The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) have agreed to terms with second-round pick INF Drew Ellis (@drewellis10), fourth-rounder RHP Harrison Francis, fifth-rounder INF Buddy Kennedy, seventh-rounder INF Jose Caballero, 11th-rounder OF Tra'Mayne Holmes and 12th-rounder RHP Matt Brill. The D-backs have signed 12 of their first 13 selections and 29 of their 41 overall picks from the 2017 First-Year Player Draft.
INF Drew Ellis (Round 2, Pick 44) -- B/T: R/R -- Age: 21 (12/1/95) -- 6-3, 201 -- University of Louisville
∙ He was a member of the 2017 Louisville Cardinals team that advanced to the College World Series.
∙ This season, in 65 games for the Cardinals, he hit .355 (82-for-231) with 18 doubles, 1 triple, 20 homers, 61 RBI, 40 walks and .448 on-base and .701 slugging percentages…he played first base and third base.
∙ During the summer of 2016, he played for Rochester in the Northwoods League and hit 11 homers with 35 RBI and 17 walks in 43 games.
∙ During his sophomore season in 2016, he hit .309 with 3 homers and 22 RBI in 47 games.
∙ He redshirted as a freshman in 2015.
∙ He played in the 2008 Little League World Series for the Great Lakes region team and threw a 6.0-inning no-hitter.
∙ He is a native of Jeffersonville, Ind. and graduated from Jeffersonville High School.
RHP Harrison Francis (Round 4, Pick 112) -- B/T: R/R -- Age: 18 (10/26/98) -- 6-2, 195 -- Lawton Chiles (Fla.) HS
∙ As a senior at Lawton Chiles High School, in 8 starts, he was 4-3 with a 2.55 ERA (29 R-20 ER in 55.0 IP), .159 opponents average (33-for-208), 27 walks and 83 strikeouts.
∙ He was a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Third-Team Senior Preseason All-American and Florida Region All-High School Senior First-Team.
∙ He committed to Chipola (Fla.) College…Patrick Corbin played there and had his No. 8 retired in 2015.
∙ His mother, Joanna, passed away from breast cancer on June 1, 2014…to honor her legacy, the "Joanna Francis Living Well" foundation was created to help those suffering from terminal breast cancer face each day with courage, help patients and families benefit from financial relief for social services by providing opportunities of support and financial assistance for unforeseen living expenses.
∙ His brother, Bowden, was selected by the Brewers in seventh round on June 13 and in 2016 by the D-backs (18th Round).
INF Buddy Kennedy (Round 5, Pick 142) -- B/T: R/R -- Age: 18 (10/5/98) -- 6-0, 200 -- Millville (N.J.) HS
∙ He attended Millville Senior (N.J.) High School, the same school that Mike Trout attended…they frequently workout together in the offseason.
∙ He hit .493 with 6 homers and 24 RBI during his senior year for the Thunderbolts.
∙ He is the grandson of 4-time Major League All-Star, Don Money.
∙ He was rated by Baseball America as the No. 94 High School Draft Prospect in the 2017 Draft.
∙ He committed to the University of North Carolina.
INF Jose Caballero (Round 7, Pick 202) -- B/T: R/R -- Age: 20 (8/30/96) -- 5-11, 175 -- Chipola (Fla.) College
∙ He is a native of Panama City, Panama.
∙ His Chipola (Fla.) College team won the Junior College World Series as he was named the tournament MVP after hitting .448 (13-for-29) with 5 homers and 16 RBI.
∙ In 2017 for the Chipola Indians, he hit .401 (81-for-202) with 15 homers, 63 RBI and 22 stolen bases.
∙ He attended Chipola (Fla.) College…Patrick Corbin played there and had his No. 8 retired in 2015.
OF Tra'Mayne Holmes (Round 11, Pick 322) -- B/T: S/R -- Age: 21 (6/10/96) -- 6-0, 160 -- Faulkner University
∙ As a junior this season, he led the NAIA with 59 stolen bases while his 74 runs scored ranked eighth…he appeared in 65 games and hit .325 (69-for-212) with 11 doubles, 4 triples, 8 homers, 43 RBI, 47 walks, 74 runs scored and 59 stolen bases.
∙ He was named to the All-World Series Team (as a third baseman) as the Eagles advanced to the NAIA World Series (lost to Lewis-Clark State).
∙ He is a native of Tallahassee, Fla.
RHP Matt Brill (Round 12, Pick 352) -- B/T: R/R -- Age: 22 (10/25/94) -- 6-2, 215 -- Appalachian State University
∙ As a junior in 2017, he made 20 relief appearances, going 1-3 with 4 saves, a 4.45 ERA (16 R-15 ER in 30.1 IP), .198 opponents average (21-for-106), 16 walks and 38 strikeouts.
∙ He missed the 2016 season due to Tommy John surgery.
∙ He played primarily as an outfielder in 2014-15.
In total, Arizona has agreed to terms with 29 of their 41 selections from the 2017 First-Year Player Draft.