D-backs select 3 players on Day 1 of Major League Baseball's 2022 Draft
July 18th, 2022
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected 3 players, including CF Druw Jones with the No. 2 overall selection, on Day 1 of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft.
Druw Jones (Round 1; No. 2)
CF │ B/T: R/R │ Age: 18 (Nov. 28, 2003) │ 6-4, 180 │ Wesleyan School (Peachtree Corners, Ga.)
- Ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline and Baseball America.
- Tabbed by Baseball America as the Best Defensive Outfielder…also noted on the following Best Tools list: Best Hitter (No. 2), Best Athlete (No. 2), Best Speed (No. 3), Best Strike-Zone Judgement (No. 3) [among all draft-eligible high schoolers only].
- Hit .570 AVG/.675 OBP/1.026 SLG with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 13 home runs, 39 RBI, 33 walks (9 strikeouts) and 32 stolen bases in 2022 [source: _Baseball America_].
- Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year for 2022.
- Committed to play baseball at Vanderbilt University.
- Father, Andruw, is a 5-time All-Star, won 10 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards and played 17 Major League seasons with the Braves (1996-2007), Dodgers (2008), Rangers (2009), White Sox (2010) and Yankees (2011-12).
Landon Sims (Round Competitive Balance A; No. 34)
RHP │ B/T: R/R │ Age: 21 (Jan. 3, 2001) │ 6-2, 227 │ Mississippi State University
- Ranked as the No. 35 overall prospect by Baseball America and No. 44 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline.
- Was Mississippi State’s No. 1 starter this season, after transitioning from the bullpen, and was voted a Preseason All-American by MLB scouting departments.
- In 3 starts, went 0-2 with a 1.15 ERA (2 ER in 15.2 IP) with 2 walks and 27 strikeouts.
- Suffered an arm injury on March 4 @ Tulane, striking out 10 of the first 11 batters he faced, and would miss the remainder of the season due to Tommy John surgery.
- Was a member of the Mississippi State team that won the 2021 College World Series.
- Worked as a reliever his first 2 seasons for the Bulldogs (2020-21) and went 6-0 with 13 saves, a 1.82 ERA (14 ER in 69.1 IP), .142 opponent average, 22 walks and 123 strikeouts.
- Was a 4-time Perfect Game All-American, including First-Team as a senior, at South Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia.
Ivan Melendez (Round 2; No. 43)
1B │ B/T: R/R │ Age: 22 (Jan. 24, 2000) │ 6-3, 225 │ University of Texas
- Ranked as the No. 50 overall prospect by Baseball America and No. 99 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline.
- 2022 Golden Spikes Award Winner (top amateur player)…also swept collegiate player of the year awards: Dick Howser Trophy Winner and named National Player of the Year by Baseball America, D1 Baseball, Collegiate Baseball, ABCA and Perfect Game.
- His school-record 32 home runs in 2022 were the most in NCAA Division I since 2003.
- In 67 games, hit .387 (96-for-248)/.508 OBP/.863 SLG and led NCAA Division I with 32 home runs, 94 RBI, 214 total bases and an .863 slugging percentage.
- In 2 seasons (2020-21) for the Longhorns, played in 126 games and hit .356 AVG/.477 OBP/.746 SLG with 31 doubles, 5 triples, 45 home runs and 145 RBI.
- Began his collegiate career at Odessa College in 2019-20.
- Played at Coronado High School in El Paso, Texas.