Padres sign two promising draft picks

The San Diego Padres have signed supplemental first-round pick Justin Lange and second-rounder Owen Caissie, reports Jim Callis of MLB.com (links: 1, 2). 

Lange, a pitcher, will earn $2M, and Caissie, an outfielder, agreed to a bonus worth $1,200,004.

As the 34th overall pick, Lange’s selection came with a recommended value of $2,148,100. The Texas-based high school right-hander saw his stock rise over the past year, thanks in part to a fastball that has been clocked at 95-100 mph.

According to Baseball America, which ranked Lange as the 50th-best player in this year’s draft class: “Lange has all of the foundational pieces to be an impact pitcher at the next level.” That said, there are concerns about his command and his slider.

Caissie, the 45th choice, also signed for below slot as his pick came with a recommended value of $1,650,200. The Canadian high school outfielder, who committed to Michigan before the draft, brings “super-projectable power,” above-average running and a big arm to the table, according to Callis. Baseball America ranked Caissie as the 180th overall player before the draft, though MLB.com was much more bullish in placing him 75th.

With the Padres having secured Lange, Caissie and three other picks, they’re down to one unsigned selection — third-round righty Cole Wilcox. Money shouldn’t stand in the way of a deal, though, as Wilcox’s pick (No. 80) carries a slot value of $767,800 and, as Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune points out, the Padres can still spend up to $3.3M more.