In the 59 years of the Major League Draft, 68 players with San Diego ties have been taken in the first round, including five in 2000 and four in 1995, 2014 and 2015. Four local athletes have been selected with the No. 1 overall pick.
However, San Diego has been shut out in the first round the last two seasons.
That figures to change Sunday, when right-handed pitcher Tyler Bremner — a first-team All-CIF selection in 2022 at Scripps Ranch High School who now stars at UC Santa Barbara — will hear his name called.
Bremner was 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings as a sophomore at UCSB. Heading into 2025, there was talk that Bremner could go No. 1 overall this year, joining San Diegans Adrián González of Eastlake High School in 2000, Matt Bush of Mission Bay High School in 2004, Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State in 2009, Brady Aiken of Cathedral Catholic High School in 2014 and Mickey Moniak of La Costa Canyon High School in 2016. (Aiken didn’t sign with the Astros after being taken No. 1 in 2014, and was picked No. 17 overall the following year.)
But Bremner’s numbers weren’t as good his junior year. He went 5-4 with a 3.49 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings.
ESPN draft expert Kiley McDaniel predicts the struggles will lead to a draft-day slide.
“He was a top three-to-five pick, but has dropped into the 17-25 slot,” said McDaniel, who has Bremner going to the Atlanta Braves with the 22nd pick of the first round. “He lost his slider. It’s below average now, and teams got off him. Still, he’s a first-round pick, maybe a top-10 pick. I can see a team reaching up to get him. He’s not a project, especially for a team that prides itself on development and can help him find that slider again.”
San Diego hasn’t sent a high schooler to the first round of the MLB draft since 2021, when the Boston Red Sox took Eastlake’s Marcelo Mayer No. 4 overall and Torrey Pines’ Carson Williams went 28th overall to the Tampa Bay Rays.
That three-year drought will extend to four.
Eastlake outfielder Angel Laya is the county’s top pro prospect. MLB.com has the 6-foot-3 Laya ranked No. 152 in the Draft. An outfielder, Laya hit .326 with five homers following a slow start. He struck out just 10 times all season.
Eastlake’s Angel Laya bats during the Padres High School All-Star Night at Petco Park on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
MLB.com’s scouting report says Laya is “a big, strong outfielder with a pretty left-handed swing that can do some damage.”
“He has some feel for the strike zone and flashes some approach, though that part of his game is a bit raw,” the report says. “As he refines his feel for hitting, that should allow him to tap into his considerable raw power.”
An Oregon signee, Laya was originally projected to go in the bottom of the first round. He has since slipped.
“But he has a projectable future,” ESPN’s McDaniel said. “I can see him going in the fourth round if he gets second-round money. There are about 40-50 guys in that group, so it just depends on who likes him.”
Said a local scout: “He won’t slip past the fifth round if he wants to sign.”
St. Aug.ine’s Grayson Boles throws against Patrick Henry in an extra innings 0-0 tie in San Diego on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
St. Augustine right-handed pitcher Grayson Boles is headed to play college ball at Texas, but could be lured to turn pro in the right situation. He was 6-3 with a 1.95 ERA for the Saints with 81 strikeouts in 61 innings. Boles’ fastball sits at 92-94 mph, and he pitched very well in games attended by scouts.
Scouts mention Torrey Pines right-hander Brody Martin-Grudzielanek as a possible 20th-round pick. The son of former big-leaguer Mark Grudzielanek, Martin-Grudzielanek went 7-4 with a 1.50 ERA as a senior. He fanned 92 in 70 innings while walking 18.
Granie Hills’ Brenden Lewis and Luke Bailey — the CIF San Diego Section’s Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively — have solid college options. Lewis is headed to Arizona State, with Bailey off to UC Santa Barbara.
“I don’t think either will get drafted,” a scout said. “Lewis is a little undersized, but he can really play. And he should blossom when he gives up pitching (in college). Bailey is going to Santa Barbara, which has a reputation for developing pitchers, especially right-handers. Look what they did for Bremner.
“I can see Bailey as a first-round pick in three years with Lewis not far behind.”
Jake Entrekin wears the crown as the NCAA West Region leader in nearly every major offensive category this season. (PLNU Athletics)
Collegiately, USD slugging first baseman Jack Gurevitch could go early on the second day. So could Toreros teammates Cal Scolari and Austin Smith, who played at Granite Hills.
San Diego State has a pair of draftable players in pitcher Xavier Cardenas and outfielder Zane Kelly. Cardenas’ fastball has touched 98 mph.
Point Loma Nazarene has a pair of draftable players in catcher Jake Entrekin, who played at Steele Canyon, and infielder Luke Reece, who played at Serra (now Canyon Hills). Entrekin hit .402 with 23 homers. Reece hit .366 with 10 homers and 18 doubles.
