Today sees the June draft kick off, with the Diamondbacks having seven picks in the first 64 picks. This story will be the clearing house for information on the team's choices as they happen today. Below, you'll find a quick summary of the choices; more detailed analysis and information will be posted after the jump. Please, feel free to post appropriate links on our picks, etc. in the comments, and we'll then incorporate as much detail as appropriate into the body.
The draft starts at 3pm Arizona time, with live coverage of the early rounds on the MLB Network. The first night of the draft will be the first three rounds and compensation slots, 111 in total. There will be four minutes between first-round selections, then sixty seconds after that, so we should see our first pick around 3:30 or a little later.
1st round
#16. Bobby Borchering, 3B, Bishop Verot HS (Fla.)
#17. AJ Pollock, OF, University of Notre Dame
Supplemental 1st round
#35. Matt Davidson, 3B, Yucaipa HS (CA)
#41. Christopher Owings, SS, Gilbert HS (S.C.)
#45. Mike Belfiore, LHP, Boston College
2nd round
#60. Eric Smith, RHP, U. Rhode Island
#64. Marc Krauss, OF, Ohio University
3rd round
#95. Keon Broxton, 3B, Santa Fe CC
More details and analysis after the jump.
The details...
1st round
"I have to think this is kind of a dream scenario for Arizona -- two players they really wanted, at least one of whom looked like he'd go ahead of them in Borchering. I know some teams were looking at moving Pollock to second, like Jason said, and the Cardinals worked him out at shortstop. If he can convert to the infield, he's a top-ten talent." -- Keith Law
"In Bobby Borchering, they got a player with huge upside and some risk. In A.J. Pollock, they got a player with less upside but also less risk. Borchering could give the Diamondbacks something they are sorely lacking in their farm system -- a power-hitting infielder, perhaps someone who can take over at first base in a few years. Not everyone is on board, though. Some teams saw him as more of late first-round/sandwich pick. Sounds like most don’t think he sticks at third base and aren’t sure that his swing is such that he’ll hit enough at first. But there are a lot of people with the Diamondbacks who feel differently. They’re excited about him.
There are some who believe Pollock can convert to the infield, and Keith Law wrote on ESPN’s draft blog that if he can do that, he would be a top-10 talent. Even if he doesn’t, from what we’ve heard, he is considered a solid defensive center fielder. Offensively, Pollock might not have a ton of upside, but could hit 30 doubles and 15 homers, according to Baseball
#16. Bobby Borchering, 3B, Bishop Verot HS (Fla.)
"Borchering has plus, plus bat speed. He's a switch-hitter who's stronger from the left side mostly because he sees more pitching that way. He has different swings from the two sides of the plate. He has pop from both sides. From the left side, he shows it to right-center mostly. He struggles defensively and may end up at first base. Some clubs may look for more power from that position, which could impact his draft status. That being said, Borchering's hitting skills are definitely legit." -- MLB.com
"He wants a little more money than this, but nothing crazy. A ton of heat in the last two weeks, and could end up being a great pick here. Really like this pick, John Hart gets it right that the defense could be an issue at third." -- Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus
"This guy will be a corner infielder in the bigs. The question is if he has the feet to play 3b. If not, he may develop the power to play 1b at big league level. " -- B.Rifkin, WithTheFirstPick.net
"Switch-hitter with power from both sides of the plate who has evoked Chipper Jones comparisons. They’re probably doing cartwheels in the Diamondbacks draft room. In his senior season at Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, Fla.) High, Borchering hit .494 with 13 home runs. There are questions as to whether he can stick at third base. And we’ll see how tough he is to sign. Baseball
"He stands out in a lot of aspects," an American League scout said. "First off, he looks like a major leaguer and he's able to incorporate tools and abilities into that frame. You toss in the power and the stick he has -- he drives the ball out of the park pretty easily -- and it's pretty impressive. He's a heck of a player and he's a great kid too. Whoever drafts him, it's all about the stick, and he'll become the 40-home run bat everyone thinks he'll be. There are guys in the big leagues right now -- everyday guys -- that wish they had that kind of size and strength. He's been blessed by somebody upstairs and hopefully he'll go out there and have a great career for 10 or 15 years." -- Conor Glassey, Baseball America
"The best high school bat in the draft, Borchering is a kid who can really thump the baseball but might not stick at third. However, premium high school bats have a strong track record, so Arizona should feel good about this selection. A switch-hitter with power should be a nice option for them long term." -- Dave Cameron, fangraphs.com
And some background on Borchering: "The Borchering home is equal parts training facility, baseball museum and mad science laboratory." He's also been a switch-hitter since he was two years old.
