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The Padres used their third of three first round picks today to take another college arm, but this one is healthy (or so we hope). The 25th overall pick in the draft went to Eric Lauer, a starting pitcher out of Kent State university. The Padres actually took a Kent State SP in the past way back when in 1994 when they took Dustin Hermansen. Hermansen was probably best known by Padres fans as the guy the club used to trade for Quilvio Veras.
Enough about Hermansen, let’s see what MLB.com says about Lauer:
The 2016 MAC pitcher of the year had a spectacular junior season, allowing just three earned runs in his final 12 starts and leading NCAA Division I with a 0.69 ERA that's the lowest for a starter at that level since 1979. Lauer has four effective pitches and mixes them well. His best offerings are a low-90s fastball that reaches 94 mph and features some cutting action and nice downhill plane, and a solid 78-83 mph slider. Lauer also possesses a mid-70s curveball and a changeup with some sink and fade Lauer's athletic, effortless delivery allows him to repeat his mechanics and throw quality strikes. While he doesn't have a true out pitch or a lofty ceiling, he may have a higher floor than any left-hander in the 2016 Draft. Lauer projects as a mid-rotation starter.
It’s not sexy, but for a pick in the mid 20s it's pretty nice. It’s interesting that both Lauer and the Padres’ first selection of the day, Cal Quantrill, have 4 effective pitches and throw with about the same velocity. Do the Padres have a type? It’s probably just a coincidence. Especially since with Lauer we are talking about a southpaw whereas Quantrill deals from the right hand side.
This selection was awarded to the Padres as compensation for losing Ian Kennedy in free agency to the Kansas City Royals. A nice bit of symmetry that the Padres got a pitcher as compensation for a pitcher after selecting a position player in Hudson Sanchez as compensation for position player Justin Upton.
Here's some video courtesy of YouTube and Baseball America
Previous Picks:
Check out our MLB Draft 2016 primer for information on following this year’s Draft, and join the conversation in our MLB Draft 2016 Day One Open Thread.