One of the worst kept secrets leading up to the 2016 MLB Draft was how much the San Diego Padres coveted one particular college pitcher.

Numerous pundits linked Stanford right-hander Cal Quantrill with the Padres over the past few months, but many were divided as to whether he would be taken with the No. 8 overall pick, or if the front office would gamble and hope that Quantrill lasted until its back-to-back selections at No. 24 and 25 in the Competitive Balance Round A.

The charade came to an end Thursday night, when Quantrill was announced as the No. 8 pick.

“I am incredibly excited to be a member of the San Diego Padres organization,” Quantrill said in a Stanford press release. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without my family and friends, and I can’t wait to start my pro career.”

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound junior missed the entire season while rehabbing following Tommy John surgery. He made three starts as a sophomore, going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA before he was shut down with an elbow injury.

The Port Hope, Ontario, native became the first Cardinal freshman to take the mound on opening day since Mike Mussina in 1998 and finished 7-5 with a 2.68 ERA, while leading the team in innings (110.2) and strikeouts (98).

His father, Paul, is a 13-year MLB veteran who posted a 3.68 career ERA with seven teams, including six seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Quantrill became the 31st first-round pick out of Stanford, and fifth in the past six years.

Two other Cardinal were selected on Day 2: right-hander Chris Viall and shortstop Tommy Edman. Both were taken in quick succession during the sixth round, with Viall the No. 190 overall pick by the New York Mets, while Edman concluded the round six picks later by going to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Viall, a Soquel product who stands at 6-9 and 230 pounds, struck out 29 over 23.1 innings during his junior year and finished with a 5.01 ERA.

Edman, a 5-10, 180-pound switch-hitter, led the Cardinal in runs (35), hits (61), triples (4), multi-hit games (18) and stolen bases (8), and was second in average (.286), total bases (79) and walks (25). He was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive team.

Just up the road in Atherton, a pair of transfers from Cal became the highest-ever players drafted out of Menlo College.

On Thursday, the Milwaukee Brewers used their second-round pick, 46th overall, on third baseman Lucas Erceg. The 6-3, 200-pound junior broke the program’s single-season record with 20 home runs. Also the team’s primary closer with six saves, Erceg was the fifth player drafted out of the NAIA school in the past six years, with outfielder Jimmy Bosco (13th round in 2013) the previous top player taken.

On Friday, Menlo shortstop Max Dutto went in the ninth round, No. 266 overall, to the Chicago White Sox. After combining to hit .182 with two home runs in limited duty during his three years at Cal, the 6-foot, 205-pound senior his .278 with 13 home runs in his lone season with the Oaks.

Email Vytas Mazeika at vmazeika@dailynewsgroup.com; follow him at Twitter.com/dailynewsvytas.