Padres land Robert Hassell III in The Athletic’s first-round mock draft

Keith Law of the The Athletic released the inaugural edition of his first-round mock draft for this year’s 2020 MLB draft and the Padres come away with outfielder Robert Hassell III out of Independence High School with the 12th-overall pick.

Hassell III was the second high-school player off the board following the Kansas City Royals selection of outfielder Zac Veen, who will be graduating Spruce Creek High School in Florida.

Here’s the short note by Law on the selection of Hassell III:

“I wouldn’t rule out the Padres going college here, depending on who’s available, but I think they’re the first team likely to take a high school bat, which would probably be Hassell or Veen.”

On Perfectgame.org, Hassell III is listed as an OF/1B/LHP. At 6’2 and 190 pounds, he’s got a “lean high-waisted build” that projects to have plenty of room to get stronger in the future.

Here’s the rest of his profile from Perfect Game:

“Moves well in the outfield with light feet and good overall athleticism and bounce, can use his lower half more throwing. Left handed hitter, wide slightly open stance, has fast hands he uncoils well to start his swing, uphill swing plane with good extension out front, projects power, ball jumps when squared, loose and easy swing. Also pitched, quick compact delivery with a clean and fast arm stroke, high 3/4’s with some whip out front, some spinal tilt to get his arm through. Fastball topped out at 90 mph, shows a tight slider that bites hard and that he has feel for, flashed a change up. High level athlete with plenty of projection left, could end up as a two-way player if he goes to school. Good student, verbal commitment to Vanderbilt. Named to play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.”