PHOENIX -- The D-backs' courtship of center fielder Corbin Carroll began long before they selected him with their first of two first-round picks (No. 16 overall) on Monday in the 2019 MLB Draft.

Carroll was the first of seven picks the D-backs had on Day 1.

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Carroll, 18, played at Lakeside (Wash.) High School and has committed to UCLA, but the D-backs are confident they will be able to sign him.

“Corbin Carroll, we thought was an exceptional pick at that spot,” D-backs scouting director Deric Ladnier said. “We knew the player very well. We knew the family very well. It was someone that we had targeted, honestly, since the day after the Draft last year. We saw him play all summer, we saw him play all spring and he’s played on the international stage and performed exceptionally well. He’s really a special kid, a special talent.”

A left-handed hitter and thrower, Carroll has been likened to big leaguers Andrew Benintendi and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Carroll knew the D-backs had interest in him and was not surprised when he got the call.

“They’d showed interest during my high school season, and then before the Draft started I kind of heard word that I was someone that they were considering choosing,” Carroll said. “I really couldn’t be happier with how things turned out.”

Carroll opened eyes last summer when he swung the bat well in the showcase circuit, and he was the Most Valuable Player in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

On the scouting scale of 20 to 80, Carroll’s speed graded out at a 70, while his hit tool was an above-average 60.

Carroll chose to spend the Draft at home with his family and friends rather than travel to New York for it because he felt they were such a big part of his success that he wanted them to experience it with him.

Being selected by the D-backs could keep him on the West Coast, which he considers a big plus.

“Just a great organization, obviously,” Carroll said. “Just really couldn’t be happier. The location piece is super great because it means Spring Training will be in Arizona. And then a lot of teams being West Coast-based, it just means mean my amazing support system will be able to be out there in different ways, so that’ll be also really great for me.”

Carroll played in the same Queen Anne Little League as D-backs third baseman Jake Lamb. Carroll is friendly with Lamb’s younger brother, Dylan.

“I’ve worked out with [Jake] maybe once or twice,” Carroll said. “I actually know his brother really well, his brother is a year older than me and now pitches at UW. We played in the same high school league. Just a really cool connection there.”

The Draft continues on Tuesday with Rounds 3-10. The MLB.com preview show begins at 9:30 a.m. MST, with exclusive coverage beginning at 10 a.m. MST. Go to MLB.com/Draft for complete coverage, including every pick on Draft Tracker, coverage and analysis from MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, the complete order of selection and more. And follow @MLBDraft and @MLBDraftTracker on Twitter.