Diamondbacks to sign 2021 1st-round draft pick Jordan Lawlar
Jul 30, 2021, 9:12 AM | Updated: 10:23 am
Jordan Lawlar (Courtesy photo/Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas Athletics)
(Courtesy photo/Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas Athletics)
The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed on a contract to sign 2021 first-round pick Jordan Lawlar, reports Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.
Lawlar was in Phoenix on Friday for a physical, Gambadoro added. Terms of the deal were not immediately known.
The high school shortstop and Vanderbilt commit was the team’s first pick at No. 6 overall in the 2021 MLB Draft on July 11.
Around the draft, there was speculation around MLB that Lawlar may not opt to head to the pros, according to The Athletic’s Zach Buchanan.
But in the past couple of days, the industry has buzzed that Lawlar would honor his college commitment to Vanderbilt if not taken with the No. 1 pick, or at least if he wasn’t given first-pick money. “Jordan has and will remain resolute in his commitment,” family advisor Greg Genske told The Athletic in April. “Plan A, Plan B and Plan C is Vanderbilt.” Just how believable that threat is depends on whom you ask. Some scouts think he is a significant signability concern, while others are sure Lawlar’s advisors are crying wolf.
It only added to the concerns that the Diamondbacks had a recent swing and miss regarding a first-round pick. Matt McClain, the D-backs’ 2018 first-round pick, decided to attend UCLA instead of signing with the team that picked him 25th overall.
Lawlar, who played at Jesuit Prep High School in Dallas, is regarded by MLB.com as a five-tool shortstop and was ranked No. 3 on the website’s prospect rankings, behind fellow high school shortstop Marcelo Mayer – who went No. 4 to the Boston Red Sox – and Vanderbilt pitcher Jack Leiter, who went to the Texas Rangers as the No. 2 overall pick.
Lawlar, 19, won Gatorade’s Texas high school player of the year award after hitting .412 with six home runs and 37 RBIs in 36 games while also stealing 32 bases.
