Padres sign Ryan Lynch for $1 million after No. 97 pick

The bonus comes in $191,900 above slot value.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 261 min read

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.

Sources

NJ.com 2026-07-26T12:06:05.199003+00:00

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