San Diego Padres 2022 MLB Draft Report Card

To see 2022 Draft Report Cards for every team, see our Draft Report Card landing page here.

Best Pure Hitter: The Padres went after arms early in 2022, and when they did start selecting hitters they took power-over-hit players first. But OF Jakob Marsee (6) has impressive contact ability and zone recognition. He struck out just 13.9% of the time during his college career and in a 31-game pro debut, Marsee walked (22.6 BB%) more than he struck out (18.8 K%) and continued to make a ton of contact (17.2% miss rate) while barely expanding the strike zone (9% chase rate).

Best Power Hitter: Both of the first basemen the Padres drafted among the top 10 rounds have impressive power. 1B Nathan Martorella (5) averaged nearly 90 mph in exit velocity during his pro debut after homering 11 times with California during the 2022 college season, while 1B Griffin Doersching (8) finished No. 2 on Northern Kentucky’s all-time home run leaderboard before homering 15 times with Oklahoma State in 2022. Doersching’s 107 mph 90th percentile exit velocity was the best among San Diego’s 2022 draftees.

Fastest Runner: Marsee (6) and OF Nick Vogt (7) are more average runners than real burners, but Vogt in particular has a solid first step and plays above his speed in center field.

Best Defensive Player: C Lamar King (4) was a bit of a split-camp prospect among amateur scouts, but those who liked him believed he was a solid defender with solid arm strength behind the plate. The Padres signed him for just over $500,000 so it’s safe to say they are one of the believers in his defensive ability at the most premium position on the field. RHP Dylan Lesko (1) probably had a case as one of the better defensive shortstops in Georgia, and while he won’t be doing much of that in pro ball, he should field his position extremely well as a pitcher.

Best Fastball: Lesko (1) has all of the traits that make an elite fastball: velocity, shape and pinpoint command. He sat in the mid 90s consistently and could reach back for 96 or 97 seemingly at will with a buttery smooth arm action.

Best Secondary Pitch: Lesko’s (1) changeup was a legitimate 70-grade pitch that he could throw two or three times in a row and elicit bafflingly ugly swings against high school hitters. Like his fastball, Lesko has supreme command and feel to spot the pitch, in addition to excellent tumbling life that complements its deception and speed-gap between the fastball. LHP Robby Snelling (2) had one of the better breaking balls in the prep class—a spike-curve with plus potential that he showed terrific feel to manipulate and command.

Best Pro Debut: Martorella (5) posted a 146 wRC+ in 28 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Lake Elsinore, with a .322/.421/.511 combined slash line and three home runs.

Best Athlete: Lesko (1) ranked among the five best athletes in the 2022 high school class. He would be a legitimate prospect as a shortstop if his upside weren’t so immense on the mound, and his athleticism allows him to throw strikes at a high level thanks to impressive syncing of his lower and upper halves, and his ability to repeat his release point.

Most Intriguing Background: LHP Jackson Smeltz (8) has already overcome a lot in his life. He underwent Tommy John surgery in high school and also suffered a concussion on the football field—which revealed a brain tumor that he had surgery to get removed during his freshman year of high school. 

Closest To The Majors: RHP Adam Mazur (2) shot up draft boards this spring after impressing the scouting industry with his impressive feel for a four-pitch mix. He sits 92-94 mph and touches 97 and has the stuff and command to move quickly if he stays healthy.

Best Late-Round Pick (Or NDFA): RHP Isaiah Lowe (11) signed for $400,000 on day three and has impressive feel to spin a sweeping slider, while LHP Austin Krob (12) has a solid three-pitch mix from the left side and impressed during regional play in 2022.

The One Who Got Away: C Hugh Pinkney (17) was the only player the Padres selected who didn’t sign. He’ll start his college career with Rutgers for the 2023 season.