Glenallen Hill Jr. among D-backs' Day 2 picks

June 5th, 2019

PHOENIX -- The D-backs took a couple of raw, high-upside high school players on the second day of the 2019 MLB Draft on Tuesday, but they balanced that out by picking college players with their other six picks in Rounds 3-10.

High schoolers Glenallen Hill Jr. and Oscar Santos were taken in the fourth and 10th rounds and the D-backs selected three pitchers and five position players.

Over the first two days of the Draft, the D-backs have taken eight pitchers, and most of them have at least one similarity.

“I guess you see the theme of trying to get these tools. These guys have swing-and-miss fastballs and they’ve got plus secondary,” D-backs scouting director Deric Ladnier said. “It’s just harnessing the delivery, the direction, and that’s what player development is all about -- to try and get them to harness all the tools that we’re putting out there."

Here’s a detailed look at each of Tuesday’s selections:

3rd Round: Tristin English, 1B, 22, Georgia Tech

The D-backs at one point viewed English as a two-way player -- he has touched 96 mph as a pitcher -- but they now see him as a position player. He moves very well for a 6-foot-3, 208 pounder, and the team believes he can play either first or right field.

“Big power,” Ladnier said. “We actually, during this past season, tried to sign him out of the Cape [Cod League].”

4th Round: Glenallen Hill Jr., SS, 18, Santa Cruz (Calif.) High School

The son of former the former big leaguer, Hill has played shortstop in high school, but the D-backs see him as a center fielder.

“Twitchy athlete, plus run, plus power,” Ladnier said. “Did have some swing and miss, which is obviously a concern, but we just feel like, with the upside of the athlete, he's someone that if we can get him here and start slowing things down for him, we just have a chance to have an impactful outfielder. He’s got legitimate power, legitimate speed, can play defense.”

5th Round: Conor Grammes, RHP, 21, Xavier

Grammes has already showed his perseverance, as he got a walk-on opportunity at Xavier by sending an email to the coaching staff.

While Grammes has also played in the field, the D-backs see him as a pitcher, which makes sense given that they had clocked his fastball as high as 100 mph and he has a sharp slider to go with it. He will need some refining though, as command can be an issue.

“Big arm,” Ladnier said. “Two plus pitches. [We] need to refine his mechanics a little bit because pitching is somewhat new to him.”

6th Round: Andrew Saalfrank, LHP, 21, Indiana

Saalfrank was the Pitcher of the Year in the Big Ten going 8-1 with a 2.58 ERA.

“Average fastball maybe a tick above,” Ladnier said. “The one thing we really like about him is plus curveball. And anytime you can get big bodied left-handers that can really spin a breaking ball. It’s an out pitch, it’s a weapon for him. We feel like he’s got upside. Great makeup kid.”

7th Round: Spencer Brickhouse, 1B, 21, East Carolina

Brickhouse is 6-foot-4, 235 pounds and has raw left-handed power to all fields. He does have a good feel for the strike zone.

They played “Brick House” by the Commodores in the Arizona Draft room when they made the selection.

“Big power, really controls the zone well,” Ladnier said. “Just one of those guys that has the knack to find the barrel and he has power. Defensively he’s going to need some work quite frankly and he’s probably going to know that once he gets out here. You’re drafting the power and the ability to control the zone.”

8th Round: Dominic Canzone, OF, 21, Ohio State

Canzone is one of those players who doesn’t have any tools that necessarily jump out at you, but he has good instincts for the game and is projectable as at least a fourth outfielder in the big leagues.

“Really interesting guy,” Ladnier said. “He can play center field, because he can run, but he’s one of those guys that you know he can go to left field, you know he can go to right field, he’s got some pop.”

9th Round: Bobby Ay, RHP, 22, Cal Poly

While Ay is a college player, the D-backs still think there is more physical development coming down the road for him. They’ve had him clocked at 94, but think there might be more velocity in there and that he could be a big league starter.

“Good fastball, good slider,” Ladnier said. “Beginning of the year just OK reports, but as the year progressed his stuff got better, velocity got better, slider got better and he’s one of those college kids that you don’t feel like is finished yet.”

10th Round: Oscar Santos, C, 18, PJ Education School (Puerto Rico)

Santos was originally a shortstop before being moved behind the plate where he shows quickness, mobility and an excellent throwing arm.

“Super athletic, has to work on the catching and throwing, but he’s really athletic,” Ladnier said. “He’s got power, but he’s a raw, rude, upside catcher from Puerto Rico. He’s a young man so he’s got a long time to develop. With his athletic ability and his arm strength we just have a feel like he’s got a chance to be really good. We just have to take our time with him.”

The Draft concludes on Wednesday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 on MLB.com beginning at 9 a.m. MST.