90-91, although it can touch 95. Has an above-average changeup, and a developing curve. Has good command and well above-average mound presence.”

The Padres went right back into the pitching pool with their second pick of the day, which was 33rd overall. They chose Zach Eflin, another high school pitcher. Many experts said that Eflin could go as high as the top-15, and is a great value at #33 for the Padres. Here is a quick report on Eflin, courtesy of MLB.com:

“Fastball sits in the low-90’s, but can touch 94-95 on occasion. Also has above-average movement. Has a plus changeup, and is advanced for a pitcher his age. His curve can be a bit slurvy, but has ability to throw all three pitches for strikes.”

The Padres next pick came at #44, as they selected OF Travis Jankowski, from SUNY-Stony Brook. Jankowski is not the bopper that many Padres fans have clamored for, but brings excellent speed to the table. He is projected to be a leadoff-type hitter. Here is what MLB.com had to say about Jankowski:

“Jankowski has excellent hitting skills, albeit without much power. Has plus speed, and also has the ability to be a great basestealer.  Has outstanding range, and great instincts in the field. ”

The Padres final pick of the day was yet another high school pitcher. The Padres took Walker Weickel with the 55th overall pick. Weickel is a tall kid, standing 6’6. Here is a quick report, courtesy of MLB.com:

“Weickel is tall and athletic, who might not have the best pure stuff in this year’s draft. Can hit 90-91 on his fastball, and has a 12-6 curve that he can throw to both sides of the plate. His curve lacks velocity, and he will need to improve on that to take the next step.”

The Padres seemed to do pretty well here, getting three young arms with a ton of upside. This draft was supposed to have more depth on the pitching side, and the Padres strategy is a testament to that theory. It will be interesting to see if the Padres can add some intriguing young bats to the mix on Day 2.