#17. AJ Pollock, OF, University of Notre Dame
"Pollock has a great approach at the plate and is very quiet and soft on his stride. He makes contact and doesn't chase pitches. He's a gap-to-gap, line-drive hitter and won't hit a ton of homers -- maybe 10-12 at most per year. Pollock is one of the better college hitters available in this Draft class, with a great approach and the ability to make consistent contact. He won't hit for a ton of power, but has some extra-base ability. His above-average speed helps him on offense and in the field, though he is still learning to play the outfield. He's the type who makes everything look effortless and with his hitting ability, could be the kind of college bat that moves quickly through the Minors." -- MLB.com
"D-backs go with Pollock at 17 -- which for me is a significant surprise. He must of really had a killer workout for them, because other teams that he worked out for this week dinged him a bit. Marcos calls him a five-tool guy. I have to clean my monitor after spitting my drink on it." -- Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus
"He's a plus runner and is an excellent contact hitter. He should be able to play centerfield in the pros, but has slightly below average power. Not a bad combination for centerfield and a good value in the middle of the first round." -- B. Hyman, WithTheFirstPick.net
"Pollock has a good history of performance that helps him rise above a thin crop of up-the-middle position players in this draft. Pollock has good hand-eye coordination, but leaks badly in his swing and can end up off-balance because of the complicated toe-tap he uses as a trigger. He has good plate discipline and if anything can be a little too passive at the plate. Simplying his trigger should make him a good contact hitter in the pros, although he's unlikely to have power. He's an above-average runner who can play a solid to above-average center field, and he has played some second base in the past. He's high-probability but low-ceiling in a draft that doesn't offer many of either class of player in center field or the middle infield." -- Keith Law
"Seems like a pretty safe pick. Not a ton of upside, but a guy most people view as a future big leaguer. Pollock has drawn some "right-handed Mark Kotsay" comparisons. He is viewed as a good enough defensive player to handle center field, but might not develop a ton of power, more of a 15-homer threat. Pollock hit .365 with 19 doubles, 10 home runs, a .443 on-base and a .610 slugging this season at Notre Dame. With
"Golden Domer AJ Pollock rates as nearly identical to Wheeler, with a little better contact rate but a little less power. Both Tim Wheeler and Pollock are possible first round picks, with good speed and solid all around tools." -- Project Prospect
"We believe A.J. projects as one of the top outfielders in the nation as he reminds us as a slightly slower Jacoby Ellsbury from the right side of the plate. He shows excellent discipline at the plate and plays the game with an edge that just adds to his stock." -- College Baseball Blog
"Interesting that Pollock gets announced as an outfielder - there were quite a few clubs who thought he could move back to shortstop or second base. It will be interesting to see how Arizona uses him. He's a nice hitter with solid above average tools, and while he's not flashy, he can play." -- Dave Cameron, fangraphs.com
Pollock was the MVP in the Cape Cod Baseball League last summer - past winners of that award include Evan Longoria, Carlos Peña and Jason Varitek.
Supplemental 1st round
"It sure feels like things are falling into place for the Diamondbacks. They've got to be ecstatic. Every year, they say they are happy with their picks, but they'll really, truly mean it this year." -- Nick Piecoro
#35. Matt Davidson, 3B, Yucaipa HS (CA)
"Davidson has some definite hitting ability, though a loop in his swing concerns some. There's a lot of power potential there, average to above average in the future.A solid, safe high school draftee, Davidson is a great kid with solid, if unspectacular, skills across the board. His best tool might be his future power, but he should have the arm and glove to stay at third defensively. He struggled a bit as a junior, and whether people buy into his summer performance as the real deal will be what determines his Draft status." -- MLB.com
"You are buying the bat. Offensive-oriented AL-type player. Should be middle of the order bat on a contending team. Best power I saw this spring. Won’t see me give away a power grade like this very often." -- John Klima, BaseballBeginnings.com
"There is nice power potential in this prep star. As a fantasy owner, you have to put this youngster on your radar because he is a third baseman with a power stroke. Davidson also developed some patience at the plate this year; a great sign for a young slugger. Take this 6'4", 225 lb kid over outfielders with similar skill sets because he is at a more premium position. He is expected to stay at the hot corner." Bill Root, Rotoexperts.com
Baseball Analysts interview with Davidson.
#41. Christopher Owings, SS, Gilbert HS (S.C.)
