Slade Caldwell, a first-round pick, has signed with the Diamondbacks. According to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline, Caldwell is going to get a $3.087 million bonus. Caldwell, a 5’9″ outfielder with plus-plus speed, latent power, and an advanced hitting approach, was pursued by Arizona.
At the major league level, he is suited as a leadoff hitter and a regular centre fielder. In my most recent ranking of the organization’s top prospects, he is now ranked eighth; but, the next update is probably going to give him a big boost.
That’s a type of player that has worked out for the Diamondbacks in the past, with the selections of Daulton Varsho, Alek Thomas, and Corbin Carroll in successive years. They’ve also taken that approach with infielders with last year’s selection of Tommy Troy. They strayed from that archetype a few years, taking Pavin Smith, Bryce Jarvis, Jordan Lawlar, and Druw Jones in the first round in other drafts.
The $3.087 million is noteworthy, as that was the remainder of the team’s signing bonus pool. That likely signals that Caldwell is the final player Arizona will sign out of their 2024 draft class who will count towards their pool. They drafted three high school players with their final three picks, but all three will go on to college. 17th rounder Drake Frize has yet to sign, although as a college senior it’s not a question of if.
Leave a Reply