College infielder Vilter the pick in round nine

The Padres continued their run on college position players on Friday when they selected UC Riverside infielder Ryan Vilter in the ninth round of the First-Year Player Draft.

Vilter, who was the 267th overall pick, is 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. He hit .294 this spring with a team-best 10 home runs. He also knocked in 33 runs, was hit 14 times and had a .442 on-base percentage.

Vilter was recommended by Padres scout Josh Emmerick.

"Vilter is big strong athletic kid with good actions, arm and pop in his bat," Emmerick said. "He can really drive the ball through the middle of the field when he squares it. Good makeup kid with work ethic. Has a chance to be an infielder with power."

Vilter played shortstop and some second base this past season, but he pegs more as a corner infielder in the future. He became the fifth college position player the Padres drafted in the first nine rounds.

The Draft concludes on Saturday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 10 a.m. PT.