San Diego Padres: Reid Detmers is a must draft in the 2020 MLB Draft

With the eighth overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the San Diego Padres are in a prime position to grab an immediate impact guy

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s MLB Draft is going to be unique in that there are rumors that it may only be five rounds. And while the San Diego Padres have the eighth overall pick, it’s going to impact all team’s strategies. Not to mention that high school players on the fringe of being selected just outside the first five rounds are likely to play collegiate baseball.

Upperclassmen with eligibility left in the draft position are likely to stick around for their senior years. MLB may expand the draft to ten rounds, but it all depends on what happens with the pandemic. That said, the Padres are in an excellent spot to select a guy who can make a somewhat immediate impact.

Mock drafts have consistently placed Reid Detmers inside the top ten of this year’s draft, and he’d be the perfect left-handed starter to add to the future rotation. Before the shutdown, Detmers made four starts for the Cardinals, posted a 1.23 ERA, and striking out 48 batters in 22.0 innings. He has terrific command, walking just six batters over that span.

Over a much broader scale, Detmers posted a 2.78 ERA in 19 appearances – including 18 starts – while striking out 167 batters in 113.1 innings last year. He also limited opponents to a .177 average and walked just 33. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, he’s drawn similar comparisons as Tampa Bay Rays’ lefty, Brendan McKay.

Detmers is from Springfield, Illinois, and was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 32nd round of the 2017 Draft. He bet on himself and worked his way up to become Louisville’s Friday night starter – reserved for the ace of the staff – after developing his mechanics in the Cape Cod League between his freshman and sophomore years.

Scouts rave about his command of the strike zone, and while he doesn’t possess an overwhelming fastball, his curveball is widely considered to be the best in this draft class. He’s a polished pitcher and would likely require just a couple of seasons in the minors before making his major league debut.