Shortstops headline Day One of 2015 MLB Draft
By Tim Haberin
If the MLB Draft is a glimpse into the game’s future, then that future is looking very shortstop-centric.
It was a great night to be a shortstop at the 2015 MLB Draft. For the first time in its 50-year history, a shortstop was selected with each of the first three overall picks in the draft. Four of the top 10 picks were shortstops and eight of the 42 total players chosen in the first round (including compensatory selections) were of the position.
The word “shortstop” hasn’t seemed to dominate baseball’s collective consciousness this much since the days when Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra were reinventing the position. Since that era the position has declined in offensive ability and star power save for a handful of instances. The young players drafted last night will look to reverse that trend.
The Arizona Diamondbacks picked Dansby Swanson, the consensus top overall choice, with their first selection. It was a pretty nice day in general for the Vanderbilt star, as he led his team to a spot in the College World Series only minutes earlier.
In 64 games this year for the Commodores, Swanson slashed .348/.441/.648 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI. Scouts viewed him as arguably the most polished college bat in the draft. The 21-year-old really found his power stroke this year. After hitting a homer every 94 at bats in 2014, he boosted that rate to once every 18.1 at bats this season. He projects to possess average power at the big league level, making him a very appealing commodity as a middle infielder.
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Swanson spent last season as a second baseman, but moved over to shortstop this year rather comfortably. He’s quick on his feet, which serves him well in the field and on the base paths. The D-backs will hope they have a potential high on-base player who can slot into the top part of their lineup while working a steady glove on defense. Teammates and coaches also speak very highly of his attitude and leadership qualities. One scout has described Swanson’s best-case scenario as a Barry Larkin type. It’s safe to say Arizona would like that just fine.
The Astros took Alex Bregman with the second overall pick, a compensatory selection for failing to sign Brady Aiken last year. Bregman hit .312/.406/.534 for LSU this year while belting 9 homers, driving in 49 runs and swiping 37 bags. He has exhibited sure-handed defense as well as a quick yet patient bat.
Bregman’s smaller frame has drawn comparisons to Dustin Pedroia. In fact, some believe he might have to switch to second base at the major league level, though Bregman is adamant that his future is at shortstop. Houston does seem like it will have to make some decisions down the line, with Jose Altuve and fresh call-up Carlos Correa currently manning the middle of the infield. Bregman’s potential was too good for them to pass up last night, however.
Completing the trifecta, the Rockies nabbed Brendan Rodgers out of Lake Mary High School in Florida with the third selection. Colorado deviated from the college track, opting instead to take a chance on the 18-year-old, who has indicated he will sign with the Rockies rather than attend Florida State. MLB.com rated Rodgers highly in its pre-draft evaluations, thanks to “his three plus tools (bat, power, arm) complemented by two solid ones (speed, defense).”
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Rodgers has been compared to Troy Tulowitzki, a player he may now find himself being groomed to one day replace. If the youngster can indeed fill that role in the future, the Rockies will be quite pleased with their choice.
Rounding out the top 10, the Phillies took another high school shortstop in Cornelius Randolph. The Pirates (Kevin Newman), Athletics (Richie Martin), Yankees (Kyle Holder) and Orioles (Ryan Mountcastle) also got their hands on shortstops before the first night of the draft drew to a close.
These new draftees don’t need to look very hard to find a good career model: shortstop Carlos Correa, selected first overall three years ago, knocked in the Astros’ only run in his big league debut last night. He could be the harbinger of a new wave of talented young shortstops in Major League Baseball over the next several years.