Padres' picks Potts, Lauer, Thompson agree to deals

Shortstop, pitchers among 5 draftees reported to sign

June 14th, 2016

SAN DIEGO -- After signing top Draft choice Cal Quantrill on Monday, five more top Padres picks have agreed to deals.

Hudson Potts (No. 24 overall) -- formerly known as Hudson Sanchez -- Eric Lauer (No. 25), Mason Thompson (third round), Joey Lucchesi (fourth round) and Lake Bachar (fifth round) all signed, according to MLB.com's Jim Callis.

After being drafted, Potts informed the Padres he'd be changing his last name to that of his stepfather. He signed a $1 million deal -- well under his slot's recommended value of $2,191,200. Lauer agreed to a $2 million deal.

With the signings, the Padres currently sit about $460,000 under the recommended slot values of those six spots, giving them some room to maneuver with their remaining signings.

Padres' 2016 Draft picks

The 17-year-old Potts, who was the second-youngest player selected in the first two rounds, is a high-upside shortstop with quick hands, a good arm and a chance to develop some power. Many feel as though he's better suited for third base or a corner outfield spot.

"I'm more comfortable with shortstop, just because I've played there my whole life," Potts said. "But I know I'm athletic [enough] to move wherever the organization would like me to play, and I'm open for anything. I know I'll be productive wherever they want me to play."

2016 Draft signing and bonus tracker

Lauer, a left-hander from Kent State, agreed to a figure $159,900 below slot.

Thompson, meanwhile, went over his $730,000 recommended slot value as projected, signing for $1.75 million. That's largely the result of Thompson's commitment to Texas and the fact that he was a first-round-level talent before undergoing Tommy John surgery last March.

"We saw it as an opportunity to take a guy who definitely would not have been there in that spot if he had stayed healthy for two seasons," Padres general manager A.J. Preller said after the selection. "We felt like with the risk, the reward is a big-upside right-handed pitcher."

Thompson has fully recovered from the surgery and even threw one inning at Round Rock High School in his state playoffs. He was also able to throw several bullpen sessions for scouts, during which he showcased his athleticism and easy fastball velocity, which can reach 95 mph. He also has a solid curveball and average changeup.

As for Lucchesi ($100,000 bonus) and Bachar ($350,000 bonus) -- both signed for slightly under their suggested slot value.

Pitching for Southeast Missouri State, Lucchesi led all Division I pitchers with 149 strikeouts during the 2016 season. Bachar, meanwhile, was a two-sport star at UW-Whitewater, where he was also the kicker and punter on back-to-back Division III national championship teams. Like Lucchesi, Bachar fanned 149 this year, and he allowed only 29 walks while posting a 2.41 ERA.

Among the Padres who remain unsigned are Kent State left-hander Eric Lauer (first round, No. 25 overall), University of Florida center fielder Buddy Reed (second round, No. 48) and high-school right-hander Reggie Lawson (Lottery Round B, No. 71).

The Friars have now spent $7,163,045 of their $12,869,200 bonus-pool allotment -- the third largest in the Majors this season.

"My guess is we'll probably come close to spending every penny," Preller said earlier this week.