MLB analyst impressed by the Diamondbacks draft performance

While the Diamondbacks’ earliest pick in the 2024 MLB Draft came at No. 29, followed by another at No. 31, Keith Law from The Athletic was highly impressed by Arizona’s draft performance.

Law acknowledged that the D-backs secured two of his top-15 players in the draft, stating, “The D-backs landed two players from my top 15: high school outfielder Slade Caldwell (No. 29) and Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt (No. 31). Caldwell, a diminutive outfielder from Arkansas, might have gone much higher if he were 6 feet tall, but he excels in hitting and defense. Waldschmidt, one of the top hitters in the college group, slipped due to concerns about a knee injury (ACL) that ended his 2023 season.”

Despite recovering from a torn ACL, Waldschmidt posted impressive stats with a .333 batting average and a 1.079 OPS, along with a career-high 14 home runs.

Keith Law continued to praise the Diamondbacks’ next pick before expressing disagreement with their selection at No. 64 overall. He commented, “They opted for upside with JD Dix, a high school infielder from Wisconsin committed to Wake Forest, at pick No. 35, and reached quite a bit for their last pick of the day, Puerto Rican catcher Ivan Luciano (No. 64), who will probably sign below slot.”

For context, Luciano was ranked No. 225 before the draft. Discussing the pick, D-backs amateur scouting director Ian Rebhan noted on MLB Network, “We see him as someone who can catch and throw effectively. You’re getting an offensive catcher who’s 17 years old and also provides value behind the plate. He checked a lot of boxes as a proven hitter advanced for his age, showing consistent contact skills against high-level competition.”

According to MLB Network, Luciano has been working diligently behind the plate with soon-to-be Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina.