COSTLY D-BACKS SWEEP?
Series win might lower team on MLB draft board
The Diamondbacks entered their final homestand of the year with a slate of games that have no bearing on the playoff race. That is not to say they do no matter.
The Diamondbacks will not pick first overall in next year’s draft -- that honor likely will go to the Pittsburgh Pirates -- but these final games could determine whether they end up in the Top 5 or near the back of the Top 10.
Such consequences, of course, do not matter to the Diamondbacks’ players or coaches. But Wednesday’s 7-3 win over the Texas Rangers at Chase Field -- which followed another win over the lowly Rangers the night before -- could end up playing a large part in shaping the future of both franchises.
There is a caveat, however, to next year’s draft: A clause in baseball’s working agreement with the players association allowed the draft order to be determined by something other than win-loss records from this season. However, a report by ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Tuesday indicated that the league is “highly likely” to use 2020 records to determine the order.
If that is the case, the Diamondbacks’ two-game sweep might have helped steer the Rangers toward the No. 2 overall pick. And it might have driven the Diamondbacks’ further down the draft board.
As games were being played late Wednesday night, there were only three clubs -- the Pirates (17-39), Rangers (19-37) and Red Sox (21-34) -- with worse records than the Diamondbacks (22-34).
However, there were many that were close, including the Royals (22-33), Tigers (22-31), Nationals (2333) and Orioles (23-32).
Another team that is close is the Colorado Rockies (24-30), who will descend upon Chase Field this weekend to wrap up the schedule with a four-game set against the Diamondbacks.
How these final games play out could prove conse
quential. Passan’s story described the top of next year’s draft as “loaded,” highlighting Vanderbilt starters Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter and Dallas prep shortstop Jordan Lawlar.
Carlos Collazo, Baseball America’s lead draft writer, was less convicted when describing the overall strength of the draft class.
“It’s difficult to say at this point given the limitations scouts have had with the COVID pandemic, but the class looks at least average with a chance to be better,” Collazo said. “One mystery will be the college class, which scouts have less feel for at this point than ever before.
“There are a lot of talented arms with loud stuff, but there’s very little in terms of established pitchers with track record, and the history of the best hitters in the class is also less than optimal. The high school class has more athletes than the past few draft classes with plenty of up-the-middle, toolsy position players and an impressive group of left-handed pitchers.”
According to Passan’s report, the league had left open the possibility of using something other than the reverse order of standings in the event that not enough of this season were completed for it to be meaningful. Since most teams will get close to playing all 60 games, that concern no longer exists.
The Diamondbacks last picked in the Top 10 in 2017, when they selected first baseman/outfielder Pavin Smith at No. 7 overall. Two years earlier, they had the No. 1 overall pick for the second time in franchise history, selecting shortstop Dansby Swanson, whom they traded six months later.
Short hops
● Third baseman Wyatt Mathisen became just the second player in Diamondbacks history to hit the first two home runs of his career in the same game.
He connected for a solo shot in the fifth inning and a two-run homer in the Diamondbacks’ six-run sixth Wednesday.
“It felt great, obviously,” Mathisen said. “It’s a dream come true to hit home runs in the big leagues. It was awesome.”
Conor Jackson was the first to have a two-homer game for his first two career homers, doing so on Aug. 6, 2005.
● Carson Kelly had two hits, including a game-tying, two-run single in the sixth.
He is 9 for 33 (.272) with three homers over the past two weeks, an encouraging sign for the organization given how much they have invested in Kelly as their catcher of the future.