2015 MLB Draft Complete
MISSOULA, MONT. - The Arizona Diamondbacks exhausted all 40 of their picks in the 2015 Major League First-Year Player Draft, ultimately selecting 36 college players and four high schoolers. Of the 40 picks, the D-backs selected 23 position players and 17 pitchers. On the other hand, Arizona used early picks to obtain arms, drafting a pitcher with five of its first six picks overall.
The entire Arizona Diamondbacks 2015 draft class is listed below:
Dansby Swanson | 1st Round (1 overall) | SS | Vanderbilt (TN) | R/R | 6'1" | 190 lbs
Swanson, a 6'1", 190-pound shortstop out of the Vanderbilt, was rated the #2 prospect according to MLB.com and Baseball America. Although a broken foot and shoulder injury limited Swanson to just 11 games as a freshman, he returned to full health as a sophomore and helped lead the Commodores to their first-ever national championship. He was named Most Outstanding Player at the College World Series and finished the summer with a strong showing for Team USA en route to being tabbed the top position prospect in the college class entering his junior season.
Making a successful transition from second base to shortstop in 2015, Swanson, a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award (top amateur baseball player) and semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award (top collegiate shortstop), has continued to produce at the plate, hitting .348 with 74 runs scored, 23 doubles, six triples and 15 homers to the tune of 62 RBI while guiding the Commodores to their second straight College World Series appearance, and the third in the last five years. A plus runner, Swanson has stolen 16 bases in 18 attempts this season.
According to Baseball America, "Swanson is a well-rounded hitter that has a quick, loose swing that allows him to produce hard contact to all fields. He is a patient hitter who knows how to work a walk and has a sound two-strike approach. He has some pop in his bat, especially when he can turn on the ball, but gears his swing more for hitting line drives. Defensively, he has the athleticism, range and hands necessary for the position. Whether he has a true plus arm remains the subject of some debate, but scouts project he'll stay at shortstop as a professional."
Swanson, an All-American as a sophomore and junior at Vanderbilt, was drafted but did not sign as a 38th-round pick of the Rockies in 2012 out of Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga.
Alex Young | 2nd Round (43 overall) | LHP | TCU (TX) | L/L | 6'2" | 205 lbs
The Diamondbacks stuck with the college player with the 43rd overall pick, selecting the 6'2" 190-pound Young out of TCU to begin the second round. Young began his career at TCU as a relief pitcher, but made a smooth transition into the starting rotation this spring after honing his command and improving his stamina in the Cape Cod League last summer.
A 2015 first-team All-Big 12 performer, Young has appeared in 60 games for the Horned Frogs in his career, accumulating a 17-9 overall record and 168 strikeouts over 173.1 innings. Through 14 starts and 15 appearances this year, the second-team All-American pitched to a 9-2 record and a 2.39 ERA over 83 innings of work. The southpaw walked just 19 while striking out 81 and limiting opponents to a .216 batting average against.
Like his former TCU teammate, Brandon Finnegan, who was drafted in 2014 and made his Major League debut with the Royals that same year, Young has been projected as a potential "quick-to-the-Big-Leagues" player as a reliever based on his current skill set and maturity. While the potential to be used as a reliever right out of the gates is great, scouts project Young to ultimately settle in to a starting role down the road.
The 32nd- best prospect according to Baseball America, and the 37th according to MLB.com, Young attacks hitters with a lively 89-93 mph fastball and a solid 78-84 mph knuckle-curve. While he uses the breaking ball as his primary off-speed pitch, the 2013 Freshman All-American also features a changeup that he continues to develop.
According to Baseball America, "Young has an unusual ability to manipulate the knuckle-curve, throwing it for strikes or burying it, and showing the ability to make it bigger and slower, or tighter and harder, depending on the situation. He's trusts it enough to throw the pitch in 3-0 counts."
Young was rated as the top prospect in Illinois as a high school senior at Carmel Catholic HS in 2012, but his lack of signability and his commitment to pitch for the Horned Frogs pushed him to the Rangers in the 32nd round.
