San Diego Padres 2026 Draft Report – Rounds 4-20

The San Diego Padres added some top-tier talent on Day 1 of the MLB Draft and are presented with a splendid opportunity to add more talent to a farm system that is in the process of being replenished.

Here is our breakdown of Rounds 4-20.

Round 4 – 124th Overall – C Robbie Lavey – George Washington University

One of the safer picks in the round, Robbie Lavey showed consistent improvement across his time at GWU. His plate discipline and approach are among the strongest in the class, as his walk rate, barrel rate, average exit velocity, EV90th percentile, and wOBA all ranked in the 94th percentile of college bats or higher. Lavey has some swing and miss in his game despite the discipline, and can at times be too selective at the plate. He has a penchant for hitting to the opposite field and has yet to tap into his pull-side power potential. He’s shown glimpses of such power being there, but it emerges sporadically. Despite being billed as a catcher, Lavey has played well in left field, spending a good amount of time there in 2026. Lavey has the arm strength to handle left field, which also serves him well behind the plate. However, the rest of his defensive makeup behind the plate grades out as average, which could see him move off the position in the pros.  

Round 4C – 134th Overall – OF Alex Conover – Oklahoma State

Alex Conover has made a name for himself with Oklahoma State over the past two seasons, blossoming into a tone-setter in any lineup. Conover has a smooth left-handed swing that has drawn him comparisons to Brewers prospect Andrew Fischer, which is certainly some high praise. Conover is a patient left-handed hitter who has a good understanding of the zone and controls the zone well. He has shown an aptitude for getting the barrel to the ball with above-average consistency, allowing him to spray the ball to all fields with the jet stream setting of the proverbial garden hose.

Some evaluators have his approach as passive, but his exit velocities indicate he can wreak havoc at the plate when swinging. His production appears likely to grow the more that he faced higher competition, as his patient approach allows him to see pitches. Through seeing more pitches, Conover will have the ability to adjust and learn, which bodes well for his development. While he played a lot of center field, he is more likely to end up in a corner outfield spot. His route running and tracking allow him to handle center field, but he will definitely play up in a corner spot. Look for him to start his pro career in right field!

Round 5 – 157th Overall – RHP James Guyette – Kansas State

A former teammate of Tyson Neighbors at Kansas State, James Guyette, had the kind of season where the numbers tell a conflicting story. Guyette pitched to a 5.56 ERA in 79.1 innings of work, starting 15 of 16 games. The right-hander from Thousand Oaks, California, struck out 27.9% of batters, walking 9.3%. Guyette set a career-best mark in strikeouts, fanning 105. His fastball can top out at 96 mph, but sits regularly at 91-94 mph with both armside tail and a low approach angle. The extension and movement pairing allows the fastball to play up from its velocity, and it gets considerable movement that makes it very effective against right-handed batters. His slider is one of the best in the entire class, as it can go from 81 mph all the way up to 89 mph with gusto and gravitas. It’s more of a sweeper, but it can still generate both called strikes and whiffs. His changeup arguably has a higher ceiling than the slider, as it tunnels well off his unorthodox fastball shape, and is his bread and butter for generating soft contact. 

Guyette visually looks like an angry Jake Peavy coming down the mound, and his stuff has the potential to play regardless of the role he pitches in. The Padres will likely allow him to start, given the nature of his stuff and collegiate familiarity in the role. If his stuff plays well in 1-2 inning spurts, he could very well be a dominant reliever or potential closer should the team opt to take him in the relief route. 

Round 6 – 186th Overall – SS Nu’u Contrades – Arizona State

It’s not often that a middle infielder receives the “star” label at the college level, but Nu’u Contrades is the sort of player who has achieved such notoriety. The Hawai’i native started as a true freshman, and over the course of his college career, has matured into one of the most well-rounded hitters in the Big 12. The redshirt junior slashed .366/.434/.762 with 21 HRs and 15 2Bs this season, and his 12% strikeout rate was superb. Contrades is the kind of player who stuck with one program in the modern age of NIL and the transfer portal, and remaining with the Sun Devils has allowed him to blossom. Contrades’ offensive output was 52% better than average in the Big 12, and he flashed all five tools in some shape or form.

