Nicholas Padilla went from going undrafted out of Cardinals Spellman high school in 2014 to being the Tampa Bay Rays’ 12th round pick a year later. That was despite the fact that he underwent Tommy John Surgery after just 4 starts at Grayson County College in Texas. What changed? Did his stuff look much better pre-surgery? Were there concerns about his signability? Whatever the case may be, the Rays are picking him because they are excited to see what he becomes once he recovers. The upside is there with him–he won’t even turn 19 until December.
Tampa Bay Rays Look Past Nicholas Padilla’s Tommy John in 13th Round
