With the eighth overall pick in the draft, the Padres selected Stanford right-hander Cal Quantrill. MLB.com had Quantrill going 24th overall to the Padres – a pick the Padres acquired as compensation for the Detroit Tigers signing Justin Upton-- and ESPN's Keith Law noted there was a rumor that Quantrill already has a deal in place with the Padres at this slot. While this is technically against MLB rules, it certainly happens. And, although Law admits that it may only be a rumor, he also finds it somewhat strange that Quantrill hasn’t pitched since coming back from Tommy John surgery in May.
Baseball America also had the Padres taking Quantrill, but playing a slightly safer angle and taking him with the 8th overall pick. That all being said, ESPN was the only one to place Quantrill with anyone but the Padres, opting instead to project him as the Cardinals' 23rd overall pick.
Quantrill joins a Padres' organization that does not have a right-hander within its top five prospects, and will begin a rebuilding of a system that was decimated by trades two winters ago. San Diego is expected to trade veteran starters this winter, opening the door for younger arms to fill in their major-league rotation.
Quantrill, 20, required Tommy John surgery last season and hasn’t quite hit the hype that many believed he would. That being said, Quantrill’s four pitches seem to be destined for the workload of a starting pitcher.
MLB.com has Quantrill ranked as the 22nd-best prospect on the draft board, while BA ranked him 38th. He definitely has the upside to go during the first round of the draft, however, he seems to be up against a draft that includes plenty of right-handed pitching prospects without a suspect injury history.