His swing decisions and ability to make contact are interconnected, as he has an aggressive approach that sees him chase out of the zone. A 28.6% chase rate would indicate that a batter whiffs a lot, but that is not the case here; Contrades’ 20.6% whiff rate and 37% out-of-zone whiff rate ranked in the 61st and 63rd percentiles, respectively. His offensive approach has seen him produce, as he has shown a consistent ability to get the barrel to the baseball throughout the 2026 campaign. His swing does draw some comparisons to that of Ha-Seong Kim (just on the eye test), though Contrades keeps the barrel in and through the strike zone enough to generate above-average quality of contact. Defensively, Contrades has been rated with an average glove at both second and third base, albeit with strong defensive instincts. He has a good first step when moving on defense, both laterally and forward. His speed grades out as average, with some scouts and evaluators projecting room for growth in this area. While the arm strength is average to slightly-above-average, his defensive IQ allows him to play a solid second or third base at the collegiate level. While he may become more of a utilityman at the professional level, Contrades’ bat will dictate his progression at the professional level. 

Round 7 – 215th Overall – 2B Joe Tiroly – Virginia

Gauging Joe Tiroly’s 2026 campaign would be like reading a book that’s been cut in half, as the production does not tell the full story. Tiroly sustained a foot injury that slowed him down somewhat in 2026; he would wear a walking boot between games. Even so, Tiroly was still one of the best pure-hitting middle infielders in the class. His pitch selection and bat-to-ball skills are definitely mature and pro-ready, and as if that wasn’t enough,

Tiroly’s batted-ball data showed a player who can crush the baseball. To quote Over-Slot Baseball’s Joe Doyle, “He hits the ball a lot, he hits the ball hard, and he hardly ever lets pitchers win an at-bat. Tiroly pulls the ball, he lifts the ball, he draws his walks, and he controls the zone. At times, he’s looked like the total package offensively.” Tiroly doesn’t possess any overwhelming physical tools, as he is an average runner who looks slower than he is when moving. His arm strength is average to slightly above average, and while he doesn’t have the range to handle shortstop, he has a future at either second or third base. His arm can allow him to handle third base solidly, but that could put pressure on his offense at the position. If Tiroly can carry over his success and bat-to-ball abilities to the wood bat environments of pro ball, he has every chance to be a Major League utilityman or third base starter like a Romy Gonzalez. 

Round 8 – 245th Overall – LHP Sean Fitzpatrick, Arizona State (RP)

Fitzpatrick was not projected to go as high as he did in the draft, but allowing only 33% of inherited baserunners to score all season can do a lot for a player’s draft stock. Fitzpatrick enjoyed a successful season out of the Sun Devils’ bullpen, striking out 39.5% of opponents. The southpaw was able to get his velocity into the 91-94 mph range on the fastball, and while the heater can possess up to 17 inches of induced vertical break, that’s more of a peak than an average.

Fitzpatrick developed his sweeper into a true out pitch, and it was able to generate a healthy share of whiffs. At times, the sweeper would be too much in the zone, which saw left-handed batters put the pitch in play. Fitzpatrick combines a low release slot with a herky-jerky delivery/motion towards the plate. He’s not as fluid as Jackson Wolf, but not as stop-and-go as Alex Wood. He profiles best as a relief arm at this point, somewhat in the style of former Padre Tom Cosgrove, and if he can rediscover his changeup after bailing on it in 2026, he can take a step beyond a lefty specialist. 

Round 9 – 275th Overall – LHP Benjamin Stubbs, Troy

Stubbs earned national attention on Troy’s Cinderella run to the College World Series, and the left-hander saw his name called in the ninth round. Stubbs started 18 of 19 games, striking out 87 and walking 39. The left-hander’s slider is his best offering, sitting at 84-87 mph with late downward and gloveside tilt. From some angles, you can see when the late break starts to take place, and he really can spin it, getting the slider up to 2800 rpm.

His curveball is also strong, though not in the same echelon as the slider. The curveball sits between 78–81 mph, carrying a spin rate in the 2300-2600 rpm range. The curve has more vertical drop than the slider, but the two come out of his hand in a near-identical manner. Stubbs’ fastball comes in at 90-93 mph, and he uses the fastball late in counts. The left-hander served as the team’s Friday night starter and could very well start in the pros should that be the team’s route. 

