Padres draft big righty Megill in 7th round
SAN DIEGO -- The Cardinals thought enough of Trevor Megill to draft the big right-hander in the third round last June even though he didn't throw a single pitch in 2014 for Loyola Marymount University, as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
So you can imagine why the Padres feel like they got a real steal when Megill was still around in the seventh round.
"We're very optimistic about his future," said Padres scouting director Mark Conner. "Near the end of the year, he was throwing the ball extremely well. We're looking forward to having him progress."
Megill, still working his way back from surgery after the 2013 season, was still working his way back in the fall and early spring when his velocity and command weren't where he would have liked, as the was throwing 88-92 mph.
But toward the end of the season, he was throwing 90-96 with improved command, said Padres area scout Brent Mayne, the former big league catcher.
"His last five starts, he really turned it on. His command came back, velo bumped up to 90-96, and secondary was good. I think this kid is a big leaguer within three years."
Megill, who is 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, was 4-4 with a 3.71 ERA this season.
The Draft concludes on Wednesday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 on MLB.com beginning at noon ET.
Round 6: RHP Jordan Guerrero, Polk State College, FL
Get a load of this; Guerrero is 6-foot-5, 280 pounds. He struck out 28 in 22 2/3 innings this past spring as a reliever at Polk State and impressed scouts with his big right arm.
"[We've] seen him up to 98 mph this spring with limited effort to his delivery," said Padres area scout Chris Kelly. "A young kid that has a ton of upside and is just scratching the surface of his ability. I saw him throw in high school last year and he was 90-91 and he's made a huge jump this season and I think he will continue to develop."
Round 8: OF Aldemar Burgos, Beltran Academy, Puerto Rico
Burgos comes with a reputation as an instinctive center fielder with plus defense. He's actually one of three center fielders the Padres picked on the second day of the Draft. All three could remain there as well, Conner said.
"All three are athletic," he said.
Round 9: LHP Jerry Keel, Cal State Northridge
In 14 starts this spring, Keel was 5-7 with a 2.66 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings. He had just 22 walks in that stretch. A senior, Keel threw 370 1/3 innings in his college career, the most of any pitcher in school history. He becomes the first Matador selected by the Padres since pitcher Leo Rosales in 2003.
Round 10: OF Justin Pacchioli, Lehigh (PA)
The Padres went for athletes on the second day of the Draft, taking three athletic outfielders, one of whom was Pacchioli, who was clocked in the 60-yard dash at 6.39 on scout's day last fall.
"He has impact speed," said Padres area scout Tom Burns of Pacchioli. "He's a plus athlete and plays hard. He's disruptive on the bases and makes things happen."
Pacchioli led the Texas Collegiate League in hitting last summer and hit .342 with 31 steals with Lehigh this spring and was a unanimous first-team Patriot League selection and is the school's career leaders in steals (69).