P Malone signs; many high picks still unsigned

PHILADELPHIA – The Diamondbacks signed the first of their many premium draft picks on Tuesday, inking right-hander Brennan Malone to a deal that includes a signing bonus at the pick’s full slot value.

Malone, whom the Diamondbacks selected with the 33rd overall selection, will receive a bonus worth $2.2 million.

Malone represents the draft’s riskiest demographic – he is a high school right-hander, having played at IMG Academy in Florida – but has the ingredients to develop into a major league starter, including a big arm that generates fastballs in the mid-90s, good athleticism and a clean arm action and delivery.

Malone was the Diamondbacks’ third pick of the draft. Two other high school players, center fielder Corbin Carroll (No. 16 overall) and left-hander Blake Walston (No. 26), went ahead of him and remain unsigned.

Malone’s signing was first reported by MLB.com’s Jim Callis.

All-Star options

Second baseman Ketel Marte and third baseman Eduardo Escobar were listed among the Top 10 vote-getters at their positions in the first round of AllStar voting released Tuesday.

Marte was third among second basemen with 327,269 votes, trailing the Braves’ Ozzie Albies (424,467) and the Brewers’ Mike Moustakas (377,983).

Escobar was a distant seventh among third basemen with 75,493 votes. The Rockies’ Nolan Arenado was tops with 783,684 votes.

“Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are,” Lovullo said. “It’s a credit to them and their hard work and the way they’re going out and having these years is not by accident. They’re leading the way for us.”

Staying put

Lovullo has been impressed by what he’s seen from right-hander Zack Godley in relief, but he said that if the Diamondbacks move Goldey back to the rotation they want to be certain it’s a permanent move. It didn’t work that way the last time, when Godley shifted to relief, moved back to the rotation, then was demoted again to the bullpen.

“I would hate to put him in the rotation and then have to change it again,” Lovullo said. “I want him to continue to build and grow and learn in the role he’s in right now. If we need to make an adjustment and the right situation and the right time comes up, if he’s throwing the ball the way he is, he would certainly be a candidate.”

Short hops

❚ Right fielder Adam Jones was out of the lineup again on Tuesday, a planned day off that Lovullo said was “part of his progression of coming back” from a hamstring issue that cost him four games.

❚ Outfielder Jarrod Dyson was removed from Monday night’s game in the seventh inning. Lovullo said he wanted to get Dyson a few innings off after his scheduled off day on Sunday was interrupted by Nick Ahmed’s foot injury. “I felt like I just wanted to add up the innings and give him some time off,” Lovullo said.