Round 10 – 305th Overall – C Augie Lopez, USC

A former highly touted prospect out of Loyola High School, Augie Lopez opted to go to college at USC instead of opting for the draft. Back then, Lopez was seen as a late-round pick, and this go-around saw him go off the board before noon on Day 2. Lopez has a strong left-handed swing that allows him to post barrels consistently, as he has done so in the MLB draft league and as a Trojan.

Lopez has been on fire in the MLB Draft League, leading the circuit in home runs. His collegiate performance saw him launch 19 home runs, drive in 57 runs, and post a .954 OPS. Lopez’s upside is carried by his bat, as he has seen time at catcher, first base, and left field defensively. He has the skills to be a Swiss Army Knife defensively at any corner position, with the bat painting his path forward in professional baseball. 

Round 11 – 335th Overall – 1B Chris McHugh, NC State

For the third straight draft, the Padres took an infielder out of NC State, but they did not select a middle infielder this go-around. Chris McHugh is yet another high-potential player in this draft class by San Diego. McHugh is a pro hitter in a slugger’s body, as he has shown the eye at the plate and the barrel control to go beyond a platoon bat. He absolutely crushes left-handed pitching and more than holds his own against right-handers. Anything in the inner third is his danger zone for pitchers, as McHugh owns that part of the plate.

McHugh can be aggressive at the plate at times, swinging at pitches under his hands or too far away from the plate. He currently possesses a power-over-hit profile with the potential to be an average bat that could hit .240-.260 with 20-25 home runs in the pros. McHugh has wheels for a player of his size, and this helps him stretch singles into doubles when needed. McHugh’s defense has the potential to contend for a Gold Glove, as he has quick feet and soft hands to make the tough plays, be they scoops or be they picks. 

Round 12 – 365th Overall – LHP Robert Evans, Miami

Coming out of the University of Miami, Rob Evans won the Ron Fraser Award as the team’s top pitcher in a breakout campaign. After making 17 relief appearances for the Hurricanes last season, Evans went to summer league to stretch out and become a starter, and he proceeded to be a mainstay in the Miami rotation in 2026. Evans pitched 87.2 innings in 16 games (15 starts), striking out 98 against 31 walks. The left-hander showed impressive poise on the mound and can field his position like a champ. His experiences in the Cape Cod & MLB Draft Leagues helped him develop the mindset to start full-time, and it showed.

He became the Hurricanes’ first ten-game winner in a decade this season as well. In terms of stuff, Evans sits 92-95 on the fastball, which comes from a ¾ arm slot. His fastball has deceptive life late, sneaking up on opposing hitters. His slider has been one of two go-to secondaries and has shown good tilt from his arm slot. Evans’ changeup has allowed him to take his game to the next level, as he throws it 80-82 mph with the same arm speed as the fastball. The pitch looks as though it is approaching before braking and fading armside, and it became an equalizer for him against right-handed batters. Evans has the chance to start at the pro level, but if his velocity trends up in shorter stints, he very well could become a late-inning power reliever.  

Round 13 – 395th Overall – OF Michael Smith Jr, Dayton

Arguably one of the biggest steals in the draft, Michael Smith Jr excelled in his lone season at the University of Dayton and is set to go pro. Smith Jr transferred to Dayton for 2026 and had a breakout season, slashing .332/.502/.588 with 10 home runs, 56 RBI, and 38 stolen bases in 45 attempts. Smith’s speed and power profile is the kind that the Padres always seem to find somewhere in the MLB draft.

A right-handed hitter, Smith shows good pitch recognition and an ability to drive the ball to all fields. How he fares against more advanced competition will determine what his timeline is, as he has only played in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the Atlantic 10 so far in his career. Smith has a skillset and tools that are somewhat reminiscent of Ryan Wideman when he was drafted last season, so he has a chance at sticking in center field full-time as a professional. 

Round 14 – 425th Overall – RHP Ty Brachbill – High Point University

The reigning Big South Conference Pitcher of the Year, Ty Brachbill, broke out last summer in the Old North State League summer season, earning pitcher of the year honors there. His magnum opus was an eight-inning, 21-strikeout performance that caught the attention of High Point University. As Brachbill was in the transfer portal, he made the move to North Carolina. The move to High Point led to plenty of high points in Brachbill’s collegiate career, as he pitched to a 3.59 ERA in 90.1 innings, striking out 81 batters while walking 24.

