Scouting The Back Half Of The Padres' 2025 Draft: High Floor Collegiates Everywhere

[Billy Mock]

With the 2025 MLB Draft in the books, it's time to take a look at the back half of the Padres' draft class and discuss what these players are bringing into the system.

Round 11, 340th overall: Truitt Madonna, C, Ballard HS (WA)

Madonna is a 6'3" 215 215-pound high school catcher from Washington, where he was one of the top players in the state this spring. Madonna has some of the best raw power in this year's prep class, but there are some question marks in the hit tool that weren't addressed this spring against the lower-tier competition in the Pacific Northwest. He played 12 games in the Draft League this summer against some college prospects, hitting two home runs with an .872 OPS. He's an athletic catcher with some tools to stick behind the plate, but needs some polish defensively at the next level.

Round 12, 370th overall: George Bilecki, OF, Lewis University

A Division-2 product originally from Chicago, Bilecki was committed to Arizona State for his senior year before getting the call from San Diego. The left-handed hitter is an athletic 6'2", 195 pounds with plenty of tools. He plays a solid center field where he can stick around for a while, and also moves well on the bases as he stole 19 bags this spring. He has a healthy combination of hits and power at the plate, as evidenced by his .359 batting average and 24 home runs for Lewis this year.

Round 13, 400th overall: Dylan Grego, SS, Ball State

A mid-major junior shortstop, Grego played his way to an Arkansas commitment for his senior year, but may have played too well to return to college baseball. A 6'1" 195-pound switch-hitter, Grego improved his hit tool this spring, increasing his batting average from .242 to .376. He also tapped into a lot more power, hitting a career-high 14 home runs. While he has played shortstop for the majority of his college career, he's more likely to jump around multiple infield spots as an average defender.

Round 14, 430th overall: Clay Edmondson, RHP, UNC Asheville

Edmondson is a 22-year-old redshirt junior committed to Tennessee for his senior year. One of the more unique arms in the draft class, Edmondson is a 6'2" 195 195-pound sidearm pitcher that is nearly throwing from a submarine arm-slot. He threw 81 and 2/3 innings across 13 starts with a 2.20 ERA and 87 strikeouts this spring. 

Round 15, 460th overall: Ryan Reed, LHP, Pittsburgh

A weekend starter for the Pittsburgh Panthers this spring, Reed has a strong left-handed starter's frame at 6'5", 230 pounds. He threw 73 and 2/3 innings across 14 starts as a junior, posting a 5.00 ERA with 67 strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA in ACC conference play. The command has flashed above-average, so you're betting on the frame and feel to pitch here. 

Round 16, 490th overall: Cardell Thibodeaux, OF, Southern University

Thibodeaux is an undersized outfielder, standing in at just 5'8", 175 pounds at 21 years old, but managed to pack a lot of production into his bat this spring. A Louisiana native, the left-handed hitter posted a 1.369 OPS just a year after having a .590 OPS with UL Monroe. He carried that momentum into the Draft League this summer, hitting three home runs with a 1.411 OPS across 12 games. Thibodeaux is also an above-average athlete with range that projects in either left or center field, depending on his eventual arm strength.  

Round 17, 520th overall: Tyler Schmitt, RHP, Illinois

Originally a Division-3 product from Madison, Wisconsin, Schmitt was a weekend starter for Illinois this spring, where he delivered 80 and 2/3 innings across 15 starts with a 4.80 ERA and 58 strikeouts. Still 20 years old, Schmitt is a projectable 6'3", 200 pounds. He throws a low-90s fastball, a low to mid-70s sweeper, and a low-80s changeup that flashes as his best pitch. The command has a long way to go, but you're betting on the projection and the present feel for a changeup.

Round 18, 550th overall: Landry Jurecka, RHP, Queens University of Charlotte

A 22-year-old senior, Jurecka, is one of several college seniors selected by the Padres in this draft. He's a 6'2" 205 205-pound native of Arkansas. In 84 innings across 15 games and 10 starts this spring, Jurecka posted a 3.21 ERA with 88 strikeouts and two complete games as well. The right-hander is your typical mid-major starter without stuff that jumps off the page, but has a high floor due to his durability, above-average command, and established track record. 

Round 19, 580th overall: Jonathan Vastine, SS, Vanderbilt

A 5'11" 174 174-pound left-handed hitting senior, Vastine is known for his combination of speed and defense. He plays an excellent shortstop, along with plenty of speed on the bases, but doesn't produce much offensively. He showed a little bit of power upside in his junior year at Vanderbilt, where he hit ten home runs with a .918 OPS, but upon his return to campus for his senior year, he regressed to being a below-average bat. His athletic upside and glove work should keep him around in the organization for a bit. 

Round 20, 610th overall: Luke Cantwell, 1B, Pittsburgh

 A left-handed hitting first baseman, Cantwell comes in a bit smaller for a primary college first baseman at 6'0", 200 pounds as a senior. The bat doesn't quite play as your typical first baseman, but he does have an advanced approach with solid contact skills that leave some production to dream on. He walked 55 times to just 39 strikeouts this spring, but only hit six home runs in 55 games. He'll probably have to show some defensive value away from first base to stick around.

 

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