2019 Draft: Arizona Diamondbacks picks, rounds 3-10

3rd round, #93: Tristan English - 1B, Georgia Tech

Listed as a first-baseman, since that’s where he played for Georgia Tech, but he also pitched and there’s some suggestion he could even play the outfield. He was originally picked in 2015, being the 39th round pick (#1,174) by the Cleveland Indians out of Pike County High School in Georgia - at the time he was a pitcher. though had been a catcher earlier in his high school career. At that point he was seen as a “potential first-rounder”, but he missed 2017 after underoing Tommy John surgery in February of that year. English played in the Cape Cod league last summer, batting .300 over 32 games, and also pitched on occasion, putting up a 2.31 ERA over 11.2 innings

4th round, #122: Glenallen Hill Jr. - SS, Santa Cruz HS, CA

Son of Glenallen Hill, who played 13 years in the majors, and currently manages in AAA. Like his father, had committed to play ball at ASU before being drafted - I trust he’ll follow Dad and turn pro. His HS coach had high praise, comparing his range to Dee Gordon and saying “He hits the ball exceptionally hard to all fields and runs really well. Really well. He’s like a deer. Two things you can’t teach are speed and power. … He should only get better.” Last September, Keith Law wrote “Average out of the box but probably a 70 runner underway, if not faster, and shows excellent bat speed, especially from the left side... He played short and second but given his speed and erratic hands he might profile best in center.”

5th round, #152: Conor Grammes - P, Xavier (OH)

There’s a nice profile of Grammes over at our sibling site which covers Xavier, Banners on the Parkway. He’s a bit of a multi-sport talent: he not only let the team in hitting his freshman year, batting .341 (and .330 as a designated hitter in his sophomore year), he was part of the Virginia Group 6A State Wrestling Champions, two years in a row. But it’s as a pitcher he has been drafted, with a fastball which has been clocked as high as 99 mph. He was drafted by the Orioles in the 35th round last year, but didn’t sign. Like English. Grammes took part in the Cape Cod league this summer, though had almost a walk per inning there.

6th round, #182: Andrew Saalfrank - P, Indiana

Saalfrank was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Year last month. He had started the season in the bullpen, but moved to the rotation after injury opened the door, and went 8-1 with a 2.84 ERA. He struck out 98 over 73 innings, including fourteen in a game on two occasions. His breakthrough this seasons seems to have been a result of better fastball command, which helps his curveball play better. After one of those 14-K outings, Saalfrank said, ”The times that I haven’t done well, it’s just because I can’t throw the fastball when and where I want to. Fastball command makes the curveball better, just because they have to respect both pitches.”

7th round, #212: Spencer Brickhouse - 1B, East Carolina (NC)

Initially, i thought FishOnEmm was trolling when they mentioned this player, who definitely possesses a grade 70 name. But turns out, a) he’s real, and b) he’s now a Diamondback. At 6’4” and 235 pounds, he’s only an inch and a bowling-ball short of already being Kevin Cron-shaped. He was West MVP of the 2018 Cape Cod League All-Star Game, and this year batted .330 with 12 HR in 179 at-bats. His plate discipline has steadily improved, and this year walked more times than he struck out (42-39). but it’s his power which is his calling card. He said, “Me being a big guy, I feel personally that if I get a single then it is not going to do much for the team. I try to drive in runs.” Like a brickhouse should...

8th Round, #242: Dominic Canzone - OF, Ohio State

Dominic Canzone is probably best known for reaching base in 51 consecutive games this Spring, beating Nick Swisher’s previous record for Ohio State. The 6’1, 190 lb outfielder’s primary position is right field, he is an average defender with below average speed, so he will likely be limited to left field once signed. Canzone hit .340/.411/.518 throughout his NCAA career with a huge surge in power this year. His home run rate jumped from 1.37% to 5.62%, and his ISO more than doubled, going from .124 in 2018 to .286 in 2019.

9th Round, #282: Bobby Ay, RHP Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo

After suffering from a season ending shoulder injury in 2018, Bobby Ay bounced back in 2019, posting a 9-1 season, with a 3.27 ERA and 35:74 BB:K ratio. The 6’3, 180 lb righty has a three pitch repertoire, that includes a fastball that works in the 88-91 MPH range, but can touch 93.

10th Round, #302: Oscar Santos, C PJ Education School (PR)

Oscar Santos is a right handed batting, high school catcher out of Puerto Rico. Santos has a short and squat build at 5’9 175 lbs, a relatively strong arm behind the plate, and a quick pop-up and reaction time behind the plate.