The right-hander’s mechanics are smooth and connected, and he repeats his motion very well. There’s room for added velocity here, as some of his tendencies in his mechanics slow his momentum down the mound. Brachbill’s fastball sits in the 90-93 mph range and possesses 18 inches of iVB against six inches of horizontal movement. He also throws a curveball, changeup, and slider. The slider is the best of his breaking pitches, as it sits in the mid-80s and flashes tight spin. The slider is more of your traditional bullet-type slider, which sequences well with his fastball; it is also his best pitch at generating whiffs. Brachbill could remain a starter at the pro level, as his stuff remains a developmental project with upside. With some adjustments to the fastball in usage and pitch shape, it could lead him to a relief trajectory with a quick arrow upwards. 

Round 15 – 455th Overall – SS Ryan Kucherak – Northwestern University (IL)

Spending two seasons at Northwestern helped Ryan Kucherak unlock some of the most surprising tools among collegiate shortstops. His bat is really what impresses, as the Arizona native posted incredible batted ball data in 2026. Kucherak’s average exit velocities and EV90’s were in the top ten percentiles of all collegiate bats in the draft, and he possesses lightning-quick bat speed from the right-handed box. His offensive profile is a power-over-hit at this stage in his career, as his aggressive approach and high bat speed leave him susceptible to swings and misses.

Despite the whiff concerns, Kucherak is fully capable of going on a tear when he is dialed in at the plate, which provides optimism for his offense to flesh out. Defensively, the 6’ 1” infielder has the arm and movement to play shortstop, with good fundamentals and a good internal clock. He is not the kind of shortstop to get thrown off his rhythm when he has to make a challenging play. Kucherak has the size and agility to play all over the diamond, so while the Padres didn’t take an NC State shortstop for the second year in a row, Kucherak has the potential to be an all-fields hitting shortstop whose offense allows him to thrive, much like Brandon Butterworth and Justin DeCriscio before him. 

Round 16 – 485th Overall – RHP Albert Roblez – Oregon State (RP)

Coming out of Oregon State, Albert Roblez is the answer to the question everyone has asked themselves: What happens if you somehow mix Kenny Powers and Trey Yesavage into one person? While the question is tongue-in-cheek, Roblez’s performance is anything but. The right-hander was dominant as the closer in Corvallis, securing 14 saves in 30 innings while fanning 53 batters. Roblez’s fastball isn’t overpowering from a velocity standpoint, as he sits 90-92 mph, but his high release point and supination release allow him to both generate rise and cut on the heater. It doesn’t generate too many whiffs as of now, but it helps him generate plenty of weak contact.

His best secondary is a devastating split-fingered fastball that camps in the mid-80s with very low spin (we’re talking about around 1000 rpm). The splitter is absolutely unhittable when Roblez is on, which is dictated by his ability to command the heater. Roblez also has a slider, curveball, and cutter in his arsenal, but neither of the three is the kind that stands out against his strong 1-2 combo. The curveball is a good change of speeds and tunnels well off the fastball, and the cutter keeps batters off the barrel, but it is more likely that the Padres organization will have Roblez focus on refining just one of those tertiary offerings. A pure relief prospect, Roblez has some rather advanced stuff according to some evaluators. Profiling as a middle relief arm with setup potential in the style of Jeremiah Estrada, Roblez could be a fast riser should his command develop consistency.  

Round 17 – 515th Overall – RHP Denton Lord – South Walton HS (FL)

Potential, potential, potential. Right-hander Denton Lord was a teammate of Padres 1st-rounder Coleman Borthwick at South Walton High School in Florida, and was in contention with him as one of the top right-handed high school pitchers in the draft. Lord stands at a towering 6-foot-8 and possesses some of the most projectable raw stuff in the draft. The right-hander has been up to 97 mph on his fastball, which has sat at 91-94 regularly in game action. He has the potential to find that extra juice when he needs it in games, and hasn’t yet reached his ceiling there.

