Best player available is focus at draft
RICHARD MORIN
This year’s MLB draft class may not be rife with generational superstars, but many teams picking in the first round on Monday feel like they will still be acquiring solid, major-league quality talent.
The Diamondbacks own the No. 7 overall pick in this week’s draft. The last time they held that selection was in 2011, when they took a high school pitcher out of Broken Arrow, Okla., named Archie Bradley.
“I don’t perceive there to be a (Bryce) Harper or (Stephen) Strasburg, but it’s good,” said Diamondbacks scouting director Deric Ladnier. “Whoever we select is going to be a player we feel like will be an impactful major league player. (Mike Hazen) has had one directive, which I completely agree with, and that’s line the board up according to the ability and to select whoever that best player is.
“That’s literally what our strategy is: In every round, select the best player. That’s encouraging. We’re not going by position or by strength or weakness of the draft or anything like that.”
The most common names linked to the Diamondbacks are of the college variety. Almost all draft prognosticators have Arizona taking either Virginia outfielder Adam Haseley or North Carolina right-hander J.B. Bukauskas.
“We’re going to take the best player, whether it’s a high school or college kid, we’re going to take who we feel like is the best player,” Ladnier said. “That’s all anybody can ever ask for as a scouting director. I’ve had to do it a lot of different ways a lot of different times, where there have been issues with who you can and can’t select and we’re just going to select the best player.”
With a new general manager in town, many are interested to see Hazen’s first draft with the Diamondbacks.
“I think as far as the top of the draft it’s probably no different than any other year. There’s still going to be impact players on the board,” said assistant GM Amiel Sawdaye, who came with Hazen from the Red Sox organization. “As far as what’s going to be available to us – it’s so hard to tell. You try to play the rumor mill and figure out what other teams are doing.
“I know that we’re comfortable with seven to 10 players on the board right now and we’d be really happy with any of them, so I know we’re going to get someone we really like.”
The MLB draft begins Monday at 4 p.m. on MLB Network.
Center fielder A.J. Pollock was scheduled to take Sunday off, Lovullo said, before ramping up his running again this week as he gets closer to going out on a minor league rehab assignment.
Lovullo said the goal was for Pollock, who is out with a strained right groin, to run at close to 100 percent effort while making turns on the bases at some point this week.
“That’ll be the final piece of this puzzle,” Lovullo said.
Pollock will then likely need a handful of at-bats to get his timing back at the plate before a potential return from the disabled list. Pollock hasn’t played since May 14.
Lovullo was excited about the crowd of 40,195 the Diamondbacks played in front of on Saturday night, their largest at Chase Field since Opening Day. “I certainly felt the energy in the ballpark,” Lovullo said. “… We really appreciated that support. To walk into that full stadium was a really nice feeling. It was an electric moment after Brandon (Drury) hit the home run. The crowd came to life. The noise was fairly startling it was so loud.”
Lovullo said outfielder Yasmany Tomas (right groin tendinitis) will remain in Phoenix during the upcoming road trip and slowly ramp up activities at Salt River Fields. “He is still off of his feet,” Lovullo said.
Diamondbacks insider Nick Piecoro contributed to this report.