During the 2025 MLB Draft, the San Diego Padres took high school pitcher Kruz Schoolcraft from Portland, Oregon. He is a left-handed pitcher with a huge 6-foot-8 frame, which makes him a standout on the mound. He can also play first base, but he will likely focus on just pitching for the time being.
Schoolcraft has clocked a 97 mph fastball, and he has an excellent changeup to play off of that high velocity. He is somebody the fanbase should be excited about, but there may be another high school flamethrower that could make the fanbase happy.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter came out with an early mock draft next season, and points to San Diego taking Gio Rojas. Rojas, a left-handed pitcher from Stoneman Douglas HS in Florida, can also run his fastball up to 97 mph.
The Padres love their HS prospects
If San Diego were to take Rojas with their first-round pick next year, it would not shock many. After taking Schoolcraft last month, the Padres have now taken nine straight high school players in the first round.
They believe in selecting high upside high schoolers in the draft. It allows them to mold and shape their development earlier in their career, instead of taking a college player who may have picked up a bad habit.
Rojas could be the first high school arm taken in the first round. With how projectable he is, there is certainly a possibility that he goes much earlier than where the Padres are drafting.
