Early returns:
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Best Pro Debut: OF Jon Zeringue (2) went straight to high Class A and hit .335/.374/.352 with 10 homers, 41 RBIs and nine steals in 56 games, then batted .447 with 12 RBIs in nine California League playoff games. OF/1B Chris Carter (17) led the short-season Northwest League in RBIs (63) and slugging (.576), while 2B Eric Schindewolf (26) was tops in runs (65). RHP A.J. Shappi (9) joined Carter on the NWL all-star team after going 5-1, 1.85 with a 65-8 K-BB ratio in 67 innings.
Best Athlete: SS Stephen Drew (1), BA's top-rated position player in the draft, is a five-tool talent. He hasn't signed yet but is expected to before spring training. Zeringue's bat is his calling card, but his arm, speed and outfield play all grade out as average or better.
Best Pure Hitter: Drew, whom the Diamondbacks project to be every bit as good as his brother J.D. while playing a more premium position. They're also excited about the bats of Zeringue and OF Luis Lajara (22).
Best Raw Power: Highly touted out of high school, Carter never got untracked in three years at Stanford but showed off his massive power as a pro. During predraft workouts, switch-hitting OF Brandon Burgess (6) batted lefthanded against lefty Bill Bray (Montreal's first-rounder)—and deposited a slider in the pool at Bank One Ballpark.
Fastest Runner: OF Kevin Williams (30) has 6.4-second speed in the 60-yard dash. Drew is a solid plus runner.
Best Defensive Player: Though some clubs thought Drew might be better suited to play second base or center field, Arizona believes he'll be a steady big league shortstop for many years. He's not flashy, but he has the arm, range and instincts to make all the plays.
Best Fastball: RHP Ross Ohlendorf (4) pitches at 94-96 mph and peaks at 98 coming out of the bullpen. RHP Garrett Mock (3), a starter, can touch the mid-90s and achieves a lot of sink with his fastball.
Best Breaking Ball: Shappi has very good command of three pitches, the best of which is his slider.
Most Intriguing Background: Drew followed his brothers J.D. and Tim as first-round picks, making his family the first to have three members drafted that high. As-yet-unsigned 2B Darryl Lawhorn's (11) twin brother Trevor went in the ninth round to the Reds. C Dan Pohlman (15) spent two years as a linebacker on Northwestern's football team.
Closest To The Majors: Drew is so much better than Arizona's current cast of shortstops that he'll reach the big leagues very quickly once he signs. Zeringue also is on the fast track.
Best Late-Round Pick: Carter and C Frank Curreri (41). An offensive-minded catcher, Curreri parlayed a big summer in the Cape Cod League into a $200,000 bonus.
The One Who Got Away: RHP Jimmy Shull (8), a converted shortstop, took his low-90s fastball back to Cal Poly for his senior season.
Assessment: The Diamondbacks went into the draft looking for pitching but felt Drew and Zeringue were too good to pass up. They considered Mock and Ohlendorf in the second round, then got them with their next two picks.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Best Pro Debut: OF Jon Zeringue (2) went straight to high Class A and hit .335/.374/.352 with 10 homers, 41 RBIs and nine steals in 56 games, then batted .447 with 12 RBIs in nine California League playoff games. OF/1B Chris Carter (17) led the short-season Northwest League in RBIs (63) and slugging (.576), while 2B Eric Schindewolf (26) was tops in runs (65). RHP A.J. Shappi (9) joined Carter on the NWL all-star team after going 5-1, 1.85 with a 65-8 K-BB ratio in 67 innings.
Best Athlete: SS Stephen Drew (1), BA's top-rated position player in the draft, is a five-tool talent. He hasn't signed yet but is expected to before spring training. Zeringue's bat is his calling card, but his arm, speed and outfield play all grade out as average or better.
Best Pure Hitter: Drew, whom the Diamondbacks project to be every bit as good as his brother J.D. while playing a more premium position. They're also excited about the bats of Zeringue and OF Luis Lajara (22).
Best Raw Power: Highly touted out of high school, Carter never got untracked in three years at Stanford but showed off his massive power as a pro. During predraft workouts, switch-hitting OF Brandon Burgess (6) batted lefthanded against lefty Bill Bray (Montreal's first-rounder)—and deposited a slider in the pool at Bank One Ballpark.
Fastest Runner: OF Kevin Williams (30) has 6.4-second speed in the 60-yard dash. Drew is a solid plus runner.
Best Defensive Player: Though some clubs thought Drew might be better suited to play second base or center field, Arizona believes he'll be a steady big league shortstop for many years. He's not flashy, but he has the arm, range and instincts to make all the plays.
Best Fastball: RHP Ross Ohlendorf (4) pitches at 94-96 mph and peaks at 98 coming out of the bullpen. RHP Garrett Mock (3), a starter, can touch the mid-90s and achieves a lot of sink with his fastball.
Best Breaking Ball: Shappi has very good command of three pitches, the best of which is his slider.
Most Intriguing Background: Drew followed his brothers J.D. and Tim as first-round picks, making his family the first to have three members drafted that high. As-yet-unsigned 2B Darryl Lawhorn's (11) twin brother Trevor went in the ninth round to the Reds. C Dan Pohlman (15) spent two years as a linebacker on Northwestern's football team.
Closest To The Majors: Drew is so much better than Arizona's current cast of shortstops that he'll reach the big leagues very quickly once he signs. Zeringue also is on the fast track.
Best Late-Round Pick: Carter and C Frank Curreri (41). An offensive-minded catcher, Curreri parlayed a big summer in the Cape Cod League into a $200,000 bonus.
The One Who Got Away: RHP Jimmy Shull (8), a converted shortstop, took his low-90s fastball back to Cal Poly for his senior season.
Assessment: The Diamondbacks went into the draft looking for pitching but felt Drew and Zeringue were too good to pass up. They considered Mock and Ohlendorf in the second round, then got them with their next two picks.
