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By Liz Alper
Photo: Helix alum Jack Stronach was drafted 623rd overall by the Padres. Photo via mlb.com screenshot
June 5, 2019 (Secaucus, N.J.) - The Padres took seven consecutive pitchers yesterday on day two. One East County kid was drafted. Today is the day to end all days: the final day of the draft and rounds 11-40, also known as the lightning rounds. Click the cut to see who the Padres took and be on the lookout for any East County kids.
Round 11, 323rd overall
Mason Feole, P (UConn. Hometown: Wakefield, RI. Photo right via mlb.com screenshot)
The Padres take their first player from New England in a while. As a sophomore, Feole collected the most strikeouts in school history. He leans heavily on his fastball and curveball. When healthy, his fastball reaches 92. His strange delivery and below-average changeup will probably mean a move to the bullpen.
SDSU MENTION - LOGAN BOYER, RHP, 11TH ROUND, 341ST OVERALL TO THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS (Photo left courtesy goaztecs.com)
SDSU’s Friday night starter in 2018, with a career-high eight strikeouts. He has a lot to show, but does hold opposing hitters to a low average.
Round 12, 353rd overall
Matthew Acosta, CF (USC. Hometown: Chino Hills, CA. Photo right via usctrojans.com)
Acosta isn’t a big bat and his hits stay in single digit territory, but he can produce doubles. He had a bigger year his sophomore year in 2018, posting 26 RBI and 20 runs scored.
Round 13, 383rd overall
Brandon Komar, RHP (Madison College of Wisconsin. Hometown: Elkhorn, WI. Photo left via madisoncollegeathletics.com)
Komar struck out eight against Chandler-Gilbert Community College in March and his total ERA was 4.34. He’s a decent strikeout pitcher, but also tends to give up a few runs, but when he’s on, he can go the distance.
Round 14, 413th overall
Bodi Rascon, LHP (Decatur HS, Decatur, TX. Photo right via ncsasports.org)
The Padres go back to high school with their first pick in the 400s. Rascon’s fastball reaches 92 and his pitches tend to be elevated, but hitters will chase. His fastball tops at 95. Committed to Oklahoma State.
Round 15, 443rd overall
Andre Tarver, OF (Ringgold HS, Ringgold, GA. Photo left via mlb.com screenshot)
Tarver is big, strong and athletic. His stance is spread and open and he has quick hands. He may have trouble covering the outer half consistently, but defensively, he is sound with a good arm and can make one-hop throws. Verbally committed to Mississippi State.
Round 16, 473rd overall
Robert Briley, RHP (Seminole State College. Hometown: Wright City, OK. Photo right via seminole.prestosports.com)
Back to college with the 473rd pick. Briley’s hit totals tend to be high, but so do his strikeouts. He keeps opposing hitters’ average against him low at .260, although his ERA is a little high at 4.82.
Round 17, 503rd overall
Jared Alvarez-Lopez, C (Cypress Ranch HS, Cypress, TX. Photo left via Prep Baseball Report)
Aaand we’re back to high school. Alvarez-Lopez manages to get on base easily, sporting a .305 batting average and 29 hits and 24 RBI with an OBP of .500. Committed to McNeese State.
SDSU MENTION - JULIAN ESCOBEDO, CF, 17TH ROUND, 520TH OVERALL TO THE CLEVELAND INDIANS (Photo right via goaztecs.com)
We all know Julian can hit at the college level. But the question is if he can bring his home run power to the big leagues.
Round 18, 533rd overall
Andrew Dean, LHP (University of Illinois - Springfield. Photo left via uisprairiestars.com)
Back to college. Dean’s ERA is low at 2.77 and he can pitch a good seven innings. He struck out 118 hitters in 91 innings this spring. In his collegiate career, he carries a 2.83 ERA, so opponents will not have an easy time against him and will be a valuable asset and addition to the Padres’ growing collection of southpaws.
Round 19, 563rd overall
Chris Givin, SS (Xavier. Hometown: Castle Rock, CO. Photo right via goxavier.com)
You never think of Xavier for baseball, always for basketball, but the Padres take a Musketeer with their 19th round pick. Don’t let all the honor roll awards fool you; Givin can hit. He finished 2019 with a .306 batting average and 74 hits and has a .312 average over the course of his collegiate career.
Round 20, 593rd overall
Deacon Medders, RHP (Alabama. Hometown: Tuscaloosa, AL. Photo left via rolltide.com)
Again, no one thinks of Alabama for baseball, but the Padres decided to #RollTide with their 20th round pick. Medders didn’t pitch a lot in 2019, but got seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work. His ERA is a little high (3.98) thanks to giving up so many hits, so he will probably end up in the bullpen.