Other local players who could go late the second day include outfielder Kien Vu (Point Loma/Arizona State), left-handers Dylan Delvecchio (Mission Hills/Saint Mary’s) and Sam Garewal (Canyon Crest Academy/Stanford), right-hander Gavin Perry (Rock Academy/Western Kentucky), infielders Ryan Fenn (Granite Hills/Cal Poly-SLO) and Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek (Torrey Pines/USC). Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek is Brody Martin-Grudzielanek’s older brother.
2025 MLB draft
When: Sunday and Monday
Schedule: Round 1 begins at 3 p.m. Sunday; the draft resumes with Round 4 starting Monday at 8:30 a.m.
TV: Sunday’s picks will air on ESPN and MLB Network. Monday’s picks will be streamed on MLB.com
Austin Smith is a two-way standout for the University of San Diego as an outfielder and pitcher. (USD Athletics)
San Diego’s 2025 draft prospects
Name/Position/School/Predicted round/Comment
Tyler Bremner/RHP/Scripps Ranch HS and UC Santa Barbara/1/Dominant strikeout guy who should go picks 10-22
Angel Laya/OF/Eastlake HS/2-5/Tall, good-looking player. Committed to Oregon.
Grayson Boles/RHP/St. Augustine/3-10/Posted a 1.95 ERA with 81 K in 61 IP. Committed to Texas
Jack Gurevitch/1B/USD/3-10/Hit .371 with 17 HRs.
Austin Smith/OF/Granite Hills HS and USD/10-20/Hit .353 with just 16 Ks.
Brody Martin-Grudsielanek/RHP/Torrey Pines/10-20/Big RHP with 92 K in 72 IP.
Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek/IF/Torrey Pines HS and USC/10-20/Possible late pick.
Kien Vu/OF/Point Loma HS and Arizona State/10-20/Stock fell a little, but still on the radar.
Cal Scolari/RHP/USD/10-20/Scouts like his stuff
Sam Garewel/LHP/Canyon Crest Academy and Stanford/15-20/Tall LHP with 93 mph fastball.
Xavier Cardenas/RHP/San Diego State/18-20/Is 6-foot-6 and touches 98 mph.
Zane Kelly/OF/San Diego State/18-20/Can run. Could go late.
Nico Newhan/3B/Maranatha Christian HS and Grossmont College/18-20/Committed to Nebraska.
MJ Sweeney/1B/St. Augustine HS and Grossmont College/18-20/Committed to Wichita State.
Zane Nordquist/LHP/El Camino HS/18-20/Fastball improved to 92 mph
Elijah Stephens/LHP-1B/Sage Creek HS/18-20/A 6-foot-8 LHP.
Roberto Gonzalez/IF/Imperial HS and Cal State Northridge/18-20/Can run.
Spencer Seid/LHP/UC San Diego/18-20/77 Ks in 56 IP.
Dylan Delvecchio/LHP/Mission Hills HS and Saint Mary’s/18-20/Had a great senior season.
Gavin Perry/RHP/Rock Academy and Western Kentucky/18-20/6-foot-5 with 92 mph fastball.
Jake Entrekin/C/Steele Canyon HS and Point Loma Nazarene/18-20/Hit .402 with 23 HRs.
Luke Reece/IF/Serra HS and Point Loma Nazarene/18-20/Had a great graduate season
Ryan Fenn/IF/Granite Hills HS and Cal Poly/18-20/Solid senior season.
Brandon Lewis/SS/Granite Hills HS/18-20/Two-time CIF Player of the Year. Signed with ASU.
Luke Bailey/RHP/Granite Hills HS/18-20/CIF Pitcher of the Year. Signed with UC Santa Barbara
Max Farrell/SS/San Marcos/18-20/Headed to San Diego State
Evan Thomas/OF/Fallbrook/18-20/Scouts like his athleticism. Headed to UC Santa Barbara
JOHN MAFFEI
San Diego Union-Tribune
Adrian Gonzalez played at Eastlake High School; he wore No. 19 in honor of Tony Gwynn. (Jim Baird / UT)
San Diego’s first-round MLB draft picks
Year/Name/Position/School/Team/Overall pick
1965/Mike Adamson/RHP/Point Loma HS/Phillies/18*
1967/Brian Bickerton/LHP/Santana HS/A’s/7
1970/Steve Dunning/RHP/University HS/Stanford/Indians/2*
1970/John D’Acquisto/RHP/St. Augustine HS/Giants/17*
1975/Bruce Robinson/C/La Jolla HS/Stanford/A’s/21*