His curveball/slider comes in between 81-84 mph with two-plane action, and is somewhat undefined in terms of its shape. Professional development could allow Lord to develop the pitch into a curveball or a slider (or both), and the pitch will gain velocity and sharpness as he matures. His changeup is his strongest secondary, as it has a spin rate around 1900 rpm at 85-88 mph in game action. Lord’s changeup has plenty of tumble and armside face, especially from the release point it comes from. 

The ceiling for Lord is incredibly high, as he has the potential to be a Tyler Glasnow sort at the front end of a Major League rotation. His stuff may not be as insane as that of his teammate Borthwick, but his mechanics show consistent repeatability, rare for an arm of his size. The biggest challenge the Padres will face is signability, as Lord announced after Day 1 of the draft that he planned to honor his commitment to Mississippi State instead of signing a professional contract. The Padres did make a plethora of selections who could fall under slot, so the team is likely to apply the Ted DiBiase rule in their negotiations with the right-hander’s camp. 

Round 18 – 545th Overall – C Mark Quatrani – Notre Dame

A highly coveted player in the transfer portal last season, Mark Quatrani had a breakout campaign with the University of Notre Dame. After two seasons at Cornell, Quatrani transferred to the Fighting Irish, where he slashed .376/.457/.643 in 53 games. The Irish catcher hit 15 home runs, drove in 66 runs, and threw out 15 baserunners attempting to steal bases. Quatrani has freakish raw power, as he has posted exit velocities of over 113 mph. His EV90 of 102.9 mph was one of the highest in the class, and his approach is one of the most pro-ready in the draft.

Quatrani absolutely destroys fastballs, not expanding the zone too much compared to the prototypical slugger. His swing is very repeatable, but adjusting fastballs to breaking balls has at times given him trouble. Even with these concerns, Quatrani is disciplined and can put up tough at-bats for opponents. Defensively, Quatrani’s game has the tools to stick behind the plate, but as a unit grades out as average. His framing is above average, and he can manage a pitching staff effectively (just look at his work with 1st-rounder Jack Radel). However, his pop times and arm strength affect his ability to control the running game. Quatrani could eventually make the move to first base, but if the defense develops, he has the ability to be a power-over-hit catcher with solid defense. 

Round 19 – 575th Overall – LHP Chris Downs – Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Left-hander Chris Downs brings both energy and plus breaking stuff coming out of Cal Poly. Measuring at 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds, the southpaw threw 58.1 innings for the Mustangs this season to the tune of a 5.71 ERA. Downs’ season numbers may not jump off the page, as he struck out 20.2% of batters while walking 7.9%. The left-hander possesses an impressive slider in the 82-85 mph range, and the pitch has sharp late drop.

His fastball sits at 87-91 mph with cutting action, playing best in the top of the strike zone. The left-hander pitched in relief in all 27 of his games this season, but he falls into the Jamie Hitt camp of “college reliever who has the tools to start at the next level”. 

Round 20 – 605th Overall – OF Ezekiel Zion – Campo Verde HS (AZ)

A twitchy outfielder from the Arizona prep scene, Ezekiel Zion may have the name of a Spanish-language science fiction character, but on the diamond possess some impressive tools that make his selection one of the most intriguing of the class. Zion is a toolsy, athletic outfielder who has shown remarkable gap-to-gap contact and power as an amateur. The rare right-handed hitter who throws left-handed, his right-handed swing starts fairly tall. Zion is able to get his hands through the zone, though there is some lag when bringing the barrel through the zone.

His lower half is fairly engaged in his swing, though there is room to incorporate it more to drive the ball with authority. Even with areas for growth in his swing, Zion possesses the bat speed to generate power. His defense out on the grass is strong for a player of his age, as he possesses the speed and mobility to make plays in either direction with comfort and regularity. Currently a center fielder, it is likely the Padres will get him work at all three outfield positions in the pros. Committed to community college, it is highly likely that Zion and San Diego will agree. 

Diego Garcia

A born and raised San Diegan, Diego Garcia is a lifetime Padres fan and self-proclaimed baseball nerd. Diego wrote about baseball on his own site between 2021-22 before joining the East Village Times team in 2024. He also posts baseball content on his YouTube channel “Stat Nerd Baseball”, creating content around trades, hypotheticals, player analyses, the San Diego Padres, and MLB as a whole.

A 2024 graduate of San Diego State, Diego aims to grow as a writer and content creator in the baseball community.