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Elliot Lascelles’ dad ran track at Princeton. His mother studied at McMaster, one of the top universities in Canada.
So the pull for Lascelles to follow through on his commitment to Yale was real.
So too was the bond established with the Padres over the last couple of years.
The 18-year-old shortstop is expected to sign this week for $2.8 million, a bonus-pool-era record for a Canadian high school position player, the Union-Tribune confirmed. MLB.com first reported the agreement, an over-slot deal — $1.56 million was the recommendation for the 60th overall pick — that topped the $2.58 million that the Guardians gave catcher Bo Naylor in the second round.
The overall record for a Canadian high schooler is the $3.2 million that Adam Loewen received as the fourth overall pick in 2002.
“I mean, it was a tough decision, obviously, but I’m just really excited to get going with the Padres,” Lascelles said. “I really trust their … coaching staff and player development and excited to get going. It was obviously tough to say no to Yale, but I think this is the right decision for me, and I’m just really excited to get started.”
Lascelles flew over the weekend from his home in Canada to join the organization at its spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz. He played there two springs ago, connected with area scout Chris Kemlo in the winter of his junior year at Upper Canada College High and attended a workout at Petco Park in June.
By that time, Lascelles had already made a name for himself playing for the Toronto Mets in the Canadian Premier Baseball League and the Canadian Junior National Team and he upped his stock even more by hitting a combined .389 against minor league arms in Arizona and Florida this spring, according to MLB.com.
The left-handed-hitting Lascelles was ranked No. 158 in his draft class by MLB.com and No. 118 by Baseball America.
“He’s polished,” Chris Kemp, the Padres’ vice president of amateur and international scouting, said after selecting Lascelles earlier this month. “He sees the ball early; line to line, line drives all over the field. Very calm, even demeanor. Felt like a plus bat for our group.”
Lascelles’ path to the Padres ultimately began as the first in his family to really play baseball. He asked Santa for a glove when he was 4, fell in love with playing catch and progressed to the point where he was recruited by Yale after excelling in travel ball.
He might one day revisit the economics degree he was going to pursue.
For now, all his energy will go to improving as a pro with the Padres.
“Yeah, I mean, it was nerve-wracking (on draft day),” Lascelles said. “I mean, it’s something you always dream of, being able to be a pro baseball player, and I’m just really happy about how it turned out because I think, for me, the Padres really were the No. 1 choice where everything combined — the player development, the front office, all the coaches. It really just felt like a family. …
“(Draft day) was definitely stressful, but it turned out really well.”
The Padres have until July 27 to sign their 2026 draftees, including first-rounder Coleman Borthwick.
Tuesday’s scoreboard
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (43-53)
Chihuahuas 11, Las Vegas 7: RHP Jeremiah Estrada (knee) walked two batters and allowed a hit while recording just one out to begin his rehab assignment. Estrada has not pitched in the majors since June 2. DH Nick Solak (.894 OPS) drove in four runs and hit his 12th homer. C Blake Hunt (.905 OPS) hit his fifth homer.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (42-49)
Missions 7, Frisco 5: 2B Francisco Acuña (.679 OPS) hit his fifth homer. C Ethan Salas (.778 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a walk and a run scored. RHP Eric Yost (3.41 ERA) allowed two runs in four innings while striking out five.
HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (38-52)
TinCaps 7, Lake County 6: 1B Jack Costello (.760 OPS) went 2-for-4 with his 11th homer and two RBIs. CF Ryan Wideman (.585 OPS) and DH Alex McCoy (.811 OPS) both went 2-for-5 with an RBI. McCoy hit his 24th double. RHP Kannon Kemp (7.11 ERA) allowed three runs in 2⅓ innings in the start.
LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (47-44)
Storm 8, Visalia 7: 2B Yimy Tovar (.512 OPS) drove in four runs on two hits. RF George Bilecki (.710 OPS) and LF Qrey Lott (.830 OPS) each had two hits. 3B Dawson Willis (.878 OPS) went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and two RBIs. RHP Jesus A. Castro (3.68 ERA) struck out five and walked five over four shutout innings in the start.
ROOKIE ACL PADRES (33-25)
Padres 8, Royals 2: DH Ty Harvey (1.079 OPS) drove in four runs on two hits, including his second home run. Harvey is rehabbing a fracture in his left hand before rejoining the Storm. RF Jesmaylin Arias (.891 OPS) went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI, a walk and two runs scored.
ROOKIE DSL BROWN (7-28)
Guardians 4, Padres 0 (7): The Padres worked six walks but did not record a hit in the loss. 2B Gabriel Teran (.991 OPS) walked twice.
ROOKIE DSL GOLD (26-10)
Padres 2, Red Sox 1 (8): C Dayquer Alfonzo (1.030 OPS) doubled twice and drove in a run. DH Cristian Benavides (.842 OPS) went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. LHP Carlos Alvarez (4.40 ERA) struck out five and allowed one hit and two walks in five shutout innings.
©2026 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
