San Diego Padres: Best Available Day Three MLB Draft Prospects

The San Diego Padres will select 30 more players on Wednesday, the final day of the MLB Draft.

A.J. Preller and company have a clear plan for this year’s draft process, high-floor athletes. Outside of Ryan Weathers (7th overall), Xavier Edwards (38th overall), and Alexuan Vega (171st overall), the San Diego Padres drafted eight college players. Most of whom were multi-sport athletes with lower-ceilings, but higher-floors.

With college seniors typically signing for under their slot value, the Padres will have a little extra money to play around with on day three. Even their first-round pick, Weathers, is expected to be a fairly easy, money-saving signing for the team.

Looking through the list of top available prospects, let’s take a look at five names of high school players the Padres may target on day three. At this point in the draft, a lot of the prep players will choose to honor their college commitments and increase their draft positioning, rather than sign for a small signing bonus. That is unless a franchise can afford to throw a nice stack of cash their way.

Five risky picks the San Diego Padres can make on day three.

The first obvious name to throw out there would be Kumar Rocker out of North Oconee HS in Georgia. Bad news for Padres fans still holding out hope on Rocker, he posted this to his Instagram account right before day two selections began. Fellow Georgia high school pitcher Cole Wilcox also stated that he will be going to the University of Georgia and not sign with a pro team if drafted.

The following information on each of these players comes from the amazing work over at MLB Pipeline, 2080baseball.com and tidbits from local media that cover these high school athletes.

SS Nander De Sedas, Montverde Academy (Florida)– hailing from the same high school as Francisco Lindor, De Sedas is the top-ranked prospect on the board, according to MLB Pipeline (minus Rocker/Wilcox). He is an extremely raw hitter with the potential for a power bat. A number of reports had him graded as a first-round pick this year. Scouts are also split on whether or not he can stick at shortstop, with more reports leaning towards him eventually making the switch to third base. He previously committed to Florida State.

RHP Jaden Hill, Ashdown HS (Arkansas)– A two-sport star with a commitment to LSU in hand, Hill can hit 95 mph with his fastball and owns a plus-changeup. Very few high school arms have a workable changeup. His curveball could develop well into a plus-pitch, also. MLB Pipeline believes he will be a first-round pick in the 2021 draft, should he excel at LSU.

RHP Austin Becker, Big Walnut HS (Ohio)

– He is committed to Vanderbilt, however, the 6’6″

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RHP has three potential plus-pitches (fastball that touches 96, 11-5 curveball, change) and first-round talent. Unfortunately, it may take a minimum $1,000,000 signing bonus to sway him. He reads books to elementary school kids in his spare time, so maybe the soft spot can help the Padres. Ok, maybe not.

C Kameron Guangorena, St. Johns Bosco HS (California)– Very athletic catcher with the tools to hit for power and average from the left-side of the plate. Guangorena has a plus-arm, above-average speed, and respectable defensive skills behind the plate. He is committed to Cal State Fullerton but maybe a California-based franchise like San Diego can sway him.

SS Blaze Alexander, IMG Academy (Florida)– 70-grade first name with an 80-grade arm. Seriously, MLB Pipeline grades his arm strength at an 80, giving him the opportunity to stick at shortstop. The issue is his bat and inability to hit a pitch. On the mound, Alexander has hit a “blazing” 95 mph (I will see myself out for that one). He is a massive project but has a few tools to work with.

Next: Day One Of MLB Draft Brings A Lot Of Speed To Padres Organization

Tune in to MLB.com at 9 am PT for rounds 11-40 of the 2018 MLB Draft or follow us on Twitter, @FriarsOnBase for updates throughout the day on selections.

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