Padres select former Cincinnati Bearcat and Big 12 Player of the Year in MLB Draft

Cincinnati Bearcats infielder and Big 12 player of the year Kerrington Cross was drafted with the No. 220 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres.

Cross played for the Bearcats for 4 seasons, improving every year and then turning into the best player in the Big 12 his senior season.

Cross had a batting average of .396, had an on-base percentage of .526, and a slugging average of .647. All those numbers jump off the board and show the incredible season that he had.

Cross in total had 82 hits, 65 runs scored, 50 runs batted in, 15 stolen bases, and 12 home runs in 56 games in his senior season.

Cross will likely start the season playing for the Fort Wayne TinCaps, the San Antonio Missions or the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Padres high A, AA and AAA affiliates.

Cross is older than most players drafted ahead of him, which does give him an advantage in how quickly his MLB career will start. Cross is a more pro-ready player and could be seen on the Padres roster within a couple of years.