Taylor Clarke | 3rd Round (76 overall) | RHP | College of Charleston (SC) | R/R | 6'4" | 195 lbs
While Clarke began his collegiate career at Towson University, making 10 appearances in 2012, he elected to transfer to College of Charleston after Towson announced plans to drop baseball in 2013. Following successful Tommy John surgery in his sophomore season, Clarke has emerged as one of the best pitchers in college baseball the last two years as a Cougar.
After registering the CAA's fourth-best ERA (2.51) and a 10-4 record over 18 appearances in 2014 en route to being named a semifinalist for the Gregg Olson Breakout Award, the #118 prospect according to Baseball America went 13-1 with a 1.73 ERA and two complete games over 17 appearances and 16 starts in his redshirt-junior season in 2015. Clarke, who works at 92-96 mph, tossed 114.1 innings, striking out 143 and walking only 14 while limiting opponents to a .185 batting average against. His 13 victories rank tied for first in the nation, while he is currently third in the country in strikeouts.
According to Baseball America, the 2015 All-American selection "has developed above-average command of his potent three-pitch arsenal, with the ability to pitch off of his fastball. His slider is his best secondary, thrown with power in the upper 80s and glove-side cut. Clarke has exceptional command of both pitches, with the ability to pound his slider to the back foot of lefties, punch it through the front door of righties, or compete at the heart of the strike zone."
Clarke's 6'4" 195-pound frame projects well, and his overhand delivery provides deception and downhill plane, but scouts see the development of his changeup as the key to eventually earning a spot in a big league rotation.
Breckin Williams | 4th Round (106 overall) | RHP | Missouri (MO) | R/R | 6'0" | 200 lbs
Williams is a 6'0", 200-pound right-handed pitcher out of Missouri. Listed as the #166 prospect according to MLB.com, Williams is a high-energy player that aggressively attacks hitters. Used as a closer this year, the second-team All-SEC honoree led the conference with 13 saves - a new Tiger record. Named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List (top reliever in college baseball), he posted a 1.98 ERA in 25 appearances and 36.1 innings, scattering just 32 hits with 39 strikeouts and nine walks. After pitching with an 88-92 mph fastball as a sophomore, Williams increased his velocity to 90-95 in 2015. He also throws a tough upper-80s cutter that he can turn into a mid-80s slider with more break when he wants, and a 12-to-6 curveball. He repeats his delivery well, enabling him to throw strikes and keep the ball down in the zone.
Ryan Burr | 5th Round (136 overall) | RHP | Arizona State (AZ) | R/R | 6'4" | 225 lbs
Like Williams, Burr served as his team's closer in 2015, taking the ball 33 times for Arizona State and recording 14 saves and an 8-2 record to accompany a 2.91 ERA. The hard-throwing right-hander tossed 46.1 innings, striking out 74 hitters, en route to earning a first-team All-Pac-12 selection. Over three years as a Sun Devil, Burr made 94 appearances (5th-most in ASU history) and converted a school-record 38 saves. The 6'4", 224-pound reliever features a power arm and a very live fastball that sits in the mid-90s and touches 97. According to MLB.com, "his breaking ball, a bit of a curve-slider hybrid, will show plus at times." Burr, a well-known prospect out of Highlands Ranch, Colo. in 2012, was tabbed Baseball America's 72nd-best prospect.
Tyler Mark | 6th Round (166 overall) | RHP | Concordia University (CA) | R/R | 6'1" | 195 lbs
Mark, the 159th prospect according to MLB.com, emerged this spring as one of the top NAIA prospects after two seasons at Division II Cal State Dominguez Hills. Shifting into the closer role after transferring to Concordia, the power-armed righty registered an NAIA-high 24 saves. Mark went 5-1 with a 1.24 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 51 innings of work. Aggressively attacking hitters, he walked just nine batters while pounding the zone with a 92-95 mph fastball. According to Baseball America, Mark would benefit from developing a better feel for changing speeds, as his secondary pitches include a cutter and split-finger fastball, both of which are thrown hard.
