2026 San Diego Padres MLB Draft Day 2 Thread

[Steve Drumwright]

When not drafting for need, as is the modus operandi for the MLB Draft, it can be tough to identify trends for a team.

But for the San Diego Padres on Day 1 of the draft, there were two things that stood out: They drafted youth and left-handed bats. Will that continue on Day 2? We shall find out Sunday, when the draft resumes with Rounds 5 through 20.

Saturday's first four rounds featured five Padres picks among the 135 players selected by the 30 teams. The first two were high schoolers in first-rounder Coleman Borthwick, a right-handed pitcher from Florida, and second-rounder Elliot Lascelles, a shortstop from Toronto. While it isn't hard to call prep players young, neither turns 19 until 2027.

The youth comment more applies to the three college players picked. Those would be third-rounder Ryan Lynch, a right-handed starter from North Carolina, fourth-rounder Robbie Lavey, a catcher from George Washington, and fourth-round compensation pick Alex Conover, an outfielder out of Oklahoma State. All three collegians are 20 years old, with Lynch having just completed his sophomore season for the Tar Heels and the other two fresh off their junior campaigns.

There always is a strategy a team executes not only in the players drafted, but in how to allocate the bonus pool. None of the five players selected sjould command an over-slot payment to either honor their commitment to college or to return for another year. Borthwick has a scholarship to Auburn waiting for him, while Lascelles is set to attend Yale.

Maybe that financial strategy kicks in Sunday with some riskier moves.

As a reminder, here are the slot values for the Padres' picks:

• First round (21st pick): $4,224,700
• Second round (60th): $1,561,000
• Third round (97th): $808,100
• Fourth round (124th): $620,300
• Fourth round (comp, 134th): $563,900
• Fifth round (157th): $449,500
• Sixth round (186th): $350,100
• Seventh round (215th): $276,400
• Eighth round (245th): $226,300
• Ninth round (275th): $205,000
• 10th round (305th): $193,700

Players drafted in Rounds 11 through 20 have a soft cap of $150,000, with any amount over that counting against the bonus pool. That also goes for undrafted free agents, who will begin signing as soon as the final pick is made Sunday. Draft picks must sign by July 27 at 2 p.m. PT.

All of the draft coverage will be carried by MLB.com, MLB.tv and MLB+ beginning at 8:30 a.m. PT.

What do you think of the Padres' draft so far? Do you have a favorite pick? Is there a player they should target on Day 2?

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