SDSU MENTION - ADRIAN MARDUENO, RHP - 20TH ROUND, 605TH OVERALL TO THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (photo right via goaztecs.com)
Mardueno should have no problem at the major league level thanks to his impeccable ability to fan hitters and go long innings. Aztecs fans will remember his impressive 1.93 ERA from this spring. Mardueno should have no problem rising through the Cardinals’ tough farm system to become a starter.
Round 21, 623rd overall
EAST COUNTY MENTION - JACK STRONACH - 3B (UCLA/HELIX HS)
To make our job easier, the Padres take a local product with their 21st pick. Jack Stronach graduated from Helix High School where he was named to the 2015 All-League Grossmont Valley first team and 2015 All-East County second team. His junior year as a Highlander, he hit .373 with 17 RBIs. He had fun up in Pasadena too, batting .330 this year as a Bruin.
EAST COUNTY MENTION - DYLAN SPACKE, RHP - 21ST ROUND, 647TH OVERALL TO THE BOSTON RED SOX (RAMONA HS. Photo left via longbeachstate.com)
Spacke helped the Bulldogs win a Valley League title in all three of his varsity seasons. His ERA over three years was impressive at 1.90. As a senior, he pitched four complete games and struck out 119 batters and posted a 1.63 ERA. At Long Beach, he continued to be impressive, posting a 2.57 ERA this spring.
Round 22, 653rd overall
Joshua Rivera, 3B (IMG Academy. Hometown: Avon Park, FL. Photo right via mlb.com screenshot)
Rivera is listed as a third baseman, but he can pitch. A knee injury slowed him down, but he has the ability to drive the ball. He’ll be an above-average hitter with average power, but his inconsistencies this spring might prevent him from an early signing. He does have the chance to be a good hitter when he’s at his best. Committed to Florida.
Round 23, 683rd overall
Maurice Hampton, CF (Memphis University School)
According to USA Today, Hampton has already turned down draft offers to play two sports at LSU.
EAST COUNTY MENTION - ANDERS TOLHURST, RHP (GROSSMONT COLLEGE/SANTANA HS) 23RD ROUND, 687TH OVERALL TO THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS (Photo left via Youtube screenshot)
A Santana alum, Tolhurst’s hits are high, but he keeps opposing hitters’ averages against him low, but his ERA is struggling a bit at 3.91.
Round 24, 713th overall
Taylor Lomack, CF (Tallahassee Community College. Hometown: Atlanta. Photo right via tcceagles.com)
TCC Eagles coach Mike McLeod says that Lomack is one of the fastest guys he’s seen on the base pads. And he can hit; he finished 2019 with a .376 average and a .454 OBP and 70 hits.
Round 25, 743rd overall
Blake Baker, RHP (Miami Dade CC-Kendall. Hometown: Clermont, FL. Photo left via mdcathletics.com)
Baker only appeared in 18 games this spring and his record was 2-4. ERA is high at 5.05, but he can get the strikeout when needed, striking out 80 this spring.
Round 26, 773rd overall
Pierce Jones - CF (Marian Catholic HS, Chicago Heights, IL. Photo right via Perfect Game USA)
Back to high school. Jones is big for an outfielder, but he possesses great strength and ran the 60-yard dash in 6.81 seconds. He has an open stance with high hand set at the plate, leg lift trigger. He gets his lower body into swing fully and creates excellent leverage off of front side, He has big time raw power and can hit a ball into the gap and create exciting offense. He’s a clean fielder with a good arm (throws clocked to 89 mph.) and moves fluidly. Committed to Northern Illinois.
Round 27, 803rd overall
Tyler Malone - OF (Oregon State. Hometown: Roseville, CA. Photo left via osubeavers.com)
Aaaand back to college. Malone won’t impress at the plate, only batting .213 this spring with 32 hits and one home run.
Round 28, 833rd overall
Sam Ballard, LHP (Parkland College. Hometown: Alton, IL. Photo right via athletics.parkland.edu)
Ballard is only a freshman and, if you want our recommendation, should not go one-and-done. He has 11.97 strikeouts per nine innings, but his ERA for this spring was massively high at 5.35. He does have stuff, however; he shut out Millikin JV on April 17, striking out eight batters over five innings.
Round 29, 863rd overall
Anthony Nunez, 3B (Miami Springs Sr. HS, Miami Springs, FL. Photo left via Perfect Game USA)
Nunez is short but strong. His arm strength carries far and quick thanks to his hands that work well. Offensively, his short swing is good for line drives. Not committed to any school currently.
