A look at the D-backs’ selections from Day 2 of the 2020 MLB Draft
Jun 11, 2020, 7:48 PM | Updated: 8:23 pm
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
After selecting two hurlers during Day 1 of the MLB Draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks were back on the clock Thursday.
While the team didn’t possess a pick until Round 3, the D-backs held a total of three selections through rounds 3-5.
Here’s a look at the newest additions to the D-backs organization:
Round 3 (No. 90) — Liam Norris, P (Green Hope High School, N.C.)
With the 90th pick, the D-backs selected left-handed pitcher Liam Norris out of Green Hope High School in North Carolina.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound lefty went 5-1 in 2019, posting a 1.35 ERA to go along with 77 strikeouts in 41.1 innings pitched.
So proud to be a part of the @Dbacks family!!! Some things are just meant to be! I can’t wait to get started! pic.twitter.com/RBeOixwSFL
— Liam Norris (@L_Norris14) June 12, 2020
Norris is verbally committed to play college ball at North Carolina and could see a long-term role as a reliever, according to MLB’s analysis on the pitcher.
Round 4 (No. 119) — A.J. Vukovich, 3B (East Troy High School, WI)
With the 119th pick, the D-backs selected third baseman A.J. Vukovich out of East Troy High School in Wisconsin.
The high schooler is ranked 86th out of the top 200 draft prospects, per MLB.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound third baseman is known for his power hitting.
AJ Vukovich’s power got the attention of MLB scouting departments.
They ranked him the No. 5 power hitter in the class.
The Diamondbacks take him at 119.
Full scouting report:https://t.co/aVOv0NHhBu pic.twitter.com/NTQlqiu0VR
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 12, 2020
Scouts feel his arm speed is his best asset defensively, having pitched throughout high school.
Vukovich is committed to playing baseball at Louisville.
Round 5 (No. 149) — Brandon Pfaadt, P (Bellarmine University)
With their final pick in the MLB Draft, the D-backs selected Brandon Pfaadt 149th overall.
The 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher has spent three years at Bellarmine, recording a 4.27 ERA to go along with a 10-8 record in 39 appearances (111.2 innings pitched). All told, he’s struck out 135 batters.
In five starts in 2020, Pfaadt went 3-1, striking out 27 batters in the process. He allowed four earned runs over that five-game span, recording a 1.38 ERA. For his efforts, Pfaadt was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week before the coronavirus pandemic shutdown the season.