What happened: The 6-foot-5 right-hander is a Moorestown, New Jersey, native who spent two seasons at North Carolina. He went undrafted out of high school before becoming the Tar Heels' Saturday starter.
Why it matters: The pick carried an $808,100 slot value, with the difference counting against San Diego's overall draft pool. Teams exceeding their total pool face penalties, making each overslot agreement a factor in signing other selections.
By the numbers: Lynch went 5-4 with a 4.21 ERA and 89 strikeouts innings and 18 starts in 2026. That works out to 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
What to watch: The signing deadline for draft picks is 5 p.m. ET Monday. Lynch's first affiliate assignment will establish where his professional career begins.