MLB Draft 2017: Padres select High School C Blake Hunt with 69th overall pick

With their final pick of the day the Padres made a nice selection with Mater Dei (CA) High School catcher Blake Hunt. Out of the three picks the Friars made on the day, Hunt is the second high school catcher taken. Like the Padres’ current catcher, Austin Hedges, Hunt is a southern California defense-first type of catcher. The buzz around around him is that he was a late riser in this draft. Like the Padres’ 2nd round pick Luis Campusano-Bracero, Hunt worked on his physique in the winter. He put on weight and found some power to go with his excellent catching skills.

Blake Hunt does have a college commitment to Pepperdine, but the spot the Padres took him might be a little higher than he would have expected and would garner a bonus of a potentially convincing amount.