Padres Select LHP And First Baseman Kruz Schoolcraft 25th Overall In The 2025 MLB Draft

[Theo Tollefson]

The San Diego Padres selected LHP/1B Kruz Schoolcraft with the 25th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Schoolcraft is a lanky 6'8, 229 lbs prep pitcher from Sunset High School in Beaverton, Oregon. He was ranked 25th Padres Mission Consensus Draft Board. The 25th draft slot comes with a valued price tag of $3,160,000. 

Schoolcraft is committed to the University of Tennessee with a fastball that averages out in the mid-90s and can currently top out at 97 MPH. His go-to off-speed pitch is a slider that currently tops out in the low to mid-80s. 

As of now, Schoolcraft is much better projected to be a pitcher long-term versus his value as a hitter. He's been scouted with a ceiling of being an above-average hitter, but as the top prep left-handed arm in this draft class. The Padres will likely work to keep Schoolcraft as a starter with the heat off his fastball. He still needs to increase spin rates both on his fastball and slider and add a fourth pitch to his arsenal. 

While super-tall prep pitchers often lack a balance in their deliveries on the mound, Schoolcraft has been evaluated as having a great ability to maintain his delivery on the mound and keep command of his pitches in the strike zone. 

 This marks the ninth consecutive season the Padres have drafted a prep player with their first pick in the draft, dating back to LHP MacKenzie Gore 3rd overall in the 2017 MLB Draft. 

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