The Arizona Diamondbacks took a proven college player from an established program with the first overall pick.
They did the same with their second round pick.
After drafting Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson with the first overall pick, the Diamondbacks selected LHP Alex Young out of Texas Christian University in the second round with the 43rd overall pick.
The first-team All-Big 12 selection had a stellar Monday, throwing 6.2 innings, an earned run and striking out 10, a career high, in a no-decision in a Super Regional game against Texas A&M. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound lefty 9-2 with a 2.31 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 2015, and has been a target for the Diamondbacks for a long time.
“This is one of those where you sit there and watch the draft board and sweat it out. The history of college performers, college lefties in good college programs have a history of going quickly,” Diamondbacks scouting director Deric Ladnier said.
“We feel like we could get into the system and could quickly get through it.”
Ladnier said Young has an average fastball, plus slider and changeup, and a good command of the strike zone. He also shares similar traits with top-pick Dansby Swanson.
“They’re winners,” Ladnier said. “They just have this desire to win and compete. That’s how you win championships. You have to have ability, but if you don’t have that x-factor that allows you when things are tough to survive, it decreases your probability of what you think they can become.”
Both picks have shown they have that x-factor in college, and the Snakes hope that continues in the pros.
Jordan Hamm
