San Diego Padres

Padres scouting director unfazed by drafting first at No. 51

Published May. 20, 2015 7:55 p.m. ET

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When Mark Conner took over the job of Padres scouting director last November, the Padres were set to pick at No. 13 and No. 41 overall. Now the team won’t be picking until the secong round at No. 51 overall, thanks to A.J. Preller’s offseason moves. Although initially resistant to lose the 13th pick in exchange for James Shields, Conner has a positive spin on it now, according to MLB.com:

"The way I look at it is, it is fun to have the challenge not having those first two picks.”

The quality of the draft this year is the reason why he isn’t too concerned. He said:

"Seven years from now, we might say we shouldn't have given up those picks, but I think that this Draft is really lacking elite guys at the top," Conner said. "At No. 51, I think we're at as good a spot as if we were picking at 13.”

The Padres have arguably not had a significant first-round pick since 2002 when they drafted Khalil Green. The team seems to have had more success in the second round with Jedd Gyorko, Chase Headley and Nick Hundley all being drafted in that round over the course of the last ten years. The 2015 draft begins June 8.

(h/t MLB.com)

Photo credit: David Manning/USA TODAY Sports