Diamondbacks select high school SS JD Dix with No. 35 pick in MLB Draft
Jul 14, 2024, 7:22 PM | Updated: 10:06 pm
Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. announces a draft pick during the 2024 MLB Draft presented by Nike at Cowtown Coliseum on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
(Photo by Sam Hodde/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks selected high school shortstop JD Dix with the No. 35 overall pick in Competitive Balance Round A during the MLB Draft on Sunday.
Arizona previously drafted high school outfielder Slade Caldwell with the No. 29 pick and Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt at No. 31 overall. The D-backs also took Puerto Rican catcher Ivan Luciano No. 64 overall.
Dix is an 18-year-old switch-hitter from Whitefish Bay High School in Wisconsin, the alma mater of former Diamondbacks shortstop and Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell.
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“A lot of comfort in the bat there from both sides,” D-backs director of amateur scouting Ian Rebhan said. “He’s a plus runner. He’s super athletic. He came here to the combine and played in the game there and played really well. We see him as someone who plays the middle field, plays shortstop, that has a really interesting athletic offensive profile, as well.”
The 6-foot-2 draftee underwent labrum surgery in the fall after he was a 2023 Prep Baseball All-American.
Rebhan said Dix is good to go after he missed some time last season.
“All of our people who saw him say he looks fine, and we have every belief that he’s going to stay as a shortstop,” Rebhan said. “There’s not any concerns there.”
SS JD Dix (Whitefish Bay, 2024; Wake Forest recruit) is looking more like his old self this spring, as he returns to full health. Came out of the offseason looking much stronger; took pre-game infield where his arm is regaining strength, more fluid than the fall. pic.twitter.com/A8uSBd8dcb
— Prep Baseball Wisconsin (@PrepBaseballWI) May 7, 2024
From MLB Pipeline:
A switch-hitter, Dix employs a simple stroke and a disciplined, all-fields approach that allows him to make consistent contact from both sides of the plate. His shoulder slowed down his swing last summer, but when healthy he has enough bat speed and projectable strength to provide 15-20 homers per season. His offensive game resembles that of D.J. LeMahieu, though Dix is a more twitchier athlete.
Dix is a Wake Forest commit.
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 Day 3 Tuesday.
