LOS ANGELES — It doesn’t beat winning a national championship, but being the top pick in the Major League Baseball draft comes awfully close, shortstop Dansby Swanson says.
The Arizona Diamondbacks made Swanson the No. 1 overall selection Monday. The two-time All-American and finalist for the Golden Spikes award, Swanson homered and helped lead defending national champ Vanderbilt back to the College World Series with a win over Illinois. Minutes later, he found out he was the top pick.
“This day definitely couldn’t have been scripted any better,” Swanson said.
Swanson went 2-for-4 and scored the go-ahead run in the 4-2 win over Illinois for a return trip to the College World Series.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Swanson said. “That’s the best I can sum it up.”
Arizona manager Chip Hale believes Swanson’s addition is an excellent one.
“I watched the game against Illinois, and he did a very nice job,” Hale said. “We’ve got a great team up here, so it’s always great to add talent in the organization. Everything I’ve heard about him is top-notch. Great makeup kid. We’ll get a chance to see him, hopefully, in the instructional league. Wish him luck.”
Swanson, who is batting .350 with 15 home runs in 66 games, is only the second No. 1 overall pick in the franchise’s history. The club took Justin Upton first in the 2005 draft. He also is only the second Vanderbilt player taken No. 1, with pitcher David Price, now with the Detroit Tigers, going first in 2007.