Arizona Diamondbacks sign first-round pick Bryce Jarvis

As first reported by the Republic’s Nick Piecoro, the Arizona Diamondbacks have inked their first-round pick in the recent draft, pitcher Bryce Jarvis, out of Duke University. The deal includes a signing bonus of $2.65 million, which is more than $800K below the expected cost for the overall #18 selection. The team can use that money towards their other selections in the severely curtailed June draft. It still represents a nice payday for Jarvis, who made the wise decision not to sign after going in the 37th round last year. Not least because that would have made him a Yankee. :)

The team will be hoping the right-hander can continue the progress made this year, where he showed off some improved velocity. While in all likelihood we won’t see him for a while Jarvis thinks he would be capable of helping the D-backs in the upcoming sprint to the playoffs. He told the Duke Chronicle, “I feel like, if needed, I could help a big-league team this year with a shortened season. A team might get off to a hot start and might want to make a run at things this year. I think I can definitely help a program make that run.” Never say never, especially given the weirdness which will be the 2020 campaign.

Here’s a look at Jarvis in action last month: