Fansided

San Diego Padres: The 5 worst draft picks of the 2000s

By Rylie Smith |
Matt Antonelli of the San Diego Padres (R) tags out Xavier Paul of the Los Angeles Dodgers (L/#75) sliding into second base during the second Major League Baseball game in China on March 16, 2008 at the Wukesong Baseball Stadium in Beijing, venue for the 2008 Olympics baseball event. Some 11,890 fans saw the second game of a two-game series between California rivals, with the San Diego Padres defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3. Both teams are using only a half dozen players who will be on the opening day 25-man roster. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Matt Antonelli of the San Diego Padres (R) tags out Xavier Paul of the Los Angeles Dodgers (L/#75) sliding into second base during the second Major League Baseball game in China on March 16, 2008 at the Wukesong Baseball Stadium in Beijing, venue for the 2008 Olympics baseball event. Some 11,890 fans saw the second game of a two-game series between California rivals, with the San Diego Padres defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3. Both teams are using only a half dozen players who will be on the opening day 25-man roster. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
5 of 5
Next

The San Diego Padres typically don’t make the best selections in the annual MLB draft. Though they have made some great picks, they’ve made several bad ones that weren’t worthwhile.

The Padres have invested a lot of money in some draft picks that didn’t end up playing in MLB at all. Other players played very short careers that didn’t go far.

These five players stand out as the worst Padres draft picks of the 2000s.

2001 — Padres select Jake Gautreau in Round 1, Pick 14

Jake Gautreau was drafted by the Padres in 2001 in the first round as a third baseman with a $1.875 million bonus. He was drafted from Tulane University. However, he never played an MLB game.

He played his last minor league season in 2007 at the Triple-A level. Throughout his minor league career, he hit .255/.326/.426 for an OPS of .752. He seemed to show promising potential at the beginning of his career in the minors, but he lost steam toward the end.

During his first ever minor league season in 2001 at the High-A level, he hit .309/.389/.517 for an OPS of .906. In his last season at Triple-A, he hit .226/.250/.363 for an OPS of .613. Despite not having a career in MLB, he stuck with baseball and helps develop young prospects.

Gautreau is now a D1 assistant baseball coach at Mississippi State University.

SAN DIEGO – AUGUST 23: Cesar Carrillo #26 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park on August 23, 2009 in San Diego California. The Cardinals defeated the Padres 5-2. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO – AUGUST 23: Cesar Carrillo #26 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park on August 23, 2009 in San Diego California. The Cardinals defeated the Padres 5-2. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

2005 — Padres select Cesar Carrillo in Round 1, Pick 18

Cesar Carrillo was the first-round pick for the Padres in 2005. He was drafted from the University of Miami as a right-handed pitcher with a $1.55 million bonus. The Padres invested a lot of money in him, but he didn’t last long in MLB.

Carrillo played just three games in 2009. He started all three games before going back to the minors. He played in the minors until 2019 and didn’t have the best career. His numbers were extremely inconsistent. Over the entirety of his minor league career, he pitched an earned-run average of 5.50, batting average against of .285 and WHIP of 1.52.

He also hasn’t played consistently. The most games he has played in one season was 27, but he’s only played 20 or more games in five seasons. He, unfortunately, didn’t do much for the franchise.

PEORIA, AZ – FEBRUARY 22: Matt Antonelli #62 of the San Diego Padres poses for a portrait during spring training on February 22, 2008 at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
PEORIA, AZ – FEBRUARY 22: Matt Antonelli #62 of the San Diego Padres poses for a portrait during spring training on February 22, 2008 at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

2006 — Padres select Matt Antonelli in Round 1, Pick 17

Matt Antonelli was drafted by the Padres in 2006 in the first round from Wake Forest University. He was drafted as a third baseman with a $1.575 million bonus. His MLB career was short-lived through only one season.

He played in San Diego in 2008 and didn’t stand out. Over 57 at-bats, he hit .193/.292/.281 for an OPS of .573. After, he played in the minors for a few seasons until 2013. In the minors, he hit .258/.368/.395 for an OPS of .763.

At the end of 2010, Antonelli was granted free agency and was signed and released by a few teams without success in coming back into MLB.

He, unfortunately, appeared to lose steam after 2007. He played decent in the majors, but showed a lot more potential prior. In 2007, he had his best season and hit .307/.404/.491 for an OPS of .895. After that, he produced an OPS of less than .700 during all but one season.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 01: A general view of the stadium as teams were announced prior to a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres on Opening Day at PETCO Park on April 01, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 01: A general view of the stadium as teams were announced prior to a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres on Opening Day at PETCO Park on April 01, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

2009 — Padres select Donavan Tate in Round 1, Pick 3

Donavan Tate was picked third overall in the 2009 draft with a huge bonus of $6.25 million. He was drafted from Cartersville High School in Cartersville, Ga., as a centerfielder. Despite being such an expensive pick, he never played in the majors.

Tate played in the minors until 2016 but never played above High-A. Over his minor league career, he hit .226/.331/.321 for an OPS of .652. He had his best season in 2011 and hit .288/.410/.411 for an OPS of .821.

In high school, he showed a lot more potential. According to Perfect Game, he ranked third in the Top 100 National Rank and first in outfield velocity at the 2008 national showcase. He was also seemingly well-liked and respected by his high school coach.

“It’s almost like being around a professional athlete or a movie star or something like that.” -Former Cartersville High School coach Stuart Chester, via ESPN

After Tate was released from his final minor league team in 2016, he focused on football at the University of Arizona.

SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Draft picks (L-R) Zach Eflin, Max Fried, and Walker Weickel of the San Diego Padres wait before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park on September 10, 2012 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Draft picks (L-R) Zach Eflin, Max Fried, and Walker Weickel of the San Diego Padres wait before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park on September 10, 2012 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

2012 — Padres select Walker Weickel in Round 1, Pick 55

Walker Weickel was selected by the Padres in the first round as a right-handed pitcher with a $2 million bonus. He was drafted out of Olympia High School in Orlando, Fla. Unfortunately, he never played at a level higher than Double-A.

Over his minor league career, Weickel pitched an ERA of 4.68, BAA of .267 and WHIP of 1.42. He didn’t have great results in the minors and played less than 25 games each season, excluding his final season in 2019.

Weickel seemingly had more success in high school. According to Max Preps, he was 6-4 with an ERA of 2.94 and a mid-90s fastball his junior year. He also played internationally and won the Junior Pan Am Championship.

Related Story. Best Padres draft picks of the 2000s. light

He wasn’t able to repeat his success in the minor leagues. He played his best season in 2017 with an ERA of 3.01, BAA of .221 and WHIP of 1.00. This was uncommon considering his best ERA prior was 4.38, but he also finished two seasons above 5.00.

Next
Home / Padres Draft

Schedule