Drafted in the 34th round (1,028th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2005.
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Former area scout Hank King (who now works as an agent) had a history of finding diamonds in the rough--including Jonny Gomes in the 18th round and Chad Orvella in the 13th while he was with the Devil Rays--and he may have nailed another late-round gem in Vandel. Few teams were on him entering 2005, and the Padres initially selected him as a 34th-round draft-and-follow, but King correctly gauged his eagerness to sign in the summer despite his plans to play for Chipola (Fla.) Junior College. Vandel was downright dominant in his debut and capped his unlikely summer with a pair of excellent starts at Eugene. He has excellent command of an upper-80s fastball with good sink, and he has a feel for a curveball. His changeup is remarkably advanced for his age, and it's already a plus offering that he confidently throws at any point in the count. Vandel is a little undersized, and his fastball will never have more than average velocity. San Diego is understandably excited about Vandel's possibilities and likes his desire and makeup. He has a shot to make the low Class A rotation out of spring training.
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