The Arizona Diamondbacks, as expected, selected Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson with the first pick in the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft. The Houston Astros followed with the second and fifth picks, respectively.
Swanson was the player most associated with the D-Backs leading up to draft day, although it was speculated they could go after high school outfielder Garrett Whitley or high school catcher Tyler Stephenson.
Dansby couldn't be at the event tonight in Secaucus, New Jersey, because Vanderbilt concluded an NCAA Super Regional series against Illinois, who they defeated to win the best-of-three series today and advance to the College World Series. Dansby and the Commodores won last year's event over the Virginia Cavaliers.
Swanson batted .348/.441/.648/1.089 with 72 runs scored, 14 home runs, 61 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 64 games in 2015. In three seasons (147 games) with Vandy, the 21-year-old hit .336/.426/.548/.974 for his career with 139 runs scored, 17 home runs, 96 RBIs and 38 stolen bases.
The Houston Astros grabbed LSU shortstop Alex Bregman with the second overall selection, which was a compensation pick for being unable to sign Brady Aiken, the No.1 overall pick in 2014. Bregman played in the SEC with Swanson and also helped the Tigers advance to the College World Series yesterday with a win over Louisiana-Lafayette in the Baton Rouge Super Regional.
Bregman slashed .312/.406/.534/.940 with 56 runs scored, 9 home runs, 49 RBIs and 37 stolen bases in 63 games in 2015. The 21-year-old spent three full seasons with LSU and accumulated a .334/.407/.514/.921 stat line with 150 runs scored, 21 home runs, 148 RBIs and 65 stolen bases in 193 games.
Houston also had the fifth overall pick as per the standard draft order. They added to their young arsenal and selected Plant High School (Tampa, FL) outfielder Kyle Tucker. He's the brother of current Astros' outfielder Preston Tucker, who was promoted to the MLB in recent weeks.
Kyle Tucker spent all four years on Plant High's varsity squad and batted .407/.581/.962/1.544 with 26 runs scored, 8 home runs, 21 RBIs and 7 stolen bases in 23 games this season. Throughout his four-year high school career. The 18-year-old batted .435/.569/.903/1.472 with 105 runs scored, 28 home runs, 94 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in 95 games.
ESPN Insider Keith Law had Tucker falling to the Philadelphia Phillies at No. 10 in his latest mock draft, so the youngster is expected to earn a bit more money than previously expected.
You can watch the 2015 MLB Draft live right now on MLB.com.
Check out HNGN's Live Draft Tracker here.
