SECAUCUS, N.J. — Shortstops were a big hit leading off the Major League Baseball draft.
SECAUCUS, N.J. — Shortstops were a big hit leading off the Major League Baseball draft.
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Vanderbilt slugger Dansby Swanson with the No. 1 pick Monday night, setting off a history-making run at the position.
With the second pick, Houston took LSU’s Alex Bregman — marking the first time the first two players chosen were shortstops since Shawon Dunston (Cubs) and Augie Schmidt (Blue Jays) got drafted in 1982. Colorado made it 3 for 3 by taking Florida high schooler Brendan Rodgers at No. 3 overall.
A fourth shortstop went 10th, with Philadelphia selecting Georgia high schooler Cornelius Randolph.
Swanson, who helped lead the Commodores to the College World Series earlier in the day, was the first college shortstop to be the top pick since Brown University’s Bill Almon in 1974.
“I think it sounds pretty good,” a smiling Swanson said in an interview on MLB Network.
It marked the first time the Diamondbacks had the No. 1 selection since they took Justin Upton in 2005.
Swanson seamlessly switched from second base to shortstop this season as a junior. He was the Most Outstanding Player at the College World Series last year, helping the Commodores to the national championship. Swanson is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Howser Trophy, given to college baseball’s top player.
“An exceptional baseball player that has all of the intangibles and makeup of a championship-type player for which this organization is building a foundation on,” Diamondbacks scouting director Deric Ladnier said in a statement.
Swanson also is the first shortstop — college or high school — to go No. 1 since Houston took Carlos Correa out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy in 2012.