D-Backs Add Five Arms With Seven Day One Picks

June 4, 2019 will be a big day for the present and future of the Arizona Diamondbacks. With seven day one selections in the 2019 MLB Draft, the club has far and away the most bonus pool money to allot to their picks. In a single day, they could replenish the farm system should a few of these seven find success at the big leagues.

Led by Mike Hazen and scouting director Deric Ladnier, the club selected five pitchers with their first seven picks, with most of them strangling a radar gun. 

#16 – Corbin Carroll – OF -Lakeside HS
#26 – Blake Walston – LHP – New Hanover HS
#33 – Brennan Malone – RHP – IMG Academy
#34 – Drey Jameson – RHP – Ball State
#56 – Ryne Nelson – RHP – Oregon
#74 – Tommy Henry – LHP – Michigan
#75 – Dominic Fletcher – OF – Arkansas

Carroll – The prep outfielder played in the same Washington little league as current Diamondback Jake Lamb and knew Lamb’s younger brother growing up. MLB Network analyst Dan O’Dowd had this to say about the first round pick:

“I love this kid. He’s one of my favorite players in the draft. He is only 5-10, but it’s a strong 5-10. He’s a quick twitch athelte, well above average runner, exceptional (hitter) too. There’s power in that body too.” 

Walston – Analysts raved about Walston’s frame – 6’4″ and 178 pounds – and how as he adds weight, he can add velocity to a fastball that sits around 93 miles per hour. O’Dowd sees a lot of Cole Hamels in the southpaw, who won two state championships in baseball and one as the football team’s starting quarterback.

Malone – The IMG righthander stands at 6’4″ and 210 pounds and can bring a fastball that touches 99 miles per hour. The main steps he will need to take to become a proven Major Leaguer is developing a more defined arsenel surrounding his fastball.

Jameson – Another arm, but a college arm. He’s a bit smaller than Walston and Malone. Despite the size difference, Jameson can generate arm action to produce a fastball that’s consistently in the mid-90s. Jameson notched the third-most strikeouts in college baseball with 146. He also split his time between outfield and pitching early in his college career, so he’ll need to continue to stretch himself out if he were to become a starter.

Nelson – Despite being a reliever for much of the season, the right-hander was third in the Pac-12 in strikeouts. He has shown versatility, being able to start and close out games for the Ducks.

Henry – The final arm of the night for the Diamondbacks, and what a way for him to find out he was selected. His Michigan Wolverines are set to play in the Super Regionals this weekend and they mauled him when the news came down he had been drafted. The lefty threw 99.2 innings and posted a 3.61 ERA, striking out 111.

Fletcher – The outfield bookend to the night slashed .312/.378/.522 with 22 doubles, 10 home runs, 56 RBI and 51 runs scored in 61 games. His brother is an infielder for the Los Angeles Angels.

The MLB draft continues through Wednesday.