The Rockies dipped into their own backyard in the 2014 Draft to find Padlo, a Colorado prep whom the club signed to an above-slot deal after taking him in the fifth round. His time in Colorado’s system was short-lived, however, as the Rays acquired the young third baseman after the 2015 season in the Jake McGee-Corey Dickerson trade. Below-average production and injuries defined Padlo’s first two years with the Rays, but he bounced back with a career-best performance in 2019 as he led the farm in home runs (21) while making a smooth transition from Double- to Triple-A. After the season, the Rays added Padlo to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
Padlo generates high-end exit velocities from the right side of the plate by combining bat speed and physical strength with a forceful stroke. His plus raw power plays to his pull-side during games, and he showed that he could get to it more than ever in 2019 during his first taste of the upper Minors. A career .359 OBP across six pro seasons speaks to Padlo’s mature approach and willingness to take a walk, though his patient approach does come paired with strikeout issues that give scouts pause in projecting him as anything more than a below-average hitter. Padlo is a sound defender at the hot corner, with the necessary hands, range and arm strength for the position, and he's also seen time at first base. He runs and moves better than most corner infielders.
A better performer against left-handed pitchers (1.240 OPS, 9 HR) than righties (.823, 12 HR) in 2019, Padlo exhibited the type of strong platoon splits that the Rays tend to covet on their big league roster. Though he appears ticketed for such a role in 2020 after being added to the Rays’ 40-man roster in November, a career as a late-blooming, second-division regular isn’t out of the question.
Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
The Rockies signed Padlo to an above-slot bonus after selecting him in the fifth round of the 2014 Draft out of the Colorado prep ranks, and he turned in a strong performance the following year in the Northwest League before going to the Rays that offseason in the Jake McGee-Corey Dickerson trade. He subsequently struggled to make progress while battling injuries during his first two years in the Rays' system, but turned the corner in 2019 during a breakout campaign that saw him lead the farm in home runs (21), while advancing from Double- to Triple-A. The Rays added Padlo to their 40-man roster after the season, shielding him from exposure to the Rule 5 Draft.
Padlo hits the ball with authority from the right side of the plate, producing high-end exit velocities with a combination of bat speed and physical strength. Padlo's plus raw power plays to his pull-side during games, and he showed that he could get to it more than ever in his first taste of the upper Minors. His on-base skills are fueled by an advanced approach that nets him plenty of walks, though his patience does come with some swing-and-miss tendencies. Padlo is a sound defender at the hot corner, with the necessary hands, range and arm strength for the position, and he's also seen time at first base. He runs and moves better than most corner infielders.
Padlo fared considerably better against left-handed pitchers (1.240 OPS, 9 HR) than righties (.823, 12 HR) in 2019, though that type of strong platoon split is exactly the type of profile the Rays tend to covet. While he may soon take on such a role with the club after being added to their 40-man roster, there are some who believe in Padlo's untapped potential and view him as a late-bloomer.
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
The Rockies made Padlo their fifth-round Draft pick in 2014 and gave him an above-slot bonus of $650,000. His breakout performance the next year in the Northwest League caught the Rays' attention, and they acquired him in January in the Jake McGee-Corey Dickerson trade. He batted just .229 in his full-season debut at Class A Bowling Green but still showed an intriguing combination of tools and baseball skills, recording a league-leading 79 walks en route to a .358 on-base percentage and finishing tied for third in home runs (16).
A right-handed hitter, Padlo drives the ball with authority to all fields, showing the potential to hit for average and power, though the latter translates most to his pull side at the present. He has an advanced approach and good plate discipline for his age, though the Rays would like to see him become more selectively aggressive. Padlo has average speed and surprisingly quick feet that give him value as a baserunner, and he knows how to read pitchers and picks his spots to run wisely. Defensively, Padlo makes all the plays at the hot corner, showing the hands, range and arm strength needed to stick at the position.
Padlo has the chance to become an everyday third baseman, one capable of hitting 20-plus homers with strong on-base skills and defense to boot, but he'll need considerable time to develop in the Minors.
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
The Rockies made Padlo their fifth-round Draft pick in 2014, singing him with an above-slot $650,000 bonus, and he had outstanding pro debut in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. He made the jump to full-season ball in 2015 but got off to a painfully slow start, leading to a demotion to Class A Short Season Boise in mid-May. Padlo thrived in the more age-appropriate Northwest League, pacing the league in doubles (22) and slugging (.502) and ranking second with 33 steals. In January, he was dealt to the Rays as part of the Jake McGee-Corey Dickerson trade.
Padlo has the chance to be an everyday third baseman when all is said and done. The right-handed hitter drives the ball with authority to all fields, showing the potential to hit for average, though his raw power plays only to his pull side at the moment. He has an advanced approach and good plate discipline for his age, a notion supported by the high on-base percentages and walk rates he's posted early in his career. On top of that, Padlo's average speed and surprisingly quick feet give him value as a baserunner, and he knows how to read pitchers and picks his spots to run wisely.
Defensively, Padlo makes all the plays at the hot corner, with a very strong throwing arm highlighting his defensive skill set. He'll need considerable time to develop in the Minors, but Padlo shows the makings of becoming an everyday third baseman who provides 20-plus homers and average defense annually.
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
The Rockies clearly like high school third basemen from Southern California. Back in 2009, Nolan Arenado was the club's second-round selection. In 2013, they took Ryan McMahon in the second round. A year later, Padlo was taken in the fifth round.
Padlo has the chance to be an everyday third baseman when all is said and done. He has the ability to hit the ball with authority to all fields, as he did during his debut in the Pioneer League, hitting for both average and power. Right now the latter tool is ahead of the former, but he showed an advanced overall approach at the plate for his age, which bodes well for his chances to tap into that power. At the hot corner, he makes all the plays, with a very strong throwing arm highlighting his defensive skill set.
Padlo is a step behind McMahon but could follow a similar developmental path, the end result being an everyday presence at third who provides 20-25 homers and average defense annually.