1979/Bob Geren/C/Clairemont HS/Padres/24*
1980/Garry Harris/SS/Hoover HS/Blue Jays/2
1980/Cecil Espy/OF/Point Loma HS/White Sox/8*
1980/Billy Beane/OF/Mt. Carmel HS/Mets/23*
1981/Bobby Meacham/SS/San Diego State/Cardinals/8*
1981/Kevin Burrell/C/Poway HS/Red Sox/25
1982/Steve Swain/OF/Grossmont HS/Astros/15
1982/Sam Horn/1B/Morse HS/Red Sox/16*
1983/Eddie Williams/3B/Hoover HS/Mets/4*
1985/Chris Gwynn/OF/San Diego State/Dodgers/10*
1990/Tony Clark/OF/Christian HS/Tigers/2*
1990/Eric Christopherson/C/San Diego State/Giants/19
1990/Lance Dickson/LHP/Grossmont HS/Arizona/Cubs/23*
1991/Benji Gil/SS/Castle Park HS/Rangers/19*
1992/Benji Grisby/RHP/San Diego State/A’s/20
1995/Jaime Jones/OF/Rancho Bernardo HS/Marlins/6
1995/Mark Redman/LHP/Escondido HS/Oklahoma/Twins/13*
1995/Ryan Jaroncyk/SS/Orange Glen HS/Mets/18
1995/Chad Hutchinson/RHP/Torrey Pines HS/Braves/26*
1996/Travis Lee/1B/San Diego State/Twins/2*
1996/Eric Chavez/3B/Mt. Carmel HS/A’s/10*
1997/Troy Glaus/3B/Carlsbad HS/UCLA/Angels/3*
1997/Brett Caradonna/OF/El Capitan HS/White Sox/34
1998/Mark Prior/RHP/University HS/Yankees/43*
1999/Eric Munson/C/Mt. Carmel HS/USC/Tigers/3*
1999/Barry Zito/LHP/USDHS (now Cathedral Catholic)/USC/A’s/9*
1999/David Walling/RHP/El Capitan HS/Arkansas/Yankees/27
2000/Adrián González/1B/Eastlake HS/Marlins/1*
2000/Adam Johnson/RHP/Torrey Pines HS/CS Fullerton/Twins/2*
2000/Matt Wheatland/RHP/Rancho Bernardo HS/Tigers/8
2000/Shaun Boyd/OF/Vista HS/Cardinals/13
2000/Scott Heard/C/Rancho Bernardo HS/Rangers/25
2001/Mark Prior/RHP/USDHS (now Cathedral Catholic)/USC/Cubs/2*
2002/Cole Hamels/LHP/Rancho Bernardo HS/Phillies/17*
2002/Royce Ring/LHP/Monte Vista HS/San Diego State/White Sox/18*
2003/Carlos Quentin/OF/USDHS (now Cathedral Catholic)/Stanford/Diamondbacks/29*
2003/Adam Jones/OF/Morse HS/Mariners/37*
2004/Matt Bush/SS/Mission Bay HS/Padres/1*
2004/Danny Putnam/OF/Rancho Bernardo HS/Stanford/A’s/36*
2005/John Drennen/OF/Rancho Bernardo HS/Indians/33
2005/Hank Sanchez/1B/Mission Bay HS/Twins/39
2007/Nick Noonan/SS/Francis Parker/Giants/32*
2008/Brian Matusz/LHP/USD/Orioles/4*
2008/Allan Dykstra/1B/Rancho Bernardo HS/Wake Forest/Padres/23*
2009/Stephen Strasburg/RHP/West Hills HS/San Diego State/Nationals/1*
2009/Mike Leake/RHP/Fallbrook HS/Arizona State/Reds/8*
2011/Joe Musgrove/RHP/Grossmont HS/Blue Jays/46*
2012/Kyle Zimmer/RHP/La Jolla HS/USF/Royals/5*
2013/Kris Bryant/3B/USD/Cubs/2*
2013/Ian Clarkin/LHP/Madison HS/Yankees/33
2014/Brady Aiken/LHP/Cathedral Catholic HS/Astros/1
2014/Alex Jackson/OF/Rancho Bernardo HS/Mariners/6*
2014/Bradley Zimmer/OF/La Jolla HS/USF/Indians/21*
2014/Connor Joe/C-1B/Poway HS/USD/Pirates/39*
2015/Brady Aiken/LHP/Cathedral Catholic HS/Indians/17
2015/Kevin Newman/SS/Poway HS/Arizona/Pirates/19*
2015/Kyle Holder/SS/University City HS/Grossmont College/USD/Yankees/30
2015/Tyler Nevin/3B/Poway HS/Rockies/38*
2016/Mickey Moniak/OF/La Costa Canyon HS/Phillies/1*
2019/Keoni Cavaco/SS/Eastlake/Twins/13
2019/Korey Lee/C/Vista HS/Cal/Astros/32*
2020/Alika Williams/SS/Rancho Bernardo HS/Rays/37*
2021/Marcelo Mayer/SS/Eastlake HS/Red Sox/4*
2021/Carson Williams/SS/Torrey Pines HS/Rays/28
2022/Spencer Jones/OF/La Costa Canyon/Vanderbilt/Yankees/25
* Played in the major leagues
NOTE: June regular phase only. For several years, MLB held a draft in January and a secondary phase in June for players who had been previously drafted. Additionally, some players were drafted and did not sign; as a result, they appear on this list twice.
JOHN MAFFEI