Francis Christy | 7th Round (196 overall) | C | Palomar College (CA) | L/R | 6'2" | 220 lbs
Arizona snapped a string of five-straight pitching selections with a potential battery-mate in Christy. Listed as the 385th-best prospect according to Baseball America, Christy was a highly-touted recruit out of Casa Grande High School (37th round selection in 2013, Oakland), but ultimately settled at Palomar College. Christy, named California Community College Player of the Year and National Community College Player of the Year, batted .316 with a CCCA-leading 11 home runs, 52 RBIs and 43 runs scored in 45 games as the Comets went 37-8 and finished third in the California State Tournament. According to Baseball America, the talented backstop, who is committed to the University of Washington, is physical enough to handle catching everyday and features a strong arm behind the plate.
Kal Simmons | 8th Round (226 overall) | SS | Kennesaw State (GA) | S/R | 6'1" | 195 lbs
Simmons was a 2015 second-team All-Atlantic Sun selection after leading the Owls with 10 homers. The switch-hitting shortstop batted .269 with 41 runs scored and seven doubles with 35 RBI. Simmons, the 165th prospect in the draft according to Baseball America, was a Freshman All-American in 2013. Scouts praise Simmons for his intangibles, overall skill set and Baseball I.Q., and note that he shows more feel from the left side of the plate and a little more pop from the right. He reached double-digit home runs this spring but projects as more of a gap-to-gap hitter with doubles power as a professional.
Pierce Romero | 9th Round (256 overall) | RHP | Santa Barbara CC (CA) | R/R | 6'3" | 200 lbs
Romero appeared in 11 games, starting one, for the Vaqueros as a sophomore. The right-hander pitched to a 2-0 record and a 5.50 ERA over 18 innings of work. He averaged 8.50 strikeouts-per-game, totaling 17 for the year. Romero features a low to mid-90s fastball and a slider as his go-to off-speed pitch. The Nebraska commit missed the 2014 season due to Tommy John surgery, but returned in 2015 and has a high-ceiling for development.
Joey Armstrong | 10th Round (286 overall) | CF | UNLV (NV) | R/R | 5'11" | 195 lbs
Armstrong hit .277 with 34 runs scored, nine doubles, a triple and two homers to the tune of 26 RBI this year. He started his career as a third baseman, but has served as UNLV's primary centerfielder the last two years. Armstrong hit .302 with four home runs, eight doubles, three triples and 27 RBI as a sophomore before an injury ended his season with 10 games left to be played. He spent the summer of 2014 playing in the Cape Cod League, competing for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and winning the team's fourth CCBL Championship.
Austin Byler | 11th Round (316 overall) | 1B | Nevada (NV) | L/R | 6'3" | 225 lbs
Byler, a 2015 third-team All-American selection, was a ninth-round pick of the Nationals last season but didn't sign and returned for his senior season at Nevada. The 6'3", 225-pound left-handed hitter batted .328 while collecting 69 runs scored, 18 doubles, 54 walks and 14 homers with 52 RBI. The Peoria, Ariz. native slugged .652 and stole nine bases in 12 attempts. Byler finished his collegiate career with a .320 lifetime batting average while ranking in the top-10 in program history in home runs (4th, 39), walks (5th, 115), triples (5th, 11), games played (6th, 209), at bats (7th, 757), doubles (7th, 50), runs (8th, 180) and hits (8th, 242). He was named to the midseason watch list for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award, and was a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, given annually to the top player in college baseball. Baseball America notes that Byler played third base and left field earlier in his career, and he may still move well enough to shift to left field - he is a 7-seconds-flat runner over 60 yards. Byler is the 115th-best draft prospect according to Baseball America, and checks in at #199 according to MLB.com.
