http://www.baseballamerica.com/draf...rs-among-notable-storylines-drafts-first-day/
Despite all the public mystery this spring surrounding the first overall pick of the draft, Diamondbacks scouting director Deric Ladnier said his mind was made up “a while back” about who to take. He remained convinced after going through the process of meeting with the team’s scouts and they came to a unanimous decision about the pick “a couple of days ago.”
But they didn’t make that decision public until the draft began Monday. A little after 7 p.m., commissioner Rob Manfred stepped to the podium in Studio 42 in MLB Network’s studios and announced Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson was the Diamondbacks choice at No. 1.
“This is the player we wanted,” Ladnier said. “We wanted him for a while.”
Swanson learned he was the first overall pick just five minutes after helping Vanderbilt defeat Illinois, 4-2, in super regionals, sending the Commodores back to the College World Series. Swanson went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and a stolen base in the victory.
Swanson was the first college shortstop to be selected first overall since 1974 when the Padres selected Bill Almon out of Brown. He was the Diamondbacks first top overall pick since 2005, when they drafted Justin Upton.
Ladnier said he enjoyed watching Swanson play Monday, knowing he would soon use the first overall pick on the Georgia native.
“It was icing on the cake to see him hit a home run, to see him hit a double in the gap and ultimately win the game and advance to the (College) World Series,” Ladnier said.
Despite all the public mystery this spring surrounding the first overall pick of the draft, Diamondbacks scouting director Deric Ladnier said his mind was made up “a while back” about who to take. He remained convinced after going through the process of meeting with the team’s scouts and they came to a unanimous decision about the pick “a couple of days ago.”
But they didn’t make that decision public until the draft began Monday. A little after 7 p.m., commissioner Rob Manfred stepped to the podium in Studio 42 in MLB Network’s studios and announced Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson was the Diamondbacks choice at No. 1.
“This is the player we wanted,” Ladnier said. “We wanted him for a while.”
Swanson learned he was the first overall pick just five minutes after helping Vanderbilt defeat Illinois, 4-2, in super regionals, sending the Commodores back to the College World Series. Swanson went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and a stolen base in the victory.
Swanson was the first college shortstop to be selected first overall since 1974 when the Padres selected Bill Almon out of Brown. He was the Diamondbacks first top overall pick since 2005, when they drafted Justin Upton.
Ladnier said he enjoyed watching Swanson play Monday, knowing he would soon use the first overall pick on the Georgia native.
“It was icing on the cake to see him hit a home run, to see him hit a double in the gap and ultimately win the game and advance to the (College) World Series,” Ladnier said.
