Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

Mayfield won Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year honors in 2023 and 2024 but took the summer off in between those years to preserve his health. A standout showing at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in February 2024 helped his Draft stock, and after he carried that momentum into spring, the Padres selected him 25th overall and signed him for $3,442,100. Mayfield posted a 2.97 ERA and struck out 88 over 60 2/3 innings with Single-A Lake Elsinore in his first full season; his 34.1 percent strikeout and 23.3 percent K-BB rates ranked second and third among 163 Single-A pitchers with at least 60 frames in 2025. He continued to perform with High-A Fort Wayne in 2026 when he was traded to the Tigers in a Deadline deal centered around Casey Mize.

The 6-foot-4 southpaw’s fastball velocity rose to where he was sitting 92-95 mph and touching 97 in his final amateur spring, but that fell closer to 90-92 (touching 95) in the California League. He lost some weight due to a spring sickness and was hampered by shoulder trouble in the first half, and both could have contributed. He gained some ride on the pitch to help get whiffs in ’26, though the velo held steady, around 90-93 mph. Mayfield’s low-80s changeup is the show stopper anyways -- a true plus pitch he sells with arm speed, only to dive down and armside late. Mayfield’s upper-70s slider has slurvy characteristics, and he was more successful against righties as a result.

Mayfield has a repeatable and loose delivery, and while he’s walked between 10-11 percent of batters in each of his first two stops, he should have enough control to start as he matures. Getting lefties to expand more against the slider could help him deliver strikes as he heads to the second organization of his career.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

Mayfield was a two-time Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year in 2023 and '24 out of Elk City High School. He took the summer off between those two campaigns, eschewing the showcase circuit in order to preserve his health following a heavy workload in ’23, and the move seemed to pay off. He stood out in the Super 60 Pro Showcase in February and continued his momentum throughout the spring. Evaluators believed he could sneak into the back of the first round, and that’s just what he did when the Padres selected him 25th overall in July and signed him for slot at $3,442,100.

The 6-foot-4 left-hander showed improved velocity in his final amateur spring, pushing his fastball to sit 92-95 mph and touch 97 with good carry and armside run. His low-80s changeup appears to be his best pitch -- something not often said about high-school arms -- with significant drop as it reaches the plate. It’s something hitters have to constantly worry about, and that helps the fastball play up too. Mayfield also locates a slurvy upper-70s breaking ball well, but it doesn’t have standout shape and could be sharper.

The former Oklahoma State commit repeats his delivery well at this early stage of his development, and his command was advanced coming out of high school. His improved velocity as a senior calmed some concerns among scouts who didn’t get to see him in the summer, and even though he’s already 20 entering his first full season, he still has plenty of runway to become a potential mid-rotation arm in the Padres system.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

Gatorade's 2023 Oklahoma High School Player of the Year as a junior, Mayfield took the summer off following a heavy workload en route to the Oklahoma 4-A state semifinals. Scouts had him on their radar but weren't expecting him to break out and become a potential first-rounder this spring. He starred at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in February, touched 96 mph in his first game a month later and never let up while repeating as the state's Gatorade winner. The Padres selected the southpaw with the 25th overall pick in July and signed him for slot value at $3,442,100.

After working with an upper-80s fastball last spring, Mayfield is dealing at 92-95 mph and reaching 97 with armside run and carry. He already possesses an advanced changeup that parks in the low 80s and drops at the plate, making his heater even more effective. His slurvy upper-70s breaking ball stands out more for his ability to locate it than its power or shape.

Mayfield creates extension with his fluid delivery and repeats it well, enabling him to put his pitches where he wants. The former Oklahoma State recruit was a bit scary for some teams because of a lack of track record and data from the showcase circuit, but his upside is obvious. He may have more projection remaining and shares some similarities with Jordan Wicks -- while being a much better prospect at the same stage.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

Gatorade's 2023 Oklahoma high school player of the year as a junior, Mayfield took the summer off following a heavy workload en route to the Oklahoma 4-A state semifinals. Scouts had him on their radar but weren't expecting him to break out and become a potential first-rounder this spring. He starred at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in February, touched 96 mph in his first game a month later and never let up while repeating as the state's Gatorade winner.

After working with an upper-80s fastball last spring, Mayfield is dealing at 92-95 mph and reaching 97 with armside run and carry. He already possesses an advanced changeup that parks in the low 80s and drops at the plate, making his heater even more effective. His slurvy upper-70s breaking ball stands out more for his ability to locate it than its power or shape.

Mayfield creates extension with his fluid delivery and repeats it well, enabling him to put his pitches where he wants. The Oklahoma State recruit is a bit scary for some teams because of a lack of track record and data from the showcase circuit, and some clubs will quibble with his age (19 years, 5 months on Draft Day), but his upside is obvious. He may have more projection remaining and shares some similarities with Jordan Wicks -- while being a much better prospect at the same stage.

Awards

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2026

MID Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
05/17/2026

CAL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2025

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/11/2026	West Michigan Whitecaps placed LHP Kash Mayfield on the 7-day injured list.
	08/04/2026	West Michigan Whitecaps activated LHP Kash Mayfield.
	08/03/2026	Detroit Tigers traded RHP Casey Mize and 3B Gage Workman to San Diego Padres for LHP Kash Mayfield and LHP Jackson Wolf.
	08/03/2026	LHP Kash Mayfield assigned to West Michigan Whitecaps.
	08/03/2026	LHP Kash Mayfield roster status changed by West Michigan Whitecaps.
	07/11/2026	National League Futures activated LHP Kash Mayfield.
	03/28/2026	LHP Kash Mayfield assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm.
	03/05/2026	LHP Kash Mayfield assigned to San Diego Padres Prospects.
	03/31/2025	LHP Kash Mayfield assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.
	03/06/2025	activated LHP Kash Mayfield.
	08/05/2024	LHP Kash Mayfield assigned to ACL Padres.
	07/24/2024	San Diego Padres signed LHP Kash Mayfield.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated LHP Kash Mayfield.
	05/29/2024	College Workout activated LHP Kash Mayfield.