Wesley Rodriguez | 12th Round (346 overall) | RHP | George Washington HS (NY) | R/R | 5'10" | 210 lbs
A two-way player who also plays third base at George Washington, Manny Ramirez's old stomping grounds, Rodriguez sits 93-95 mph and can touch 98 throwing from a low three-quarters arm slot. According to MLB.com, his breaking ball gets slurvy at times, but with more velocity it has tight, slider action. For a power arm, he tends to stay around the strike zone, showing an ability to locate his fastball at times. Rodriguez, the #77 prospect in the draft according to Baseball America (#100 by MLB.com), threw 43 2/3 innings for George Washington, striking out 92 batters while allowing only 10 hits and one earned run (0.21 ERA). While he is being selected as a pitcher, he also batted .550 with 12 home runs.
Jason Morozowski | 13th Round (376 overall) | CF | University of Mount Olive (NC) | R/R | 6'2" | 190 lbs
A consensus first-team All-American selection, Morozowski batted .424 over 55 games for the Trojans in 2015. The right-handed hitter plated 78 runs to accompany 19 doubles, 21 homers and 82 RBI (.790 slugging percentage). A threat to run when aboard, he reached at a .481 clip and stole 17 bases in 18 attempts. Morozowski, a native of Pembroke Pines, Fla., was the 2015 Conference Carolinas Baseball Player of the Year and narrowly missed winning the Conference Carolinas Triple Crown, leading the league in homers and RBI while finishing second in batting average.
Luke Lowery | 14th Round (406 overall) | C | East Carolina (NC) | R/R | 6'2" | 230 lbs
Lowery helped East Carolina to its first American Athletic Conference title this year, batting .311 with 40 runs scored, 10 doubles, 12 homers and 49 RBI while slugging .553 and reaching at a .408 clip. The Midlothian, Va. product was a first-team All-AAC selection at designated hitter, striking just 15 times in 209 at bats while drawing 21 walks. Following the AAC Championship run, Lowery earned an All-Tournament selection.
Justin Donatella | 15th Round (436 overall) | RHP | UC San Diego (CA) | R/R | 6'6" | 225 lbs
Donatella was a consensus Division II All-American and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association National Pitcher of the Year. He set UCSD's Division II-era single season record for ERA (1.74), strikeouts (111) and opposing batting average (.186) in 2015. Donatella sits eighth all-time at UCSD with a 2.83 career ERA and UCSD went 18-8 over his 26 career starts. Donatella posted a 9-3 record in 14 starts this year, including collecting one complete game and combining on five shutouts. He walked only 17 hitters in his 88.0 innings pitched, and surrendered a run in back-to-back outings just once. His longest of several shutout streaks was 34.1 innings early on, which included the first 31.2 frames of CCAA play.
Zach Nehrir | 16th Round (466 overall) | CF | Houston Baptist (TX) | R/R | 6'2" | 205 lbs
Nehrir was named first-team All-Southland Conference and helped lead the Huskies to the Southland Conference Tournament title and their first-ever NCAA Regional appearance. He hit .333 with 10 doubles, five triples, five home runs, ranked second in the league with 44 RBIs and led HBU with 35 runs. A native of Orange, Calif., Nehrir is the highest draft selection in HBU history, surpassing Kyle Smith, who was taken by the Cincinnati Reds in the 18th round in 2003.
Austin Mason | 17th Round (496 overall) | RHP | The Citadel (SC) | R/R | 6'2" | 200 lbs
Mason posted a 4.19 ERA through 53.2 innings of work and struck out 53 batters over his 25 appearances in 2015. A native of Greer, South Carolina, Mason finished his Citadel career with a 5.28 ERA over 165.1 innings pitched. He started in 32 of his 53 appearances, striking out 126 opponents.
Daniel Comstock | 18th Round (526 overall) | C | Menlo College (CA) | R/R | 5'11" | 210 lbs
Comstock earned NAIA All-American honors for the first time in his career following a tremendous junior campaign for the Oaks. He finished top-25 nationally in eight different categories, including seventh in home runs (16), seventh in total bases (154), 17th in slugging percentage (0.720), 22nd in hits (84), and 24th in doubles (20). His 16 home runs placed him first in both single-season and career home runs at Menlo College, while the 20 doubles pushed his career total to 55, good for first all-time. He also batted .393 in 2015, scoring 56 runs and driving in 56 more while walking 34 times. Comstock was named the NAIA West Group Player of the Year following the conclusion of the season.
