SAN DIEGO -- Before the start of baseball's amateur draft on Thursday, Padres director of scouting and player development Grady Fuson talked about how it was imperative that the organization build up the middle -- catcher, shortstop, second base and center field.

And that signing power pitchers Mat Latos and Jeremy McBryde from last year's draft would allow the Padres to "reach for a need" in the first round.

But when Arkansas left-hander Nick Schmidt, a polished college pitcher, slipped to No. 23, the Padres couldn't resist.

"We've had Schmidt on our radar since the start of the year, but thought the odds of him getting to us were pretty low," Fuson said.

Schmidt was tabbed to go as high as sixth overall. So when he was on the board at No. 23, the Padres changed their strategy.

With eight picks in the top 87 and 12 picks in the first five rounds, Fuson felt the Padres were in a position to grab need players later.

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Schmidt was 11-3 with a 2.69 earned-run average this season. In three seasons at Arkansas, he was 28-8. In 251 1/3 career innings, he walked 105 and had 262 strikeouts.

Schmidt, whose fastball tops at 92-93 mph, has been compared to Andy Pettitte.

He was Arkansas' Friday starter for two seasons and threw seven shutout innings Sunday against Creighton in the Fayetteville regional.

"He has a polished and clean delivery," Fuson said. "He's a workhorse, a big, strong dude."

Fuson said Schmidt compares favorably to Wade LeBlanc, the Alabama left-hander the Padres took with their second-round pick last year. LeBlanc is 6-2 with a 1.82 ERA after 12 starts this season at Lake Elsinore.

"I figured someone was going to reach up and grab Schmidt," said Bill Gayton, the Padres director of scouting. "He has solid stuff. All indications are that he's going to be successful and move quickly."

With the 40th overall pick, the Padres took slugging James Madison left fielder Kellen Kulbacki, who hit 19 home runs this season and 24 a year earlier to lead the NCAA.

"He was a guy we targeted," Gayton said. "He hit a home run on the first swing I saw, and with the second. He has one of the better swings I've seen."

The Padres took shortstop Andrew Cumberland from Pace High (Fla.) with the 46th selection and Oregon State catcher Mitchell Canham with the 57th pick.

"Cumberland is a four-tool guy," Fuson said. "He can run, throw, hit and field. We'll have to wait and see if he develops some power.

"He's a real live-body shortstop."

Canham hit .323 with nine homers and 54 RBIs for Oregon State this season and 24 collegiate homers in his three-year career.

"He's a real leader," Gayton said. ""I love this kid's make up. He can hit, and he runs well, too."

With the 63rd selection, the Padres grabbed left-hander Cory Luebke from Ohio State. He was taken on the 22nd round by the Rangers last season, but returned to school and posted a 9-1 record with a 2.07 ERA.

"He has a nice body," said Gayton. "I'm excited he's in the mix."

Picking again at 64, the Padres chose Daniel Payne, a speedy center fielder from Georgia Tech. He hit .370 with four homers, 20 doubles and 36 RBIs this season. And he doubled as the closer for the Yellow Jackets.

"He has one of the best, and most-accurate arms I've seen," Gayton said. "And his bat is interesting."

With the 81st pick, the Padres chose second baseman Eric Sogard from Arizona State. Sogard hit .390 with 10 homers, 56 RBIs, 12 doubles and 17 steals this season.

"I saw him play six games and he's very consistent," Gayton said. "He fits what we're trying to do."

Brad Chalk, a center fielder from Clemson was the pick at No. 87. Chalk hit .384 with 18 RBIs, 10 doubles and eight steals despite playing through a stress fracture in his back and a wrist injury.

Right-handed pitcher Thomas Toledo from Braulio Alonso High in Tampa, Fla., was the pick at 117 with right-hander Corey Kluber from Stetson the pick at 134. He was 12-2 with a 2.05 ERA this season. In 114 innings, he walked 35 and struck out 117.

Former San Diego State shortstop Lance Zawadzki was the fourth-round choice and right-hander Jeremy Hefner from Oral Roberts was taken in the fifth round to end the first day of the draft.

Zawadzki, who was a 15th-round selection by the Cardinals last season, finished his career at Lee University in Tennessee this season, hitting .461 with nine homers, 71 RBIs and 37 stolen bases. He had the first hit in Petco Park as a member of the Aztecs. Hefner was 9-2 with a 3.03 ERA. he had 107 strikeouts in 86 innings.

"Of the top 60 guys on our board, we had 18 targeted," Fuson said. "Of those 18, we got 10. That's a pretty good day.

"This was a unique draft because we had so many picks, but we stayed with the type player we wanted.

"Today, we might throw the dice around a little and take a few chances."

Contact staff writer John Maffei at (760) 740-3547 or jmaffei@nctimes.com.

23. Nicholas Schmidt, LHP

40. Kellen Kulbacki, OF

46. Andrew Cumberland, SS

57. Mitchell Canham, C

63. Cory Luebke, LHP

64. Danile Payne, OF

81. Eric Sogard, 2B

87. Bradley Chalk, OF

117. Thomas Toledo, RHP

134. Corey Kluber, RHP

147. Lance Zawadzki, SS

177. Jeremy Hefner, RHP