ESPN: Diamondbacks’ Grier could be a steal
Jun 10, 2016, 12:59 PM | Updated: Jun 11, 2016, 11:12 am
Auburn's Anfernee Grier, bottom, slides safely under Alabama infielder Cobie Vance, top, for a stolen base during an NCAA college baseball game Sunday, May 8, 2016, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Vasha Hunt/AL.com via AP) MAGAZINES OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
(Vasha Hunt/AL.com via AP)
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected 6-foot-1 center fielder Anfernee Grier with the 39th pick in the 2016 MLB draft.
His batting average improved each season in college, going from .255 to .323 to .366 in his junior year with Auburn. He upped his slugging percentage from .329 to .445 to .576 as well.
ESPN Insider Eric Longenhagen likes the D-backs pick.
Grier had some pretty serious helium early this spring, and had that continued, he would have been considered among the first 20 picks.
Pitch recognition is an issue with him, and it became a bugaboo for Grier once SEC play began and he started facing better stuff. I like Grier, though.
He has louder tools than is typical for a college player, projects to stay in center field and has above-average raw power projection. If he hits, not only is he a steal here, but he would have been a steal 15 picks before this.
Grier, 21, earned First-Team All-American honors this season with 12 home runs, 41 RBI and 19 stolen bases.
The organizational depth of center fielders is slim for the D-backs as the team is currently starting infielder Chris Owings, 24, in center field with A.J. Pollock, 28, on the disabled list.
The front office also brought in 11-year veteran Michael Bourn for outfield reinforcements. Bourn, 33, has made 12 appearances in center field for the D-backs in 2016.
In the minor league system, outfielder Socrates Brito, 23, is the No. 2 prospect in the organization.
Evan Marzilli, 25, has spent the majority of his minor league career in Double-A or lower as he has only played in 30 games at the Triple-A level in five seasons.
