With the 6th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft the San Diego Padres selected C.J. Abrams (no relation to the Star Wars and Star Trek reboot director), a shortstop from Blessed Trinity High School in Georgia.
The quick scouting report on Abrams is he's very fast, is an advanced hitter for his age, and is very fast.
Did we mention he's very fast?
So fast, in fact, that scouts say he has "game-changing speed" and may end up being a centerfielder instead of staying at shortstop. The 18-year-old is lanky at 6'3" and 185 pounds and right now doesn't have a whole lot of natural power but might add the long ball to his game as he naturally fills out.
This is the second straight year the Padres have selected a high school shortstop in the first round and they seem to have an eye for talent at the position. Last year's selection, Xavier Edwards, is leading the Midwest League in batting average in his first full professional season.
The recommended signing bonus money for this year's 6th overall pick is $5.74 million dollars and it might take all of that to keep Abrams from his Alabama commitment.
In the 2nd round (48th overall) the Friars went with a corner outfielder that has raw power. Joshua Mears, an 18-year-old from Federal Way High School in Washington, is 6'3" and weighs 230 pounds. He's a guy that scouts say can hit the ball a very long way, if not on a consistent basis.
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Mears is one of your "high risk, high reward" kinds of players that a franchise with a very deep farm system can take a chance on because if he pans out it's another diamond in the pipeline but if he doesn't it's not going to set them back too much.
In the second Competitive Balance Round (73rd overall) the Padres grabbed a backstop. George Mason University catcher Logan Driscoll is a left-handed hitter who knows how to get on base. In his collegiate career he had as many walks as he had strikeouts. The Padres already have a trio of catchers in their Top-30 prospects list with Francisco Mejia, Luis Campusano and Austin Allen but you can never have too much depth behind the plate.
Interestingly the Padres did not select a pitcher on the first day. This is the first time under general manager A.J. Preller that they have not taken an arm with at least one of their first three picks.
Rounds 3-10 take place on Tuesday then the frenzy that is rounds 11-40 roll off on Wednesday.
