Seeing an opportunity to add an ultra-athletic, five-tool player to an already loaded system, the Padres went all-in in their pursuit of Head, taking him in the third round and then signing him for $3 million, a record bonus for a third-round pick. A little-known commodity with barely any track record against quality competition, Head batted .615 as a senior at Churchill High School in Texas. After being drafted, he went on to post an impressive .283/.383/.417 slash line in Rookie ball.
Wiry strong with good snap in his wrists, Head already possesses some of the best bat speed in the Padres’ system. He has raw power, too, giving him serious upside from the left side of the plate if he can harness the moving parts in his swing. Head has an advanced feel for hitting, and his ceiling is extremely high. But he’s yet to face serious competition and will be challenged in 2020.
If Head continues to develop and improve, he could wind up with average or better tools across the board. He has plus speed and should have no problem sticking in center field once he improves his reads and routes. His strong arm will allow him to play anywhere in the outfield.
