Pundits Split on Who D-backs Will Take in the First Round

Based on mock drafts, the prospect pundits are unsure of which player the D-backs may pick with the No. 12 selection.

The 2023 MLB Draft begins later today, with the Arizona Diamondbacks' top selection coming at the No. 12 overall pick. In the past two years the D-backs were picking in the Top 10, so it was easier to project who they may select with their top pick with fewer teams ahead of them. However it seems on draft day this year that there isn't as much a consensus on who goes to Arizona's pick.

• Keith Law, The Athletic: Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
• Eric Longenhagen, FanGraphs: Aidan Miller, 3B, J.W. Mitchell High School (FL)
• Jim Callis, MLB: Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida
• Jonathan Mayo, MLB: Colin Houck, SS, Parkview High School (GA)
• Carlos Collazo, Baseball America: Colin Houck, SS, Parkview High School (GA)
• Kiley McDaniel, ESPN: Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida

Based on the most recent mock drafts of these six pundits, there seems to be a 50/50 split between a high school bat or a college arm. Houck and Waldrep each got selected in two of the mocks, the former being connected to Arizona for months. Law and Longenhagen, who have both correctly guessed Arizona's first rounder in each of the past four drafts, have picked different players this year. Law has Dollander falling all the way to 12, while Longenhagen has them passing on Dollander to take Miller.

It will be interesting to see how the first 12 selections of the draft ultimately play out tonight. It's possible that none of the top pitchers in the draft slide down to Arizona's pick, forcing them to look primarily at hitters with their top selection and worry about pitching later.