Diamondbacks select OF Slade Caldwell with No. 29 pick in MLB Draft

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks landed on outfielder Slade Caldwell from Valley View High School in Arkansas with the No. 29 overall pick in the first round of the MLB Draft on Sunday.

Caldwell is a 5-foot-9, left-handed outfielder with plus speed and defensive ability in center field.

The 18-year-old is an Ole Miss commit who won the Gatorade Player of the Year in Arkansas for both 2023 and 2024.

“Really dynamic player who can impact the ball on both sides,” Diamondbacks director of amateur scouting Ian Rebhan said. “He’s super athletic. We think he can really hit. He showed us power. We think he sticks in center field. He’s a player who really touches on all five tools.

“I think he’s a catalyst, one of those players who makes your offense go.”

Slade Caldwell (@slade_caldwell)

2024 | OF | Valley View HS

🎥 FSS Showdown@NB_Baseball #WeGotNow pic.twitter.com/TRlK0aQjZ9

— New Balance 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 (@ftrstarsseries) January 19, 2024

What are Slade Caldwell’s stats?

Caldwell was ranked the No. 9 college recruit in the country by Perfect Game. He led his high school to a 5A state championship, hitting .485 with 51 stolen bases this past season.

He is the Arkansas all-time leader with 170 stolen bases.

The Athletic’s Keith Law wrote that if Caldwell were taller, he would be a sure-fire top-15 pick.

The D-backs have had success developing left-handed outfielders with Alek Thomas, Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy, Dominic Fletcher and Dominic Canzone making their MLB debuts over the past three seasons.

Rebhan said Caldwell, despite his stature, showed power and a well-roundedness that was attractive.

“His instincts are off the charts, so the stature, I wasn’t really worried because he plays like he’s 6-foot-2,” Rebhan said.

From MLB Pipeline:

Caldwell is an advanced hitter with a mature approach who makes consistent line-drive contact to all fields. His 5-foot-9 frame means he has shorter levers and a smaller strike zone than most prospects, and he parlays them into a quick left-handed stroke and on-base ability. While he won’t be a slugger, he has impressive bat speed and enough strength to provide 15 or more homers per season.

The moment Slade Caldwell heard his name called. 🙌

Get to know the #Dbacks first-round pick. pic.twitter.com/T4RO0c9Mvg

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 15, 2024

The D-backs entered Day 1 with three picks in the first 35, awarded an incentive pick (No. 31) for Corbin Carroll winning NL Rookie of the Year last season and a Competitive Balance Round A selection (No. 35).

Arizona selected Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt 31st and high school shortstop JD Dix 35th. They also took Puerto Rican catcher Ivan Luciano No. 64 overall.

The Diamondbacks entered the draft with $12,662,000 in bonus pool funds to use on their picks, and the slot value of the 29th pick was $3,045,500.

Rebhan said he expected no problems signing any of Arizona’s Day 1 picks.

Couldn’t be happier for Slade Caldwell! @Dbacks got him 29th overall!@slade_caldwell x #MLBDraft x @ShotsbyBotts pic.twitter.com/kRxjJWnmrp

— Perfect Game USA (@PerfectGameUSA) July 15, 2024

Why didn’t the D-backs draft any pitchers on Day 1?

The Diamondbacks have picked a position player with their first selection every year since 2015, excluding right-handed pitcher Bryce Jarvis out of Duke in 2020.

Rebhan said it was not surprising the club took four position players to start their draft class.

“We line it up and we see how they fall,” Rebhan said. “So we got four really good players that we are really excited about today, and that’s kind of where I’m at on that.”

Day 1 of the MLB Draft involved the first two rounds, compensatory rounds, competitive balance rounds and prospect promotion incentive selections for 74 picks in total.

Rounds 3-10 make up Day 2 on Monday, and the final 10 rounds are on Tuesday.

The Cleveland Guardians used the first overall pick on infielder Travis Bazzana from Oregon State.

Diamondbacks previous 1st-round picks under GM Mike Hazen

2017: Virginia 1B Pavin Smith (No. 7)

2018: High school INF Matt McLain (No. 25, did not sign)

2019: High school OF Corbin Carroll (No. 16), high school LHP Blake Walston (No. 26, comp pick), high school RHP Brennan Malone (No. 33, comp pick), Ball State RHP Drey Jameson (No. 34, comp pick)

2020: Duke RHP Bryce Jarvis (No, 18), Miami RHP Slade Cecconi (No. 33, competitive balance)

2021: High school SS Jordan Lawlar (No. 6)

2022: High School OF Druw Jones (No. 2), Mississippi State RHP Landon Sims (No. 34, competitive balance)

2023: Stanford INF Tommy Troy (No. 12)

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