Lake Elsinore, California

In the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft, the San Diego Padres selected a left-handed pitcher out of Oklahoma with ungodly numbers in high school.

Kash Mayfield went 9-0 his senior year with a 0.16 ERA in 44 innings for Elk City High School in Oklahoma. He struck out 115 in that time while only allowing four hits and walking eight batters the entire season. Yes, the whole season.

The following round, the Padres selected another southpaw pitcher out of high school as they took Boston Bateman out of Camarillo, California, in the second round.

Bateman has tremendous size (6-foot-8, 240 lbs.) and is affectionately nicknamed “Sasquatch” due to his size and filthy on-the-mound demeanor, which features a 98 mph fastball and power slider.

The duo is in Lake Elsinore right now, but you’d better hurry to catch them. Both are pitching exceptionally well and will likely be promoted at some point this 2025 season. They will be taking their talents to the Midwest League and the Fort Wayne TinCaps. It will happen. Eventually.

In speaking with the two men, you quickly get a sense of their bond. It was naturally going to happen. When asked about a joint interview, they were game. “Let’s do it,” Bateman tells EVT emphatically as Kash Mayfield pulls up a chair and joins the conversation.

Seeing them interact is a beautiful thing. Baseball is a brotherhood, and these two men share a common link. They are like brothers, and they interact with one another like guys who grew up together, not men who met each other less than one year ago. This is special. The Padres will reap the benefits if they allow them to grow through the system together.

Their bond was immediate. They hit it off from their initial conversation. When asked about the first time they met, Mayfield was upfront and didn’t mince words. “I had heard of him before. The first time I met him was when he walked into the hotel room right after we got drafted. I see this massive human being, and was like okay,” The Padres’ first-round pick said with a smile. “Getting to know him, he is just a big, goofy guy. He is really fun to be around.”

Bateman echoes the sentiment as he looks toward Mayfield as an older brother. “He is a year older than me and a little wiser. But, I think we have created a great bond and that will definitely continue,” Bateman reflected as I asked if they would continue to be good friends after baseball. They both laughed at that question because at 19 and 20, it is difficult to think about life after the game. They have so much to give to the sport and are barely in their infancy. But the answer is yes, these two men will be lifelong friends. You just know it.

The two pitchers feed off one another, but they do not see it as a competition. They were adamant about that fact. “I think we are both extremely competitive. Since we are teammates, it’s more like we help each other. The only thing we are competing against is that baseball and the other team,” Bateman said. “We kind of work together, and yes, we strategize with each other. We share what we see in the hitters and collaborate on that. Our competition is more with other people.”

Relying on each other is a tremendous blessing for these young men. They feel like they are not battling through their first season alone. That is a big help for these pitchers who are unafraid to use each other when needed. “It’s very helpful (having each other). Baseball is a game of failures. We have teammates for a reason. We both help each other in that aspect. Learning from each moment. Seeing failure as a learning experience instead of some big negative thing,” Bateman explains.

Mayfield agrees and reflects on the assistance they provide. “I know he has my back, and that means a lot,” Mayfield said.

The two men live together. They enjoy each other’s company. We spoke about their free time, in which Kash Mayfield enjoys playing video games. Batemans plays too, but his joy is watching his friend play and relishing the simple things in life. “I watch him play. And just laugh,” Bateman said. They often spend time together during off days. “We play video games together, and we go out. Sometimes we go to San Diego together and go eat,” Bateman tells EVT. “A lot of arguing,” Mayfield chipped in as Bateman is done speaking. “It is almost like we are brothers,” Bateman said. The two laugh and poke fun at each other. The “arguing” is like what you’d see from two close brothers. It is fun to watch. Their teammates and coaches also enjoy the duo’s interaction with each other.

“They are special. They feed off one another. If one has a great outing, the other is like- “Look what I can do.” It is awesome to see. We just gotta do our thing and make plays for them.” Zach Evans explains about the pitchers. Though they wouldn’t admit to it, they do push each other, just like any healthy brotherly relationship. It may not be a competition, but they drive one another to be better. They are both perfectionists.

Kannon Kemp spends a lot of time with the pitchers. The right-handed pitcher was drafted in 2023 by the Padres, but missed last season after shoulder surgery. Just like Mayfield and Bateman, he is in his first year of full-season baseball with the Storm. He arguably has the best perspective on these young men. “They are both great guys and really good at what they do. It is fun to go out and watch them compete. I see them as brothers in the locker room. They will go at each other, but they also love each other just as much,” Kemp explains. Engaging in playful ribbing is the behavior I witnessed firsthand. They were on their best behavior during our interview, so you can imagine how they interact in the locker room. It would be fun to witness.

Lake Elsinore Storm manager Brian Burres is instrumental in the development of both southpaws. Burres is a former left-hander in the major leagues and is still young enough to relate to Boston Bateman and Kash Mayfield. Well, at least most of the time. The manager confided that he can feel old quite quickly from this Storm roster, and especially Bateman and Mayfield. With the manager’s blessing, EVT was allowed to interview both men. “They need to start doing these interviews and learning the cliches. The attention is only going to get bigger for them,” Burres said about the duo.

The two are built the same way. They strive for perfection. Mayfield spoke about how they play catch, noting that they both get upset if they don’t throw the ball to the desired location. “He and I are really big perfectionists, and I picked up that really early from him,” Mayfield said. “We would be playing catch, and he would get mad at himself- and I would think to myself- That is me.” They are similar in drive and motivation but opposite in personality.

On the long bus rides, the two players tell me about the game of Mafia that they play with their teammates. The group of players are sometimes on the bus for seven hours. They need to do something to pass the time, and to the credit of these young pitchers, they do not just wither away on their phones. They interact and bond with the team. You love to see that. “It’s great. We play Mafia. It’s a little game that we all play together,” Bateman said about the bus rides. “It is a group thing. The whole team sits in rows of seats, and we have a narrator. It is a long, drawn-out game. It kills time,” Mayfield explains. “Each game is about 30 minutes long, and we play it seven or eight times. It works out great,” Bateman explains excitedly.

The two men are placed together in a room on the road, and they live with each other. Their relationship goes way beyond the field. The game of baseball binds them, but their clash of personalities creates a unique and tight alliance. “Sometimes he gets a little annoyed with me because I am this loud, goofy, and talkative kid,” Bateman said with a giggle, and then looked directly at Mayfield. His counterpart nodded in agreement, and we all laughed at his statement. Bateman is open and endearing. Mayfield is more cautious and allows his roommate to answer most questions pertaining to the duo. Occasionally, he chips in with a word or two, but his answers are swift and concise. “He’s not afraid to say what he means,’ Bateman said with a smile. This odd couple is unique, and the Padres wouldn’t have it any other way. The future will be exciting to watch as they grow and develop within the system, with each other by their side.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.