Padres make three selections in Compensation Round of 2012 Draft

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres selected four players on the first day of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft, including three in the Compensation Round.  The 40-round draft continues tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. PT with rounds 2-15. 

In the first round, the Padres selected left-hander Max Fried at seventh overall.  In the compensation round, the club selected right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin at 33^rd overall out of Hagerty High School (FL) as compensation for right-handed pitcher Heath Bell. Recommended by Padres Area Scout Willie Bosque, the 18-year-old went 7-0 with a 0.51 ERA in 43 innings pitched, allowing just 16 hits and 11 walks with 59 strikeouts during his senior campaign. 

With the 44^th overall selection in compensation for right-handed pitcher Aaron Harang, the Padres selected center fielder Travis Jankowski out of Stony Brook University (NY). During his junior campaign this past season, he hit .412 (94-for-228) with 17 doubles, nine triples, five home runs, 45 RBI, 70 runs scored, 30 stolen bases in 35 attempts and 21 walks against just 17 strikeouts.  Recommended by Padres Area Scout Jim Bretz, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Cape Cod Summer League in 2011, hitting .329 with 22 RBI and 15 steals and leading the Cape League in hits (57), runs (31) and triples (seven).  A native of Lancaster, PA, Jankowski turns 21 years old on June 15. 

With their final selection of Day 1, the Padres selected right-handed pitcher Walker Weickel out of OIympia High School (FL) with the 55^th-overall selection in compensation for catcher Brett Austin.  Also recommended by Padres Area Scout Willie Bosque, Weickel went 12-1 with a 1.22 ERA in 66 innings pitched, allowing just 27 hits and 25 walks against 87 strikeouts during his senior campaign.  The 18-year-old also played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park.

Below is a look at the Padres draft selections through the First Round and Compensation Round:

        RD.      PLAYER                                 POS.         HT             WT         SCHOOL                                              HOMETOWN

           1.      Max Fried (7^th)                        LHP          6-4            170         Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)                 Encino, CA

   Comp.      Zach Eflin (33^rd)                     RHP         6-5            200         Hagerty HS (FL)                                   Chuluota, FL.

   Comp.      Travis Jankowski (44^th)          CF           6-3            190         Stony Brook University (NY)              Lancaster, PA

   Comp.      Walker Weickel (55^th)            RHP         6-6            195         Olympia HS (FL)                                  Orlando, FL