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3 hours ago
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The San Diego Padres used the 25th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft to select 6-foot-8 left-hander Kruz Schoolcraft out of Sunset High School in Portland, Oregon.
With Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani likely inspiring a new generation of young players to pursue two-way roles, MLB teams now face a key question: Do they want their draft picks to take on the challenge of pitching and hitting?
During his senior season, Schoolcraft dominated on the mound with a 0.53 ERA and 82 strikeouts over 40 innings. He also stood out at the plate, putting up a 1.657 OPS and hitting 10 home runs.
Even though Schoolcraft excelled as a two-way player in high school, the Padres made it clear that they want their first-round pick to focus on pitching, as it’s the fastest path for him to reach the majors.
“He’s going to go out as a pitcher only,” Chris Kemp, the Director of International Scouting for the Padres, said while speaking to the media. “One thing with Kruz—he understands his fastest route to the big leagues will be as a pitcher only. But it was something we prepared for.
“We had a two-way packet plan for him if that was the route he wanted to go. After talking with Kruz, he understands his fastest track to Petco Park will be pitching only, so we’ll be going that route.”
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Although the Padres have made it clear their newest prospect won’t be a two-way player, Schoolcraft understood San Diego’s reasoning for telling him to focus on pitching.
“Obviously, I want to hit as long as I can,” Schoolcraft said (h/t MLB). “But I want to be a big leaguer as long as I can and as fast as I can. Whatever I can do to get there, that’s the path I’ll take.”
The Padres want to hit on their first-round pick, so it makes sense that they put the player in the best position possible to succeed and become a major leaguer in a few years.
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