D-backs target pitchers early on Day 2 of MLB Draft

Executive VP and general manager Mike Hazen continued his first MLB Draft as leader of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

A day after landing three accomplished college batters highlighted by No. 7 overall pick Pavin Smith, the D-backs added three right-handed pitchers in their first four Day 2 picks.

Here is a rundown of each of Arizona’s eight draft picks on Tuesday.

RHP Matt Tabor (Round 3, Pick 82), Milton (Mass.) Academy

MLB.com ranked Tabor as the 69th-best prospect in the draft after he recorded a 0.42 ERA (four earned runs in 42 innings) with 75 strikeouts and eight walks during his senior season. Tabor, who grew from 5-foot-4 his sophomore year to 6-foot-2, committed to Elon University.

RHP Harrison Francis (Round 4, Pick 112), Lawton Chiles (Fla.) HS

Francis’ brother, Bowden, was an 18th-round draft pick by the D-backs last year and went in the seventh round to the Brewers on Tuesday. Harrison Francis went 4-3 with a 2.55 ERA in eight starts and limited opponents to a .159 batting average in 2017.

INF Buddy Kennedy (Round 5, Pick 142), Millville (N.J.) HS

From the same high school as Angels outfielder Mike Trout, Kennedy works out with the MLB star in the offseason. During Kennedy’s senior year, he hit .493 and was ranked as the 94th-best high school prospect by Baseball America.

RHP Brian Shaffer (Round 6, Pick 172), Maryland

As a junior this past season, Shaffer earned the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Award by going 7-4 with a .266 ERA (32 earned runs in 108.1 innings). He struck out 109 with just 18 walks.

INF Jose Caballero (Round 7, Pick 202), Chipola (Fla.) College

From the same school as current Diamondback starter Patrick Corbin, Caballero is a native of Panama City, Panama. He won tournament MVP at the Junior College World Series by hitting .448 with five home runs and 16 RBI during the event.

C Tim Susnara (Round 8, Pick 232), Oregon

Susnara hit .248 with five home runs and 17 RBI as a junior for the Ducks, but he made his living behind the plate, where he threw out half of the attempted stolen bases against Oregon. The catcher has a .992 fielding percentage in his three years of college ball.

INF Camden Duzenack (Round 9, Pick 262), Dallas Baptist

The Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year also hit .278 with 15 home runs and 49 RBI as a senior in 2017. Duzenack leaves Dallas Baptist as the school’s winningest player with a 170-76 (.691) record.

INF Ryan Grotjohn (Round 10, Pick 292), Cal State Bakersfield

A Scottsdale native and graduate of Brophy Prep in Phoenix, Grotjohn led the WAC with a .390 average in his senior season. That was seventh in NCAA Division I.

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