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Photo Courtesy: Timothy D. Easley/AP
The Arizona Diamondbacks had three picks on Monday night in the 2017 MLB draft. In the first round, with the seventh overall pick, the Dbacks selected Pavin Smith, a first baseman out of Virginia. In the second round, they selected third baseman Drew Ellis out of Louisville and Daulton Varsho, a catcher from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Monday night after the first day of the draft concluded scouting director Deric Ladnier said the theme of day one was drafting “accomplished college bats.”
“We are very excited about these players that we were able to select,” Ladnier said. “As with every draft there’s strategy behind it, there’s anticipation, there’s anxiety with every pick. With all three of these picks there was a certain level of anxiety of hoping they’d get to where we were going to select them.”
Pavin Smith
The Diamondbacks took Pavin Smith in the first round. Smith is a player the Diamondbacks have been watching for awhile, Ladnier said.
“He was a guy that we had targeted coming into the year as someone we felt like we might have a chance to get,” Ladnier said. “We spent an exhaustive number of days and hours watching all of his games. His track record, history and his ability to barrel the ball. We were ecstatic to get him there.”
https://twitter.com/PavinSmith/status/874418074404958211
Smith had a successful career at Virginia, including being a crucial member of the 2015 national championship team. As his time as a Cavalier progressed he seemed to continue to develop. The Diamondbacks took note of that.
“When we talked to him, we got a really good sense of who he was as a hitter and how he saw himself as a hitter,” Ladnier said. “He’s got this tremendous knack to find the barrel to the ball. I think as time progresses, you’ll see even greater power out of this young man.”
Drew Ellis
Drew Ellis’ time with Louisville isn’t over yet. The Cardinals are headed to Omaha for the College World Series, which begins on Saturday.
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Of Ellis, Ladnier said he was another guy that the Diamondbacks had their eye on all year.
“He’s a true third baseman,” Ladnier said. “I think his numbers speak for themselves. He’s gone out this year and performed tremendously offensively. He’s got a good feel for the strike zone, (and) the power speaks for itself.”
This season, Ellis is leading the Cardinals in batting average at .367, doubles with 18, home runs with 20 and RBIs with 61.
Daulton Varsho
Daulton Varsho is a left-handed catcher with a powerful bat. In his time at UW-Milwaukee, Varsho batted at .335 with 37 doubles, 16 triples, 24 home runs and 124 RBIs.
“Very compact stroke, lots of power,” Ladnier said. “The one thing about him was we really liked his swing and he’s a left-handed bat.”
Varsho is the son of Gary Varsho who played in the majors for eight years with the Cubs, Reds, Pirates and Phillies. He currently works as a scout for the Pirates.
The draft continues on Tuesday with rounds 3-10. The Diamondbacks have the 82nd pick in the third round. Rounds 11-40 will be on Wednesday.
