Update on Dbacks 2015 MLB Draft Picks

It’s been a couple months since the 2015 installment of the MLB Draft. With the deadline to sign draft picks also having passed (and not without some nervous moments), there has been an influx of new faces in the Arizona organization. Some have excelled in their early professional careers and have deserved their call ups. Meanwhile, others are stuck in the most basic levels of the Dbacks farm system. Let’s take a look.

Jun 24, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) tries to field a ball during the game against the Virginia Cavaliers in game three of the College World Series Finals at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Dansby Swanson, SS, 1st Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 0-for-6, 1 R

Alex Young, LHP, 2nd Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 K
• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 K

Taylor Clarke, RHP, 3rd Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 17.0 IP, 0 ER, 19 K, 1 SV

Breckin Williams, RHP, 4th Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 K

Ryan Burr, RHP, 5th Round

• Kane County Cougars (A Full)
  • 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 K
• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 3-0, 14.1 IP, 3 ER, 21 K, 3 SV

Mar 3, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Yasmany Tomas (left) greets Arizona State Sun Devils pitcher Ryan Burr prior to a spring training baseball game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Out of the first 5 draft picks, it’s the 5th round pick Ryan Burr out of Arizona State that has escalated the farthest. The former Sun Devil closer stands at an imposing 6’4 and has translated his intimidating figure into plenty of strikeouts (26 K in 19 IP.) Taylor Clarke’s performance (17 straight scoreless innings) also warrants a call to Kane County. Dansby Swanson (here’s a more specific review on his debut) is still recovering from an injury, but should adjust himself to professional baseball with each at bat. Alex Young is also in need of more appearances in Hillsboro to evaluate his standing.

Tyler Mark, RHP, 6th Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 1-1, 12.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 K
• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 1-0, 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 K

Francis Christy, C, 7th Round

• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 16-for-92 (.174), 11 R, 14 RBI

Kal Simmons, SS, 8th Round

• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 19-for-96 (.198), 15 R, 1 HR, 12 RBI

Pierce Romero, RHP, 9th Round

• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 K

Joey Armstrong, OF, 10th Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • Yet to make debut
• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 32-for-141 (.227), 19 R, 2 HR, 18 RBI

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The bottom half of the Top 10 draft picks feature plenty of appearances for the Missoula Osprey. Only Tyler Mark and Joey Armstrong have been promoted to Hillsboro, although their first impressions don’t stand out significantly. Francis Christy and Kal Simmons are both hitting below the Mendoza line and will need to show some improvement if a promotion is one of their goals. Meanwhile, Pierce Romero is still in the Arizona Fall League.

Austin Byler, 1B, 11th Round

• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 51-for-149 (.342), 43 R, 11 HR, 38 RBI

Wesley Rodriguez, RHP, 12th Round

• Tommy John surgery

Jason Morozowski, OF, 13th Round

• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 48-for-162 (.296), 26 R, 2 HR, 26 RBI

Luke Lowery, C, 14th Round

• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 52-for-156 (.333), 36 R, 8 HR, 37 RBI

Justin Donatella, RHP, 15th Round

• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 1-0, 15.0 IP, 1 ER, 13 K

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This set of draft picks features a quartet of over achievers. Austin Byler was an absolute masher at Nevada and he’s taken his potent offense to the professional level. One has to wonder why he hasn’t appeared in Hillsboro yet. Meanwhile, Jason Morozowksi has produced better numbers than the recently promoted Joey Armstrong. Luke Lowery has seemed to overtake Francis Christy, who was drafted seven rounds before him, at the catcher’s position.

