As we approach the first day of the draft, here are what the pundits across the baseball world project the Diamondbacks to take. As we approach draft day, we’re starting to see a consensus pick from the media in regards to who the Diamondbacks draft.
John Manuel, Baseball America (June 9th): Adam Haseley, OF, Virginia. “Arizona is the absolute floor for Gore, but it doesn’t appear likely for Gore to fall this far. Arizona has been tied to Virginia’s two hitters regularly, but the one moving up boards of late was center fielder Adam Haseley, who finished the year hitting .390/.491/.659 with 14 home runs and just 21 strikeouts.”
Keith Law, ESPN (June 1st): Adam Haseley, OF, Virginia. “Arizona’s evaluation team was in heavy for the ACC tournament to see Haseley, Pavin Smith and J.B. Bukauskas. All the talk before Friday was that Bukauskas was their guy, but I have to think that his rough outing, in which at one point he lost his delivery for a few batters, gave everyone some pause.” (Insider Post, but Top 26 picks not hidden behind pay wall)
Minor League Ball Community Mock (June 3rd): J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, North Carolina.
Michael Cook and John Sickels, Minor League Ball (May 28th): Adam Haseley, OF, Virginia. “I think the Diamondbacks would love to grab Bukauskas, but he doesn’t get here. They are a team that leans college in round one, and tend to take athletic talent. At this point, Haseley is the best fit for those parameters. He’s shown perhaps the best package of power, speed, plate discipline, and defensive skills, giving him a high floor as perhaps the best bet to make the majors in this year’s draft. If they don’t go Haseley, they are trying to pick between Royce Lewis, Austin Beck, and Jo Adell.”
Jim Callis, MLB Pipeline Round 1 Forecast (June 9th): Adam Haseley, OF, Virginia. “Lewis is the best player who realistically could get to No. 7. If he's gone, Arizona could grab Haseley or Smith, or cut a below-slot deal with someone to save money for subsequent picks.”
Jonathan Mayo, MLB Pipeline (June 1st): J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, North Carolina. “The D-backs wouldn't mind if the A's passed on Smith and they could still consider his teammate, Adam Haseley, but it sounds like they might favor the right-hander currently.”
Jeff Ellis, scout.com (June 4th): Pavin Smith, 1B, Virginia. “I don’t think anyone has a real strong idea of what will happen at seven. They have been linked mostly with college hitters, so it comes down to the Virginia teammates. I think Smith is higher on most boards and does have the longer track record, even if first base is not as valuable as outfield. I think his best stat this year has been the fact that he has more home runs than strikeouts this year. I am not sure if he has a future plus skill outside of eye at the plate which, along with position and school, could cause him to slide on draft day.”
Brian Sakowski, Perfect Game (June 2nd): Adam Haseley, OF, Virginia. “Haseley is getting some buzz in lots of spots all across the draft board, but he fits what Mike Hazen and Amiel Sawdaye like to do from a draft perspective and therefore is a good fit here to Arizona. Haseley is a big time collegiate performer with legitimate tools as well; and would slide right into the top spot in the D'Back's org.”
Eric Longenhagen, Fangraphs (June 5th): Adam Haseley, OF, Virginia. “D-backs GM Mike Hazen was at the ACC Tournament and Haseley looked great in center field all weekend.”
The media consensus for the Diamondbacks has been Virginia OF Adam Haseley, who is listed in 6 of the 9 mock drafts. Haseley hit .391/.491/.659 in his breakout junior year, playing in the ACC against some very good pitchers in this year’s draft. Haseley walked (44) twice as many times as he struck out (21) and put up 16 doubles and 14 homers in just under 300 plate appearances. Haseley is a guy I project with 15-20 home run power at the plate and there could be more upside that can be unlocked when he stops pitching. He is a better player than the sum of his tools, very reminiscent of AJ Pollock.
Further reading: Scouting Report, Adam Haseley.