D-backs pick left-handed pitcher Blake Walston 26th in 2019 MLB Draft

Jun 3, 2019, 6:57 PM | Updated: 10:33 pm

Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen joins The Doug & Wolf Show for an interview on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station on Feb. 14, 2019. (Arizona Sports/Matt Layman)

(Arizona Sports/Matt Layman)

BY KELLAN OLSON

Suns reporter, ArizonaSports.com editor

The Arizona Diamondbacks doubled off on names out of high school in the 2019 MLB Draft, selecting pitcher Blake Walston 26th overall.

Walston was 11-0 at New Hanover High School in North Carolina with a 0.23 ERA. Over 61.2 innings, he had 120 strikeouts.

The 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher is committed to North Carolina State.

ESPN’s Keith Law ranks Walston as the No. 44 prospect of the 2019 class.

Walston is one of the few pop-up arms this spring, enticing because he’s projectable, won’t turn 18 until September and has an above-average breaking ball, although he’s considered a tough sign.

“Super athletic, he was the quarterback of the football team,” D-backs director of scouting Deric Ladnier said of Walston.

The selection of Walston comes to the D-backs after last year’s first-round pick, infielder Matt McClain, opted against signing with the team and headed to college at UCLA instead.

Walston is Arizona’s second selection of the 2019 MLB Draft and in the first round after they picked high school outfielder Corbin Caroll with the 16th overall selection. They have five more selections following No. 26 for Monday night’s 75 picks and eight total in the top-100.

Follow @KellanOlson

Former professional baseball players, from left to right, Ron Cey, Ryne Sandberg and Ralph Garr talk prior to the first round of the Major League Baseball draft, Monday, June 3, 2019, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announces Adley Rutschman, a catcher from Oregon State University, as the No. 1 selection by the Baltimore Orioles in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft, Monday, June 3, 2019, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

The rostrum is viewed at the MLB Network prior to the first round of the Major League Baseball draft, Monday, June 3, 2019, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Frank Coppenbarger, of the Philadelphia Phillies, looks at a cell phone prior to the Major League Baseball draft, Monday, June 3, 2019, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Gordon Ash, vice president of baseball projects for the Milwaukee Brewers, looks at a cell phone prior to the Major League Baseball draft, Monday, June 3, 2019, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, center, meets with prospects, from left to right, Brett Baty, Daniel Espino, Brennan Malone and Jackson Rutledge prior to the first round of the Major League Baseball draft, Monday, June 3, 2019, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Former Oakland Athletics outfielder Eric Byrnes reacts during the first round of the Major League Baseball draft, Monday, June 3, 2019, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Cincinnati Reds' Tom Browning talks on a phone prior to the Major League Baseball draft, Monday, June 3, 2019, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, left, talks to Brett Baty, second from left, a third baseman from Lake Travis High School in Austin, Tx., as Baty's family looks on after he was selected No. 12 by the New York Mets in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft, Monday, June 3, 2019, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.