Zach Nehrir, OF, 16th Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 46-for-148 (.311), 26 R, 1 HR, 20 RBI

Austin Mason, RHP, 17th Round

• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 2-0, 19.1 IP, 9 ER, 18 K

Daniel Comstock, C, 18th Round

• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 17-for-63 (.270), 13 R, 11 RBI

Jacy Cave, OF, 19th Round

• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 21-for-71 (.296), 10 R, 1 HR, 8 RBI

Will Lowman, LHP, 20th Round

• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 1.0 IP, 0 ER
• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 0-2, 8.2 IP, 14 ER, 6 K

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The one player that stands out here is Zach Nehrir, who as a 16th round pick started his professional career with Hillsboro. The Houson Baptist product has not disappointed and is a prime candidate for promotion to Kane County. The rest of the picks are in the midst of decent seasons in the Arizona Fall League.

Alexis Olmeda, C, 21st Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 30-for-90 (.333), 11 R, 8 RBI
• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 2-for-4

Zach Hoffpauir, OF, 22nd Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 6-for-36 (.167), 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 10-for-26 (.385), 4 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI

Logan Soole, OF, 23rd Round

• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 32-for-117 (.274), 11 R, 9 RBI

Bryant Holtmann, LHP, 24th Round

• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 0-1, 28.1 IP, 21 ER, 24 K

Stephen Dezzi, OF, 25th Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 23-for-113 (.204), 21 R, 2 HR, 13 RBI

Kirby Bellow, LHP, 26th Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 K
• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 9.1 IP, 0 ER, 12 K, 2 SV

Cameron Gann, RHP, 27th Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 0-1, 21.1 IP, 8 ER, 26 K 2 SV

Jesse Wilkening, C, 28th Round

• Did not sign.

Keegan Long, RHP, 29th Round

• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 1-0, 19.2 IP, 2 ER, 23 K, 1 SV

Jeff Smith, 2B, 30th Round

• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 12-for-56 (.214), 7 R, 8 RBI
• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 7-for-24 (.292), 5 R, 3 RBI
• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 10-for-34 (.294), 5 R, 5 RBI

One of the more interesting developments is Alexis Olmeda, who, although the 4th catcher taken, is at the highest level of competition among his catcher brethren. We also encounter our first unsigned draftee, Jesse Wilkening, who opted to pursue a collegiate career. Although we are now much later in the Draft, there are still players that are playing side by side with Dansby Swanson in Hillsboro.

Vance Vizcaino, 3B, 31st Round

• Did not sign.

Bryan Hoeing, RHP, 32nd Round

• Did not sign.

Luis Silverio, OF, 33rd Round

• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 13-for-51 (.255), 12 R, 1 HR, 11 RBI

Jake Peevyhouse, OF, 34th Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 2-for-12 (.167), 2 R, 2 RBI
• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 11-for-41 (.268), 6 R, 6 RBI

Quinnton Mack, OF, 35th Round

• Kane County Cougars (A Full)
  • 12-for-59 (.203), 5 R, 1 HR, 7 RBI
• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 4-for-18 (.222), 5 R, 1 RBI

Cameron Smith, LHP, 36th Round

• Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
  • 6-1, 41.2 IP, 10 ER, 52 K, 1 SV

Max Brown, OF, 37th Round

• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 31-for-111 (.279), 11 R, 11 RBI

Josh Anderson, 3B, 38th Round

• Hillsboro Hops (A Short)
  • 26-for-95 (.274), 11 R, 1 HR, 10 RBI

Georgie Salem, OF, 39th Round

• Did not sign.

Tucker Ward, RHP, 40th Round

• AZL Dbacks (Rookie)
  • 14.0 IP, 6 ER, 16 K

This last section has a trio of players that opted not to sign with Arizona. One player that stands out is Quinnton Mack, the 35th Round pick that is only one of two picks currently in Kane County. It makes sense when you realize that Mack is already 23-years old and has an advanatge in age over several of the other draft picks. Cameron Smith, in Missoula, is having himself an excellent season. Here’s the organizational breakdown.

• Kane County Cougars- 2
• Hillsboro Hops- 14
• Missoula Osprey- 9
• AZL Dbacks- 10
• Injured- 1
• Did not sign- 4