The Padres have signed a supplemental first-round pick Justin Lange and second round Owen CaissieJim Callis of MLB.com tweets (links: 1, 2). Lange will earn $ 2MM, while Caissie agreed to a bonus worth $ 1,200,004.
Like the 34th overall pick, the Lange pick came with a recommended value of $ 2,148,100. Shares of Texas-based high school right-wingers and Dallas Baptist recruit have increased over the past year, thanks in part to a fastball that has shot up to the 95-100 mph range. According to Baseball America, which ranked him the 50th best player in this year’s draft class, “Lange has all the building blocks to be an impact shooter at the next level.” That said, there are concerns about its command and its slider, according to BA.
Caissie, the 45th option, also signed below the ranking, as her selection came with a recommended value of $ 1,650,200. The Canadian high school outfielder, who got engaged to Michigan before the draft, brings “super-projected power,” an above-average career and a big arm on the table, according to Callis. BA only ranked Caissie as the 180th overall player before the draft, although MLB.com was much more optimistic by placing him at No. 75.
With the Padres securing Lange, Caissie, and three other teams, they have only one unsigned team: third round right. Cole Wilcox. Money shouldn’t be a hurdle, though, as Wilcox’s No. 80 pick is worth $ 767,800 and, as Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune points out, the Padres can still spend up to $ 3.3MM plus.