Round 30, 893rd overall
Ripken Reyes - 2B (USD. Hometown: Stockton, CA. Photo right via usdtoreros.com)
The first second baseman taken by the Padres is a homegrown product. A Cal transfer, he finished 2019 batting .366 with 71 hits and three home runs. Defensively, he only committed four errors all spring.
Round 31, 923rd overall
Jason Nelson, P (Central Arizona College. Hometown: Phoenix. Photo left via vaquerosports.com)
Nelson is a monster on the mound. He struck out 72 batters this spring and boasted a 1.40 ERA. He can definitely rise through the ranks to become a Padres starter.
Round 32, 953rd overall
Jason Reynolds, RHP (Lehigh University. Hometown: Sicklerville, NJ. Photo right via lehighsports.com)
Reynolds will be in the minors a long time thanks to his high spring ERA (5.75). He only struck out 49 batters over 50 innings pitched for the Mountain Hawks.
Round 33, 983rd overall
Keegan Pulford-Thorpe, LHP (Newmarket HS, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. Photo left via Prep Baseball Report)
Going back to high school, the Padres pick up their first Canadian prospect of the draft. Pulford-Thorpe’s pitches need a lot of work, with his fastball only maxing out at 91. He also throws a curveball and a changeup. Looks like Keegan wants to get away from the harsh Canadian winters as he’s committed to Central Florida.
Round 34, 1,013th overall
Bryant Salgado, P (San Jacinto College North. Hometown: Houston. Photo right via sanjacsports.com)
The Padres finally take a player from San Jac. Salgado’s fastball peaks at 92.
Round 35, 1,043rd overall
Keegan Collett, P (Florida Gulf Coast University. Hometown: Dallas. Photo left via fgcuathletics.com)
Collett made his Eagles debut this spring and struck out 22 over 15 innings and allowing 17 walks, finishing with an ERA of six. Lots of work needed if he wants to see Petco Park.
Round 36, 1,073rd overall
Isaiah Bennett, RHP (Pine Forest HS, Fayetteville, NC. Photo right via Youtube screenshot)
Bennett is tiny, so it allows him to have a quick release on his throws. He can hide the ball well and his fastball reaches 92. He also throws a sharp slider and a deep curve. Offensively, he has a short stroke and a wide approach. Verbally committed to North Carolina.
Round 37, 1,103rd overall
Owen Cobb, SS (Garfield HS, Seattle. Photo left via Baseball Northwest)
At 6’1”, Cobb is athletic with plenty of room to grow. He’s light on his feet defensively with smooth movements. Offensively, he has quick hands and gets the bat out front well. He’s an athletic standout that could make it to the big leagues soon enough. Verbally committed to Stanford.
Round 38, 1,133rd overall
Cole Roberts, SS (Santa Fe Christian. Photo right via sfcsathletics.net)
Not East County, but the Padres take another local product. Roberts is the son of former Padre Dave Roberts. That tells you all you need to know about him. Committed to Loyola Marymount.
SDSU MENTION - ANGELO ARMENTA, 3B/SS - 38TH ROUND, 1,148TH OVERALL TO THE TAMPA BAY RAYS (Photo left via goaztecs.com)
Armenta has decent slugging and home run power, but needs to step up his hitting and improve his fielding greatly if he wants to make it in the MLB.
Round 39, 1,163rd overall
Dylan Hoffman, LHP (Waldorf College, Iowa. Hometown: Anaheim Hills, CA. Photo right via waldorfwarriors.com)
The son of current Padres third base coach Glen Hoffman and nephew of Trevor Hoffman. Hope International transfer.
Round 40, 1,193rd overall
Koty Fallon, RHP (Western Oregon University. Hometown: Surprise, AZ. Photo left via wouwolves.com)
With their last pick of 2019, the Padres take another pitcher. Fallon was a two-way player until his senior year this spring, making 12 appearances out of the bullpen and notching a team-best 0.66 ERA and only allowing one earned run all season. He has a cumulative ERA of 3.09 so he will probably remain a bullpen pitcher.
EAST COUNTY MENTION - DEREK DIAMOND, P (RAMONA HS) 40TH ROUND, 1,202ND OVERALL TO THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (Photo right via Perfect Game USA)
Diamond is 6'3" and athletic. His delivery is hands over head and lands closed in front. His fastball tops out at 93 and sits at the bottom of the zone. He also has a solid curveball and a change with nice fading action. He will only continue to get better. Verbally committed to Stanford, but his Perfect Game USA profile says he is committed to Ole Miss.
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