Padres select eight players on second day of 2014 First-Year Player Draft
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres selected eight players today on the second day of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft. The 40-round draft concludes tomorrow with rounds 11-40 starting at 10:00 am P.T.
After the second day of drafting, the Padres have selected a total of 10 players through the first 10 rounds. The 10 players consist of four pitchers (three right-handed, one left-handed), two infielders, three outfielders and a catcher. San Diego has drafted eight college players and two high school players.
Zech Lemond, 21, was selected by the Padres in the third round (86th overall). He is a 6-1, 170 pound right-handed pitcher out of Rice University who posted a 4-1 record with a 1.34 ERA (8 ER, 53.2 IP) with three saves over 15 appearances, five starts, during his junior season for the Owls in 2014. Was moved from the bullpen to the rotation on March 7 and went 2-0 with 1.25 ERA (5 ER, 36.0 IP) in his five starts and averaged 7.1 innings as the team's Friday night starter, including 36 strikeouts in 36.0 innings pitched. The Houston, TX, native set the school record for saves during the 2013 season after he closed the door on 14 games for the Owls, surpassing the previous mark of 13 set by future Major Leaguers David Aardsma and Tony Cingrani.
Nick Torres, 20, was selected by the Padres in the fourth round (117th overall). He is a 6-1, 210-pound outfielder out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The Long Beach, CA, native hit .322 (78-for-242) with 17 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 53 RBI, 13 walks and 39 runs scored during his junior season with the Mustangs in 2014 en route to being named to the Big West Conference's All-Conference team for the second consecutive year. He was rated by Baseball America as the 117th-best overall prospect in the 2014 draft class, the 10th-best college outfielder and the 22nd-best outfielder overall.
Auston Bousfield, 20, was selected by the Padres in the fifth round (147th overall). He is a 5-11, 190-pound outfielder out of the University of Mississippi. The Oakland, FL, native hit .349 (91-for-261) with 16 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 48 RBI and 55 runs scored in 62 games for the Rebels during his junior season in 2014. His season at the plate ranked him among the leaders in the Southeastern Conference in several offensive categories, including: hits (1st), total bases (129), runs scored (4th) and batting average (4th). The right-handed hitter was the 2014 recipient of the Ferris Award as the best player in the state of Mississippi.
Zach Risedorf, 18, was selected by the Padres in the sixth round (177th overall). He is a 5-11, 190-pound catcher out of Northwest Regional High School (CT). The right-handed hitting backstop is committed to attend the University of Connecticut this fall.
Ryan Butler, 22, was selected by the Padres in the seventh round (207th overall). He is a 6-5, 210-pound right-handed pitcher out of the University of North Carolina - Charlotte. The Charlotte, NC, native posted a 5-7 record with a 3.47 ERA (32 ER, 83.0 IP) with 49 strikeouts against 27 walks in 13 appearances, all starts, during his redshirt junior season for the 49ers in 2014. Butler threw two complete games in a span of three starts this season, the first on April 5 and the second on April 18. The right-hander, who started at Marshall University before first transferring to Florida State Junior College, was rated by Baseball America as the 141st-best prospect available in the 2014 draft class.
Mitch Watrous, 21, was selected by the Padres in the eighth round (237th overall). The 6-0, 205-pound right-handed pitcher out of the University of Utah finished the 2014 season with 3-7 record with a 3.91 ERA (42 ER, 96.2 IP) with 76 strikeouts against 26 walks while limiting the opposition to a .250 batting average over 15 games, all starts, during his junior season with the Utes in 2014. A native of Riverton, UT, Watrous was named honorable mention All-Pac-12 as the Utes Friday night starter. The right-handed pitcher was rated by Baseball America as being the 167th-best prospect available in the 2014 draft class and the top prospect out of the state of Utah.
Nick Vilter, 21, was selected by the Padres in the ninth round (267th overall). He is a 6-4, 220-pound infielder out of the University of California - Riverside. The Seal Beach, CA, native hit .294 (47-for-160) with nine doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 33 RBI, 30 walks and 37 runs scored in 48 games for the Highlanders during his junior season in 2014. His performance at the plate last season earned Vilter Honorable Mention All-Big-West Honors. His sister, Bridget Merritt, played volleyball at the University of San Diego from 1999-2003.
Thomas Dorminy, 21, was selected by the Padres in the tenth round (297th overall). The 6-0, 195-pound left-handed pitcher out of Faulkner University (AL) finished the 2014 season with a 11-3 record with a 3.22 ERA (39 ER, 109.0 IP) with 131 strikeouts against 24 walks while limiting the opposition to a .222 batting average in 18 games, 16 starts, including five complete games, for the Eagles during his junior season in 2014. The Lutz, FL, native began his collegiate career at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (AL) before transferring to Faulkner University in 2013, who he led to the NAIA baseball championship this last season.