Padres select LHP Kruz Schoolcraft in first round
SAN DIEGO (KYMA, KECY) - The Padres added a towering new arm to their future rotation Sunday, selecting six-foot, eight-inch left-hander Kruz Schoolcraft out of Sunset High School in Oregon with the 25th overall pick in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft.
The pick continues a clear organizational trend San Diego has now taken a high school player in the first round nine years in a row, and this marks the fourth time during that stretch they've gone with a left-handed starter.
Padres scouting director Chris Kemp said Schoolcraft stood out physically and mentally.
"Kruz is a bit alarming in a good way," Kemp said. "It's a unique package, the way he moves. And he's a solid six-foot-eight and 229 pounds. He's super focused with a lot of upside and potential. He can do a lot of things we love."
Kemp also praised the young pitcher's maturity and intelligence, saying, "He's also one of the smarter players I've scouted since I've been with the Padres. The way he goes about his process is on another level from kids his age."
During pre-draft visits, Kemp noted that Schoolcraft was more interested in talking about his high school team’s state championship than his personal accolades, a reflection of his team-first mentality. That mindset came through again in his first comments after the draft.
"I'm grateful for this opportunity," Schoolcraft said. "I want to learn and develop, become the best player I can be, and help win a World Series. When I'm on the mound, I want to beat the guy that’s hitting, and I want to play for my teammates. I just want to win. I really don't like losing at all."
Schoolcraft also comes from a baseball-driven household.
"The family loves the game," Kemp said. "Kruz loves the game. They love hosting players playing for the Hillsboro Hops. He's been surrounded by baseball players."
The Padres are hoping that background, combined with Schoolcraft's raw talent and work ethic, will help him grow into a key piece of their pitching future.
