D-backs agree to terms with first-round draft pick Touki Toussaint
Jun 21, 2014, 12:24 AM | Updated: 3:46 am
The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with first-round draft pick Touki Toussaint, a right-handed pitcher from Coral Springs (Fla.) Christian Academy, the team announced Friday.
Toussaint, went 8-2 with a 1.22 ERA in 63.1 innings of work as a high school senior, stats good enough for the D-backs to pluck him with the 16th overall selection of the draft. He was rated as the third-best high school pitcher by Baseball America and MLB.com had him listed as the eighth-best prospect in the draft.
The 17-year-old had signed a national letter of intent to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University.
“We knew we had our work cut out for us because Vandy was in the picture,” D-backs GM Kevin Towers said. “They’re one of the top college programs … we’ll get a chance to get him out there real soon.”
Towers said Toussaint will likely start in the Arizona league after throwing a side session this week.
With Toussaint’s signing, the Diamondbacks have now inked 27 of their 42 selections in this year’s First-Year Player Draft.
“There’s not a lot you have to teach him other than getting him pro reps and facing a better caliber of player,” Towers said.