Jacy Cave | 19th Round (556 overall) | RF | New Mexico JC (NM) | R/R | 6'2" | 190 lbs
Cave was named a NJCAA second-team All-American after finishing second in the nation and leading the Western Junior College Athletic Conference with a .472 average. He was also second in the WJCAC and fourth in the nation in home runs (20), second in the WJCAC and seventh in the nation in RBI (82), and second in the WJCAC and seventh in the NJCAA in slugging percentage (.887). Cave, a Farmington, N.M. native, had committed to play baseball at the University of Utah.
Will Lowman | 20th Round (586 overall) | LHP | Kennesaw State (GA) | R/L | 6'0" | 185 lbs
Lowman made 26 appearances for the Owls in 2015, pitching to a 4.26 ERA and recording six saves over 25.1 innings of work. The left-hander struck out 37 and limited opponents to a .217 average against.
Alexis Olmeda | 21st Round (616 overall) | C | Yavapai College (AZ) | R/R | 6'0" | 225 lbs
Olmeda was named a second-team NJCAA Division I Baseball All-American following the 2015 season. The 6'0", 225-pound catcher led the team with a .441 batting average and 24 doubles, scoring 36 runs and belting 14 homers to the tune of 62 RBI. In May, Olmeda was named to the first-team All-ACCAC after guiding the Roughriders to their first NJCAA World Series appearance since 1996.
Zach Hoffpauir | 22nd Round (646 overall) | RF | Stanford (CA) | R/R | 6'0" | 195 lbs
Baseball America's 242nd-best draft prospect, Hoffpauir was Stanford's biggest power threat in 2015. Despite missing 23 games with a wrist injury, the junior led the team with four home runs and drove in 23 runs in 33 games. He hit .289 after batting .324 with seven homers and 35 RBI in 59 games during a breakout sophomore campaign. A two-time honorable mention All-Pac-12 player, Hoffpauir is also a member of the Stanford football team. He played 12 games at safety last season and ranked seventh on the team in tackles with 44, including a career best 15 against Washington State. The native of Glendale, Arizona has a high ceiling, especially considering he has faced a limited baseball practice schedule due to his football obligations.
Logan Soole | 23rd Round (676 overall) | CF | Monarch HS (CO) | L/L | 6'0" | 185 lbs
Soole played in 17 games for Monarch as a senior, hitting .518 with 18 runs scored and 22 RBI. He collected six doubles, three triples and two homers while stealing 15 bases and slugging .839. On the mound, the left-handed pitcher went 6-1 with a .77 ERA over nine appearances.
Bryant Holtmann | 24th Round (706 overall) | LHP | Florida State (FL) | R/L | 6'5" | 210 lbs
Holtmann was drafted in the 37th round of the 2014 draft, but elected to return to Florida State for his senior year. During that senior campaign, Holtman pitched to a 6-1 record and a 3.36 ERA over 20 appearances (nine starts) and 64.1 innings of work.
Stephen Dezzi | 25th Round (736 overall) | OF | University of Tampa (FL) | L/R | 6'1" | 190 lbs
Dezzi earned a spot on the 2015 Daktronics, Inc., NCAA Division II All-America baseball team, marking the second straight season as an All-American. A two-time All-Sunshine State Conference selection, and the 2014 Daktronics South Region Player of the Year, he hit .340 with 49 runs scored, five doubles, a triple and 14 homers while collecting 50 RBI and leading his squad to the 2015 Division II National Championship. The left-handed hitting outfielder slugged .642 and drew 40 walks to just 28 strikeouts.
Kirby Bellow | 26th Round (766 overall) | LHP | Texas (TX) | L/L | 6'1" | 220 lbs
Bellow posted a 1.30 ERA in 34.2 innings and 24 appearances on the season. The left-handed reliever converted five saves and went 3-2 overall while registering 32 strikeouts and limiting opponents to a .183 batting average against. In Big 12 play alone, he managed a 0.00 ERA over 12.1 innings with 12 strikeouts.
