The San Diego Padres stayed in character Sunday, using their top selection in the MLB Draft on a high school player for a ninth consecutive year. This time, with the 25th pick, they settled on 6-foot-8 left-hander Kruz Schoolcraft.
Schoolcraft, 18, starred as a pitcher and first baseman for Sunset (Ore.) High. His selection comes a year after the Padres took fellow prep lefties Kash Mayfield and Boston Bateman, also listed at 6 feet 8, with their top two picks in the 2024 draft.
Under president of baseball operations A.J. Preller, the Padres have long specialized in pursuing high-risk talent. They struck gold in the 2021 draft, taking high school hitters Jackson Merrill and James Wood with their top two picks. Merrill has since gone to the 2024 All-Star Game and signed a nine-year, $135 million contract extension. Wood was a centerpiece of San Diego’s 2022 trade for Juan Soto, and he will represent the Washington Nationals this week in the Home Run Derby and the 2025 All-Star Game.
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Padres draft Kruz Schoolcraft, taking a high schooler in first round for ninth straight year
