ESPN, SI and others grade D-backs’ Day 1 of MLB Draft

With seven picks on the first day of the 2019 MLB Draft, the Diamondbacks had the potential to revamp their farm system and according to multiple sites across the internet, they did just that.

ESPN:

Keith Law had all good things to say about the D-backs’ draft and specifically loved their first selection of the night in high school outfielder Corbin Carroll.

From Law:

The Diamondbacks got the best value of the first round when they landed my No. 4 player, Seattle prep outfielder Corbin Carroll, with the 16th pick. The only knock I could ever get anyone to offer on Carroll was his height; he is maybe 5-foot-10, but if he had been 6-foot-2, he would have been in consideration at No. 1.

Law also liked the Brennan Malone pick at No. 33, writing that he has the highest upside out of the five pitchers Arizona took on the first day.

Sports Illustrated:

The D-backs’ draft sat well with SI analyst Matt Martell, whose write-up of No. 34 overall pick Drey Jameson from Ball State was the only criticism given to Arizona’s selections.

From Martell:

A draft-eligible sophomore, Jameson has a live arm with a fastball that touches 97 mph and sits between 93-95. He’s had some control issues and has an average slider and inconsistent changeup, but the potential is there.

Martell called Malone, the player taken before Jameson, “an impressive high school pitcher with one of the best upsides of any pitcher in the draft class,” and D-backs No. 16 overall pick Carroll “one of the more advanced high school hitters in the draft.” No. 26 overall pick Walston was also called “an impressive athlete with a strong arm.”

CBS Sports:

Mike Axisa of CBS Sports also had good things to say, calling Carroll one of the top hitters in the draft and Walston “a pitcher you can dream on.”

24/7 Sports:

Those at 24/7 Sports liked the D-backs’ draft as well.

The site called No. 75 overall pick Fletcher “a solid value pick for the Diamondbacks, who are having a great draft all around.”

Writer Jeff Ellis labeled many of the D-backs’ picks as high-upside, gambles or potential-based picks. No. 74 overall pick Tommy Henry was considered an “upside pick” while “they [D-backs] roll the dice” on Ryne Nelson at No. 56. Nelson perhaps got the worst review of all the D-backs’ picks, as Ellis wrote that he’s more likely to be a reliever than a starter and that control is a big issue for the Oregon right-hander.

Ellis loved the back-to-back picks at No. 33 and No. 34 though.

On Malone:

Credit to the Diamondbacks front office for knowing that they have seven picks and swinging for the fences. They are not trying to hit doubles, everything is an attempt at a grand slam. Brennan Malone is a high ceiling pitcher who has been up to 99, along with plus athleticism. On sheer talent, he should have been off the board before this pick, but other teams have to worry about draft pools and the Diamondbacks just laugh at such worries. He has front of the rotation potential and instantly becomes the highest ceiling pitcher in the Diamondbacks system.

And on Jameson:

Drey Jameson is one of the oldest sophomores in this class. He is undersized and extremely light of build, yet his fastball is so good, along with a curve and slider which are both above average, he has been on the first round bubble all year. His size has led to a lot of closer talk, though he has maintained his velocity and movement late in games. He set the all-time single-season MAC strikeout record this year in his first year as a full-time starter. Starter or reliever, he is a dynamic pitcher who has the potential to be an integral part of any future Diamondbacks team’s success.