With the 15th pick of the 2013 MLB Draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks added another power arm to their farm system in Braden Shipley.
The hard throwing right hander from the University of Nevada was actually projected by many to go in the top ten of the draft. But slipped to 15 where the Diamondbacks snatched him up.
“When I got picked I got very excited, there is no greater feeling the seeing your hard woke pay off,” Shipley said Thursday night. “I wasn’t really expecting the diamondbacks but I am excited they picked me.”
The 6-3, 190-pound Shipley was rated by Baseball America as the nation’s third-best college pitcher and the No. 9 Prospect in the draft by MLB.com. He went 7-3 with a 2.77 ERA along with 102 strikeouts and 34 walks in 2013. For the second consecutive season, he was named Mountain West Pitcher of the Year (individual winner in 2012, co-winner in 2013) and given All-Mountain West Conference First-Team accolades.
“I bring some good [velocity] to the table,” . I am a guy that can throw three pitches and command them well. My command it getting better every day. Hopefully my velocity gets higher and all three pitches become above average pitches for me.”
Playing in Nevada, Shipley is familiar with many in the Diamondbacks farm system having seen and played against the triple-A affiliate Reno Aces.
“I got a chance to play the Reno Aces this year and got to see Tyler Skaggs,” he mentioned. “Just looking to what he brings to the table and watching Corbin on TV and those guys, I am excited to add on to that and do anything I can to help them out.”
Shipley is the 19th first-round selection for the D-backs and 11th taken from the college ranks.
“I am very excited to be a Dback,” Shipley stated. “And I’m ready to play some baseball.”
