1st-rounders Carroll, Walston sign with D-backs
PHOENIX -- The D-backs announced the signings of 21 of their 45 selections from the 2019 Draft on Wednesday, including their first two picks, outfielder Corbin Carroll and left-hander Blake Walston.
Per MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, Carroll, the 16th overall selection, signed for $3,745,500, which is the full slot value, while Walston, the 26th overall pick, signed for $2.45 million. The slot value for Walston was $2,653,400.
The club has not confirmed the value of either deal.
Walston was at Chase Field on Wednesday as were a number of other picks, with Carroll visiting Friday.
“It’s awesome,” Walston said of getting his deal done. “But the grind probably starts tomorrow. Just got to get out there and start working.”
Walston, 17, was named North Carolina’s 2019 Gatorade State Player of the Year, after going 12-0 with a 0.20 ERA (2 ER in 68.2 IP), .102 opponents' batting average, 129 strikeouts and 18 walks in 12 starts, helping lead the Wildcats to the North Carolina 3A state title.
The 6-foot-5, 175-pounder, in three seasons for New Hanover, went 34-2 with a 0.89 ERA (29 ER in 227.0 IP), .137 opponents' batting average, 355 strikeouts and 87 walks in 36 starts.
Because of the number of innings he threw this year, Walston will not pitch professionally this summer.
Carroll, 18, was named Washington’s Gatorade State Player of the Year for 2018-19 after he hit .540/.663/1.206 with a 1.869 OPS, 19 extra-base hits (including nine home runs), 26 RBIs, 22 walks, 11 steals and 38 runs scored in 23 games for Lakeside School.
D-backs outfielder Steven Souza Jr. gave Carroll some bats to use for his batting-practice session.
“A little nervous,” Carroll said. “But after I took a few swings I was just super calm. Just a great feeling.”