D-backs Draft Eight More Players on Second Day of the Draft

The Diamondbacks made eight selections on the second day of the draft, all of them college players. D-backs scouting director Ian Rebhan downplayed any hint of a strategy, whether it was caused by the pandemic or targeting players with a more proven track record.

"There were a lot of high school players on our board, when it came our turn to pick they weren't the top guys on our board. That's how it went."

Much of their draft class came from the top programs such as Stanford, Dallas Baptist, Florida, and Alabama, who made the NCAA tournament this year. When asked if seeing these players in postseason environments played any importance in their evaluation of college players, this is what Rebhan had to say.

"I wouldn't say it totally weighs on the process, but it's always really nice to see guys compete in big environments like that. I wouldn't say we wouldn't take them if they didn't play those games, we want to take the best player at all times, but seeing all those guys compete in that environment in front of a lot of people in games that matter, those are real things when you can measure some of those intangibles. It plays a part, but I wouldn't say it was a deciding factor on any of those guys."

3rd Round (80): Virginia Tech OF Jack Hurley

Hurley was one of the top talents that was not selected on the first night of the draft. The Virginia Tech outfielder was considered by many prospect publications to be a Top 50 prospect in this year's class, but ultimately fell out of the second round. Typically when that happens teams will make arrangements for a potential over-slot selection if their guy makes it to their pick, which may be in play here.

"Really fortunate to get him where we got him, we love the player. He's got a way to impact the game on both sides of the ball. Super athletic, can really run, really play defense, we think he's got impact power. Getting a player like that in the third round, we're really thrilled about it."

A tooled up outfielder, he has a chance to develop into a capable center fielder down the road with five average or better tools. As a junior he hit .320 with 15 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, and a 1.128 OPS. The D-backs have had recent hits with collegiate outfielders between Daulton Varsho, Jake McCarthy, and Dominic Fletcher in successive drafts. Rebhan was asked if the organization's recent success of a similar type of player in the big leagues influenced their decision to take Hurley.

"Absolutely! First and foremost you're evaluating the player for who he is, the tool he has. When you get a player like Jack in the third round, regardless of if we had that track record, you make that bet every day."

4th Round (112): Alabama LHP Grayson Hitt

Hitt showcased improved stuff in the fall, sitting in the mid 90s with his fastball with a cutter, slider, curveball, and a changeup.

"I know that our scouts that saw him in the fall were really impressed by the stuff besides the strikes and our analyst group really liked the package as well. Do we think it was an upside opportunity cost play? Absolutely!"

However when it was time to use it in the spring, the results were inconsistent and he was shut down in April before undergoing Tommy John surgery. With a rehab schedule of 12-15 months, it will be a while before Hitt sees the mound again. The D-backs will have discussions about how far along Hitt is in with his rehab after the draft and a timetable to return.

The D-backs took an arm with a similar profile in the same round and program a year ago in Dylan Ray, although Ray had already returned to a mound before getting selected. There's a lot of reliever risk in this pick due to already having one major arm injury, but this deep into the draft the risk isn't all that concerning.

5th Round (148): San Diego INF Kevin Sim

The son of KBO superstar slugger Chong Soo Shim, Kevin Sim is a small school find out of the San Diego area. Like his father, Sim has plenty of raw power to spare. In the Cape, he showcased that power with five home runs in 92 plate appearances, but also struck out 30 times. Defensively he's more likely to end up in a first base/left field profile than third, but the power will be his carrying tool to the big leagues. Depending on the defensive versatility he can provide, he may be a solid right-handed slugger off the bench.

"Like the bat, like the power here. His dad played 15 years and hit 300 homers in the KBO. We think he's a power-hitting third baseman. He's hit when was there, hit on the Cape, he's always had power. A player we scouted here at the combine at Chase Field, he really performed well there showing off that raw power. An ability to play third and be that right-handed power threat on the corner.

6th Round (175): Florida LHP Philip Abner

Abner is a draft-eligible sophomore out of Florida. He features a low-90s fastball, reaching back for about 93 MPH, a curveball, and a slider. His stuff profiles more as a reliever, and in fact he made all 25 of his appearances with Florida in relief this year. There are a lot of strikeouts in his profile, with 51 in 31 1/3 innings, but he also has trouble consistently throwing strikes. He's likely to begin his pro career exclusively as a left-handed relief arm, when Rebhan confirmed. There is some risk to sign a draft-eligible sophomore. This pick holds a slot value of $328K.

"Really intrigued by the fastball here, he got a ton of swing-and-miss at Florida, struck out a lot of guys. A player we watched in high school, built a lot of history with him when he was in the Charlotte area, went out and had a really nice two-year career at Florida."

7th Round (205): Stanford LHP Ryan Bruno

Bruno is the second Stanford player to be heading to Arizona, joining first rounder Tommy Troy. Bruno has high octane stuff, with an upper 90s fastball, a slider, one of the best left-handed changeups in the draft. However he struggles to throw it over the plate, as evidenced by a walk rate of 9.8 batters per nine innings and 13 wild pitches. After a solid sophomore season, the sudden loss in control was very concerning as it caused his ERA to jump from 2.72 to 5.29. If Arizona's player development staff can fix his control issues, he could be a backend of the bullpen arm. Rebhan believes it's possible to fix those control issues.

"The stuff is so good. It's left-handed, up to 100 MPH, two plus out pitches. I think at that point, it's correctable for him to be a serviceable reliever down the road."

8th Round (235): Morehead State 1B Jackson Feltner

Feltner played at Morehead State, but he hit no worse than .348 and an OPS below 1.100 in any of his three seasons there. He has 41 career home runs over those three seasons. Defensively he's limited to first base, could be a potential savings pick.

"Big, right-handed power threat. The performance speaks for itself, he always hit, he's always hit for power. We think he has a chance to play a good first base and be that right-handed power first baseman."

9th Round (265): Dallas Baptist RHP Kyle Amendt

Amendt served as DBU's closer, collecting 12 saves and pitched to a 1.75 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings. His fastball sits in the low 90s, topping out around 93 MPH, and a big curveball in the low 80s.

"Big, physical right-handed reliever. He's got three pitches, fastball, slider, and a curveball. His numbers this year were very good, I think he struck out almost 50% of the batters he faced. That was really intriguing for us, the way he was able to miss bats with all of his pitches."

10th Round (295): Dallas Baptist RHP Zane Russell

Russell is another senior reliever out of Dallas Baptist. His fastball is 93-95 with a slider. There are some control issues with 25 walks in a little over 30 innings.

"Teammate of Amendt, very similar. Really intrigued by the upside of the stuff there in a reliever role. The way he can miss bats mostly with his fastball but also has two secondary pitches as well. Probably see him as a reliever down the road, but like the package there in the 10th round."