Cameron Gann | 27th Round (796 overall) | RHP | Stephen F. Austin State (TX) | R/R | 6'0" | 195 lbs
Gann started 13 games for the Lumberjacks in 2015, finishing with a 4-3 record and 2.87 ERA through 87.2 innings. The senior limited opponents to a .248 batting average and struck out a team-high 72 batters. The Crandall, Texas, native is second on SFA's all-time wins list (19) and third in program history in strikeouts (195). A four-year letterwinner, Gann is the first Lumberjack baseball player drafted since Hunter Dozier was selected eighth overall in 2013. His 27th-round selection is the ninth highest among all SFA draftees.
Jesse Wilkening | 28th Round (826 overall) | C | Hanover Central HS (IN) | R/R | 5'11 | 200 lbs
Wilkening had a .495 batting average with eight home runs and 38 RBIs in 2015, while also controlling the running game from behind the plate. Wilkening finished his high school career with 206 hits, topping Andrean High School's Adam Norton's Indiana record of 202 hits from 2006-09. He is committed to Nebraska after a stellar career at Hanover Central.
Keegan Long | 29th Round (856 overall) | RHP | St. Joseph's College (IN) | R/R | 6'2" | 190 lbs
Long appeared in nine games, all starts, and finished the season with a 1-5 record and a career-best 3.15 ERA. The Edon, Ohio native completed 54.1 innings, striking out 67 batters - fourth-best in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The right-hander walked only eight batters and held opponents to a .252 batting average against.
Jeff Smith | 30th Round (886 overall) | INF | Missouri Baptist College (MO) | R/R | 6'0" | 180 lbs
Smith hit .303 playing for the Spartans in NAIA Division I play. He teamed the average with 58 runs scored, 40 RBI, 11 doubles, three triples and 11 homers. The Hamilton, Ohio native slugged .522 and stole 18 bases in 20 attempts.
Vance Vizcaino | 31st Round (916 overall) | 3B | Stetson University (FL) | L/R | 6'1" | 200 lbs
Vizcaino led the Hatters in batting at .341, teaming that mark with 44 runs scored, 38 RBI, 16 doubles, five triples and a homer. The first-team All-Atlantic Sun selection slugged .466 and stole 14 bases in 18 attempts. Vizcaino started his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee in 2013. After one year with the Vols, Vizcaino took a year off from baseball and attended Glendale Community College, eventually being selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 29th round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
Bryan Hoeing | 32nd Round (946 overall) | RHP | Batesville HS (IN) | R/R | 6'5" | 200 lbs
Hoeing, a standout high school basketball player, tore the ACL in his right knee last December, but after recovering in just four months, he has emerged as the 115th-best prospect in the draft according to MLB.com (#267 according to Baseball America). Hoeing features an 88-91 mph fastball with above-average sink and he's touched 94 mph in the past. According to Baseball America, his curveball shows average potential, although it gets sweepy at times. Hoeing is a premium athlete who has excellent body control for a pitcher his size. MLB.com considers Hoeing a tough sign for the Diamondbacks based on his strong commitment to Louisville, and then word came out that he needed Tommy John surgery in late May.
Luis Silverio | 33rd Round (976 overall) | CF | Eastern Florida State College (FL) | R/R | 6'3" | 180 lbs
Silverio hit .338 with 35 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples, three homers and 18 RBI in his sophomore year for the Titans. The speedy centerfielder swiped 21 bases while reaching at a .409 clip.
Jake Peevyhouse | 34th Round (1006 overall) | LF | Arizona State (AZ) | L/L | 5'10" | 185 lbs
Prior to drafting Peevyhouse, the Arizona Diamondbacks explained that from the 2015 Draft forward, their 34th-round pick would be named the Cory Hahn 34th Pick. Hahn, who works in Arizona's scouting department, suffered a fractured vertebra after playing just three games as a freshman with Arizona State in 2011. Before hiring him, the D-backs selected Hahn with their 34th-round pick (for his No. 34 jersey) in 2013. Peevyhouse, a Phoenix, Ariz. native, was a four-year letterwinner who appeared in 175 games with 154 starts for the Sun Devils. He batted .268 with 149 hits, including 34 doubles, eight triples and four home runs, drove in 75 runs and scored 98 in his career. As a senior in 2015, Peevyhouse hit .287 with 51 hits, including three triples (tied for a team high) and added 23 RBI and 26 runs scored.
