Baseball America Grades 2014 Padres Draft

That feeling of waiting for a report card during semester break or summer break, finding out how you did in school always had me on pins and needles. Will the Padres and their most recent draft develop and turn out to be the next Kansas City Royals or San Francisco Giants? Or will they be the same ole lovable losers in a great ballpark?

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The top three draftees from this year as rated by Baseball America are first-round pick shortstop Trea Turner, second-round pick outfielder Michael Gettys, and best late-round pick pitcher Colby Blueberg.

Trea Turner is tops because of his speed and defense with his body control to “make all the plays”. Michael Gettys “Impacts the ball more than any Padres draftee.” Via John Manuel of Baseball America. Gettys led the rookie-level Arizona League in hits (66) while batting .310/.353/.437. Late-round pick Colby Blueberg has been impressive said Manuel. “A lot of effort from a 6-foot, 185-pounder, but he pounds the zone at 92-93 mph and has an above-average slider.”

Other grades in different rounds include fifth-rounder Auston Bousfield who is rated as the best “Pure hitter” for the Padres. Fourth-rounder Nick Torres and 11^th rounder Yale Rosen were selected as the best “power-hitters” Best pitchers include best power pitcher, which goes to seventh-rounder RHP Ryan Butler who’s “Power-pitcher size at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds and power stuff with a fastball that topped out at 97 mph as an amateur and 100 mph as a pro.”

Finally, best secondary pitchers are third-rounder RHP Zech Lemond who Manuel says, “Gets swings and misses with a hard spike curveball.” LHP Thomas Dorminy, a 10th round pick who “possesses a fastball that reached 92 with an average-to-plus curveball that can freeze lefthanded hitters.”

Not bad. Not bad at all. The future is looking bright for an already strong farm system. Not that A.J. Preller is overseeing the club, who knows how much stronger the system can be with solid drafts and international signings bolstering the prospect pool for San Diego.