2017 MLB Draft Division Breakdown: NL West
DIAMONDBACKS
1B Pavin Smith (1), 3B Drew Ellis (2) and C Daulton Varsho (3) provide three potential impact college bats in a draft light on them. Smith has the arm strength to move to outfield, so he shouldn’t be blocked by Paul Goldschmidt. Northeast preps RHP Matt Tabor (3) and 3B Buddy Kennedy (5) provide upside.
ROCKIES
Without a first-round pick, the Rockies once again picked a prep 3B, Ryan Vilade (2), with its first pick. It’s the fifth straight year that Colorado has drafted a high school hitter at the hot corner in the first five rounds. The rest of the class was heavy on college performers, including SEC tournament star 1B Chad Spanberger (6).
DODGERS
OF Jeren Kendall’s (1) struggles were the Dodgers’ gain; if they can help the toolsy outfielder make more contact, they’ll get a superstar. Hard-throwing RHP James Marinan (4) was the lone prep the Dodgers took in the first 10 rounds. L.A. still found big arms in college RHPs Riley Otteson (5), Willie Montgomerie (6) and Zach Pop (7).
PADRES
Picking third overall, San Diego started its draft with MacKenzie Gore (1), then took hitters with four of its next five selections. Each of the first six Padres picks were preps, followed by five straight college seniors. The prep class included Cs Luis Campusano-Bracero (2) and Blake Hunt (2s), pop-up Texas OF Mason House (3) and Jonny Homza (5), the second-highest drafted Alaskan ever.
GIANTS
Usually a college-heavy drafting club, San Francisco started with prep bats OF Heliot Ramos (1) and 3B Jacob Gonzalez (2) and Utah prep LHP Seth Corry (3). The last time the Giants started with three straight high schoolers was 2007, when Madison Bumgarner was the top pick. The rest of the class so far is all college, with intriguing talents in hard-throwing Florida RHPs Garrett Cave (4) and Jason Bahr (5) and speedster OF Bryce Johnson (6) of Sam Houston State.
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