Breakdown on Padres first-round draft selection Kash Mayfield

The San Diego Padres selected Kash Mayfield with the 25th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft

Photo byKash Mayfield

The Padres took a big gamble when selecting Kash Mayfield out of Elk City, Oklahoma. For the ninth straight year, Padres general manager A.J. Preller drafted a high schooler with the first-round pick.

“We go into it, it’s best player available,” Preller said to the media after day one of the draft. “I think, a little bit maybe in the industry right now, it seems to be pretty heavy on the college side. So that’s opened us up to some players on the high school side that we’ve really liked.”

Mayfield has a ton of upside and was one of the best players in the state of Oklahoma for his entire high school career. He is a two-time Gatorade Oklahoma High School Player of the Year winner. The 19-year-old is 6-foot-4 and a little bit over 200 lbs.

Kash Mayfield, LHP, Prep, 19.5 y/o

Very easy delivery that is incredibly repeatable, should have 0 problems sticking as a starter. He’s 6’4 200 and the velo has bumped up since last summer getting up to 98 in stints, but he normally is in the 93-95 range with 15-19’ iVB and… pic.twitter.com/ai00jnTTDL

— Danny (@TatisMVPszn) July 14, 2024

According to Perfect Game, the lefty is the 17th-ranked player in the nation and the second-ranked left-handed pitcher. He's the top player in Oklahoma overall. He is committed to Oklahoma State University but seems ready to make the jump to the professional level.

He spoke to reporters after his draft selection.

“This is something I've always wanted to do ever since I was a little kid,” Mayfield said. “Always wanted to go play at Oklahoma State. But pro ball was always that top gig I always wanted to do ever since I was a little kid. So I'm extremely excited.”

High School Statistics

In 2022-23, Mayfield finished the season (9-1) with a 0.75 ERA, striking out 109 batters with 13 walks.

In 44 innings, Mayfield finished the 2023-24 season (9-0) with a 0.16 ERA and 115 strikeouts, allowing just one run, four hits, and eight walks.

On the offensive side, he had 25 hits (all of them extra-base hits) with 31 RBIs and 38 runs scored. It is not every day that you see a player not hit a single all season. He had 12 doubles and 11 triples with two home runs.

The one issue Mayfield had entering the draft was his lack of experience and data scouts can use to analyze. Clearly, the talent is there. He has two pitches that he uses a majority of the time, and he only pitched 44 innings last year.

Pitching Arsenal

The southpaw throws a total of four pitches. He utilizes a fastball with changeup more often than not. He also has a slider and a curveball, however, he hasn't thrown the curve in years. According to Prep Baseball, His fastball tops out at 94 with averages anywhere from 92-94. MLB.com mentions his fastball can hit 98 with arm side run and carry. The changeup seems to be his go-to pitch and is anywhere between 79-82 MPH on average. That makes his heater even better.

The San Diego Padres select Kash Mayfield with the 25 overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft.

➡️ Easy & repeatable delivery
➡️ Fastball has hit 98 MPH
➡️ Good Late & Fast Arm action
➡️++Changeup

He will need a better 3rd pitch & he will be 20 by ST 25.’pic.twitter.com/RPaR4vmZFB

— Clark Fahrenthold (@CFahrenthold11) July 15, 2024

The Padres will see Mayfield enter the top-30 prospect list in no time.