Multiple early picks put D-backs in strong Draft position

SAN DIEGO -- There's no mistaking what the MLB Draft means to the Arizona Diamondbacks each year as a mid-market club.

"The Draft is essential for us," GM Mike Hazen said. "For us to be successful, we need to have that consistent pipeline of talent."

The good news for the Diamondbacks is that they once again will have a number of early picks to add to their already-talented farm system in what is expected to be a deep Draft.

The Diamondbacks -- who fell to 45-46 after Tuesday night's 4-1 loss to the Padres -- hold the No. 15 overall pick as well as the 31st overall selection (in the Competitive Balance Round A) and No. 53 (second round).

"I think it's a deep class, and I think with multiple high picks, it's pretty exciting," Diamondbacks scouting director Ian Rebhan said. "Because I do think there's a lot of depth, really, in all demographics -- the college group, both hitting and pitching, and the high school side. I think there's a lot of really interesting players. I think the depth of it is what's exciting to us -- being able to bring in a wide variety of impact players and get multiple of them is kind of exciting."

As with most teams, the Diamondbacks maintain that they go with the best player available with each pick. But if you look at the trend of some of their Draft picks over the years, they do seem to have a type they look for, particularly early in the Draft -- athletic, up-the-middle talents regardless of their height.

Last year’s No. 1 pick, Kayson Cunningham, is an example of that. Two years ago, the Diamondbacks took outfielder Slade Caldwell with their first pick. While some teams might have had concerns over Caldwell's height at 5-foot-9, the Diamondbacks did not.

Over the years, the team has found gems in shorter players like Daulton Varsho, Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll.

Outside of the very top of the Draft, the consensus is that there isn't much separation in terms of the players, which could make things interesting given the different ways teams evaluate talent.

"There's not a ton of separation between where players might go," Rebhan said. "I kind of view it as an opportunity -- we get to hunt the players that we really like and value, and kind of stick to our process and stay disciplined to it. I think it should work out pretty good."

• Day 1 picks: 15, 31, 53, 88, 116
• Bonus pool allotment: $13,603,100 12th in MLB
• Last year’s top pick: Kayson Cunningham, SS, pick 18 … Cunningham was one of the best pure high school hitters in the Draft and got his first taste of pro ball last year when he played 11 games for Single-A Visalia. He opened this year at Visalia and, in 43 games, showed he was ready for a bigger challenge as he slashed .381/.471/.506 to earn a promotion to High-A Hillsboro.
• Breakout 2025 pick: Dean Livingston, RHP, pick 123 ... Livingston flew a bit under the radar at Hebron Christian Academy (Dacula, Ga.) and the Diamondbacks nabbed him in the fourth round and gave him a $1 million signing bonus to get him out of his commitment to Georgia. He was the highest-selected prep pitcher from the Peach State since Dylan Lesko went 15th overall in 2022.

Getting to know the person, not just the player, has always been a focus for the Diamondbacks and the recently concluded Draft Combine, which was held at Chase Field, was another opportunity for them to be able to do that.

It also gave scouts a chance to watch a number of hitters take batting practice in a Major League stadium, something they don't necessarily usually get.

"The Combine is great," Rebhan said. "They've done an awesome job year over year, to just keep getting it better. A lot of it is just getting to get in front of these kids and get to meet them, and it's kind of twofold, like let them meet us, too. I think the goal when they walk out of that room is for us have comfort in the person we're drafting, in addition to the player, but then for them, have feel for us as an organization and the people in our organization."