Quinnton Mack | 35th Round (1,036 overall) | CF | New Mexico State (NM) | R/R | 6'0" | 195 lbs
After utilizing a medical redshirt in 2014, Mack returned to New Mexico State in 2015 and batted a team-high .353 with 37 runs scored, 11 doubles, four triples and four homers to the tune of 32 RBI. The speedy right-handed hitter slugged .535, reached at a .466 clip (30 walks) and stole 13 bases in 16 attempts. Mack led the team and finished second in the WAC with 17 stolen bases in 2014. He was also tied for fourth on the team with eight doubles, and belted five home runs as a junior after transferring into the program from the College of Southern Nevada.
Cameron Smith | 36th Round (1,066 overall) | LHP | Texas Tech (TX) | L/L | 6'0" | 165 lbs
Smith, an All-Big 12 first-team selection, went 6-5 with a 2.83 ERA in 14 appearances (13 starts) with two complete games, one save, 89.0 innings pitched, 77 strikeouts and 28 walks allowed in 2015. He started the season with 11 consecutive starts pitching at least five innings. Over a two-year career with Texas Tech, including an All-Big 12 honorable mention selection in 2014, Smith went 14-8 with a 2.81 ERA over 39 appearances and 17 starts.
Max Brown | 37th Round (1,096 overall) | CF | Kansas State (KS) | R/R | 6'6" | 200 lbs
Brown was an All-Big 12 honorable mention selection in 2015 after playing in all 57 of K-State's games, batting .283 with seven doubles, six triples and a team-best 35 RBIs. His six triples were the most by a Wildcat since 2011, and tied for the seventh-most in a single season in program history. Over his four-year career, the North Bend, Wash. native appeared in 100 games, batting .298 with 12 doubles, eight triples, a home run and 49 RBIs.
Josh Anderson | 38th Round (1,126 overall) | 3B | Florida International (FL) | R/R | 6'0" | 225 lbs
Anderson hit .272 in 51 games for the Panthers in 2015, collecting 30 runs scored, nine doubles and seven homers to go along with 35 RBI. The native of San Diego, Calif. struck out just 29 times in 191 at bats while drawing 22 walks. After hitting .467 with three home runs and nine RBI at the Conference USA Tournament, Anderson was named Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week. Anderson would go on to win the C-USA Tournament MVP award and help lead FIU to its first C-USA title and fourth conference title in the program's 42-year history. In 2014, he finished second on the team with a .300 average and second on the team with 66 hits. His 18 extra base hits (13 doubles and 5 home runs) that year tied for second on the team, while he led the Panthers with 43 RBI.
Georgie Salem | 39th Round (1,156 overall) | OF | Alabama (AL) | L/R | 5'11" | 205 lbs
Salem closed out his junior campaign playing in all 60 games, starting 59 of them, and finished with a .276 average. He set career-highs in doubles (12), triples (4), home runs (3), runs scored (40), stolen bases (17) and slugging percentage (.395). The junior led the team in stolen bases, while committing a team-low one error in the field. Carrying over from last season, Salem went 86 consecutive games without an error to surpass Jeremy Brown's total of 84 (2000-02) for the Alabama all-time errorless games streak.
Tucker Ward | 40th Round (1,186 overall) | RHP | University of Mobile (AL) | R/R | 6'6" | 245 lbs
Ward is the son of Arizona Diamondbacks Hitting Coach Turner Ward. He made 14 appearances (13 starts) for Mobile, posting a 6-6 overall record and a 3.76 ERA with two complete games over 76.2 innings of work. The right-hander totaled 44 strikeouts while allowing a .281 batting average against.
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FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between