Boston Bateman Joins Padres As Promising Left-Handed Pitching Draft Pick

[Scott Keene]

Boston Bateman, a towering 6-foot-8 left-handed pitcher from Camarillo, California, is quickly making his mark in the San Diego Padres' minor league system. Selected 52nd overall in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Bateman’s early performances have showcased his potential as a future mainstay in the Padres’ rotation—or perhaps a secret weapon for the ever-strategic AJ Preller.

Drafting a player straight out of high school is often a high-risk, high-reward proposition. However, the Padres’ scouting department, under Preller’s direction, has shown a knack for identifying elite young talent. The success stories of Jackson Merrill and high-potential prospects like CJ Abrams and Robert Hassell III—now key trade assets—highlight their track record. While some of these players may still be learning to shave without a safety razor, finding talent like that is as rare as hen’s teeth in Major League Baseball. Given that context, Preller’s success in identifying high-upside prep talent might earn him a seat at the craps table in Las Vegas.

Bateman wasn’t even the first high school pitcher taken by the Padres in 2024. That honor went to Kash Mayfield, selected 25th overall. Still, Bateman was no afterthought. He was ranked in the national Top 10 and third among left-handed pitchers in California, according to Perfect Game. His high school career was marked by a fastball that reached 97 mph—a velocity often compared to a young Randy Johnson—and a sharp, 12–6 curveball that baffled hitters well beyond his age group.

Now 19, Bateman has already made his professional debut with the Single-A Lake Elsinore Storm. In his first four outings in 2025, he posted a 3.86 ERA over 18 2/3 innings, striking out 21 batters. His most notable performance featured six scoreless innings with five strikeouts and just two hits allowed—a strong early indicator of his ability to dominate at the next level.

Bateman’s frame gives him a unique advantage on the mound. His height allows for a steep downhill plane, making his pitches harder to pick up, especially for left-handed hitters. His fastball, which consistently sits in the 92–97 mph range, pairs well with his plus curveball, which has significant depth and late bite. Currently, he works primarily with those two offerings, but developing a third—and possibly a fourth—pitch will be critical if he hopes to claim a permanent spot in a major league rotation. With that in mind, he has shown an intent to add a changeup and slider to his curve and a four-seam fastball by demonstrating his grips recently in a video posted by The Prospect Pipeline. Whether or not those develop into major league-quality pitches in his arsenal is yet to be seen.

That development timeline may delay his arrival in the big leagues, but the tools he already possesses are advanced for his age. If he can continue to refine his command and add more off-speed pitches to keep hitters guessing, Bateman could become a dynamic starter. He already has a solid fastball, which still lacks a bit of movement. Perfecting his new four-finger' kick change” variant and his slider grip to add more horizontal variation to his portfolio could elevate him to the next tier.

Traditionally, a starter with only two solid pitches may struggle in later innings. Batters don’t have to guess as much and can more easily tee off as they learn the pitchers’ patterns in these by the time they get through the lineup a few times. Pitchers like this typically end up in a set-up or short relief spot to minimize the ability to learn the pitcher's tendencies over time.  With a pitching staff like the Padres organization, I don’t foresee a problem adding some pitches and being a possible dominant force in the MLB for years to come, whether for the Padres or another club in return for a current MLB star in the future.

There’s a long road ahead for Bateman, but his upside is clear. Realistically, Padres fans shouldn’t expect to see him in the majors before the 2028 or 2029 season. If he reaches his full potential, he projects as a solid No. 2 or No. 3 starter in a competitive rotation along with Kash Mayfield. Should he struggle to add reliable third and fourth pitches, his fastball-breaking ball combination could still make him a valuable asset out of the bullpen—possibly even as a future closer, with Robert Suarez–like velocity and presence.

Either way, the Padres appear to have landed another promising arm through the draft—one worth watching closely in the years ahead.

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