"Owings has a good swing and should have the chance to hit for average at the next level. He's short to the ball and uses the whole field well. He can apply force to his swing, but he doesn't have a ton of strength, so he's got well below-average power, especially with wood. Owings plays shortstop for his high school team, but that might not be his best defensive home as a pro, with a move to second perhaps on tap because of his arm strength and range. On the other side of second, his hands will play fine and he could be an offensive-minded second baseman who hits for average at the next level. He doesn't have much power, but he does use the whole field well. He doesn't have a plus tool, but he's the type of player who, if you're patient with him, will be better than the sum of his parts." -- MLB.com
"One of the better hitting middle infielders among the prep players, the fact that he's probably not a shortstop in the end is why he wasn't in the first round." -- Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus
"He wasn’t on my radar. Baseball
"For some, he evokes Gordon Beckham, the former Georgia All-American and No. 8 overall pick in 2008. Those who like Owings see strength in his forearms and some real juice in his bat, to go with average other tools across the board with a plus run tool. Others see tools but less feel for the game than Beckham displayed, and disagree with the rosy projections on Owings' power." -- Mack's Mets
#45. Mike Belfiore, LHP, Boston College
"It will be interesting to see what the Diamondbacks do with him. Starter or reliever? He supposedly has the stuff to start, with a fastball in the low-90s, a slider, change-up and a curveball that he rarely throws in games, according to Baseball America. Also, the Diamondbacks have to be convinced that he’s completely healthy; he threw 9 2/3 innings and 129 pitches in that 25-inning game against Texas a couple weeks ago." -- Nick Piecoro
"A personal favorite who might be stretched out as a starter in pro ball. Belfiore works off his fastball and slider but has thrown a changeup and curveball as well. He was a backup choice for the Marlins and Twins in the first round and makes sense for the D-backs at 45." -- John Manuel, Baseball America
Belfiore was also part of NCAA history, throwing 9.2 shutout innings for Boston College in relief, as part of the longest NCAA baseball game ever, a 25-inning game against Texas, which the Longhorns finally won 3-2.
2nd round
#60. Eric Smith, RHP, U. Rhode Island
"Smith, a junior right-hander, caught Miami coach Jim Morris' attention in early March, holding the Hurricanes to three hits over eight scoreless innings and prompting Morris to predict Smith will pitch in the big leagues. Smith has generated plenty of buzz among scouts and has a chance to be drafted in the top five rounds in June. He's not afraid to pitch inside with an 88-93 mph fastball with arm-side run, and he throws an average slider in the mid-80s that has a chance to be above average down the road. He also shows a curveball and has good feel for a changeup." -- Aaron Fitt, Baseball America
"Smith has made great strides in three years since arriving at Rhode Island as a raw, immature freshman with mechanical issues and an 85-87 mph fastball... Smith now pitches with an 89-93 mph fastball with power sink that he commands at the knees. He adds and subtracts with his slider, sometimes throwing it in the 84-86 mph range, and the pitch can be average or even plus at times, though it remains a bit inconsistent. He also flashes a solid-average changeup and is improving his feel for the pitch. He drops in a curveball occasionally as a show pitch, particularly for a back-door strike against lefties. Smith is a fierce competitor with a physical 6-foot-3, 213-pound build, and he has the best feel for pitching in the Northeast. He's a safe bet to go in the top three rounds, with a chance to go in the top two." -- Prospects Plus, Baseball America
#64. Marc Krauss, OF, Ohio University
"An impressive summer hitting with a wood bat on the Cape last summer has really helped Krauss' draft stock. He led the circuit in RBI (34) and OBP (.473) and finished fifth in hitting with a .344 average. His success stems from a polished and disciplined approach at the plate in which he works counts and rarely swings at bad pitches. He has a smooth left-handed swing, and while he has a strong, powerful build, his home run power has yet to develop. The power could very well come as he starts to drive pitches he can handle with greater regularity. Overall he resembles Dennis Raben, although his approach and productivity may draw comparisons to Kevin Youkilis at a similar stage in his career. While he's not the fastest of players, he moves well for his size, and should settle in at left field. If his power develops, first base could be his eventual home." -- Brewerfan.net
"Marc Krauss and Rich Poythress come out almost dead even, and that makes sense. Both are corner guys with good power and patience who've been very productive. As a third baseman, Krauss gets a positional boost but Poythress gets benefits from his park and strength of schedule. I've been upfront about my love for Rich "The Kodiak Bear" Poythress, but Krauss deserves plenty of praise as one of the best hitters in the country." -- Project Prospect
3rd round
#95. Keon Broxton, 3B, Santa Fe CC
"The bat is certainly a question mark. Broxton has made progress, but there’s length to his swing and a tendency to try to pull everything. His bat-speed is below-average and projects to average... I could see the crudeness in his approach. Broxton gets out on his front foot and looks to pull every pitch.... Defensively, Broxton has a slow jump and first step off the bat. Once he gets going, he’s fine. Broxton takes direct routes and has plus agility going after fly balls. If he can figure out the reactions part of it, he’ll become a plus range major league centerfielder... He has a chance to become an average big league hitter, but it will take five years of hard work and coaching to bring it out. Since Broxton has good peripheral tools, they will have more patience with him." -- Anup Sinha, pgcrosschecker.com