TheArizona Diamondbacks are aMajor League Baseball franchise based inPhoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in theNational League West division. Officially known as the "First-Year Player Draft",[2] theRule 4 Draft is Major League Baseball's primary mechanism for assigning amateur baseball players from high schools, colleges, and other amateur baseball clubs to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with the team possessing the worst record receiving the first pick.[2] In addition, teams which lostfree agents in the previous off-season may be awardedcompensatory or supplementary picks.[3] Since the franchise first participated in the draft in 1996, the Diamondbacks have selected 28 players in the first round. The First-Year Player Draft is unrelated to the1997 expansion draft in which the Diamondbacks filled their roster.
Of the 28 players picked in the first round by the Diamondbacks, 15 have beenpitchers, the most of any position; 11 of these have been right-handed, while 4 have been left-handed. Five players taken in the first round have beenshortstops; additionally, two players have been selected at each offirst base,third base,catcher, and theoutfield. Nosecond baseman has been selected in the first round by the Diamondbacks.[4] The Diamondbacks have drafted 16 players out of college, and 10 out of high school. Arizona has drafted seven players out of high schools or colleges in the state ofCalifornia, with two being taken from each ofFlorida,Georgia, and their home state of Arizona.[4]
The Diamondbacks' 2003 selection—Carlos Quentin, who was then playing with theChicago White Sox—won the 2008Silver Slugger Award as one of the threebest offensive outfielders in theAmerican League.[5] The franchise has held the first-overall pick once, in 2005, when they selectedJustin Upton.[4] The Diamondbacks have received twelve compensatory picks, including nine selections made in the supplemental round of the draft since the franchise's first draft in 1996.[4] These additional picks are provided when a team loses a particularly valuable free agent in the previous off-season,[3][6][V] or, more recently, if a team fails to sign a draft pick from the previous year.[7]
Jack Cust (1997) is the only player the Diamondbacks have taken from New Jersey.Sergio Santos (2002) was drafted as a shortstop, but later played as a pitcher.[8]Conor Jackson (2003) is one of three first baseman selected by the Diamondbacks.Carlos Quentin (2003) won the Silver Slugger Award in 2008.Barret Loux (2010) was the first player drafted by the Diamondbacks in the first round not to sign with the team.
V Through the 2012 draft,free agents were evaluated by theElias Sports Bureau and rated "Type A", "Type B", or not compensation-eligible. If a team offeredarbitration to a player but that player refused and subsequently signed with another team, the original team was able to receive additional draft picks. If a "Type A" free agent left in this way, his previous team received a supplemental pick and a compensatory pick from the team with which he signed. If a "Type B" free agent left in this way, his previous team received only a supplemental pick.[32] Since the 2013 draft, free agents are no longer classified by type; instead, compensatory picks are only awarded if the team offered its free agent a contract worth at least the average of the 125 current richest MLB contracts.[33] However, if the free agent's last team acquired the player in a trade during the last year of his contract, it is ineligible to receive compensatory picks for that player.[34]
a The Diamondbacks lost their first-round pick in 1998 to theKansas City Royals as compensation for signing free agentJay Bell.[35]
b The Diamondbacks gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1999 for losing free agentDevon White.[36]
c The Diamondbacks lost their first-round pick in 2000 to theAtlanta Braves as compensation for signing free agentRuss Springer.[37]
^abMcCalvy, Adam (December 1, 2008)."Brewers offer three arbitration".Brewers.MLB.com. Milwaukee Brewers.Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. RetrievedJuly 29, 2010.
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