The Arizona Diamondbacks chose Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson as the first pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, after they finished the 2014 MLB season as the worst side.
Swanson was the projected number two pick off the board but it was widely expected that the D-Backs would take the shortstop as the first pick as they look to build their stockpile over the coming season for a tilt at the National League West conference title and a trip to the play-offs.
After a winter of upheaval at their Chase Field home the, Phoenix based side are having a better 2015 season and currently sit at 27-30 in a tight conference. The LA Dodgers are the current leaders of the National League West division and sit 5.5 games ahead of the D-Backs who under the guidance of new manager Chip Hale, look set to drastically improve on last season’s dismal showing.
Swanson has been impressive for his college side Vanderbilt and on the day of the draft led his side to victory over Illinois where they will now play in the College World Series before receiving the news that he had been picked as number 1 in the MLB draft.
Swanson is considered to be a natural shortstop and a great athlete too, which is essential in the position but he can also play at second base having performed for his college side in 2014 in that position. In 64 games this season the shortstop is hitting .348 with 14 home runs and becomes the second number 1 pick in the D-Backs history after they chose Justin Upton in the 2005 draft, who now plays for the San Diego Padres.