MLB mock draft: Hunter Greene draws intrigue
By John McCarty
7. Arizona Diamondbacks
2016 Record: 69-93
Selection: Adam Haseley, OF, University of Virginia
Signing Bonus Slot Value: $5,016,300
Arizona is the start of picks in the round (extending past the top 10) in which it’s difficult to figure out exactly what they want or will do. They can go in a lot of directions, and what they do will have quite the impact on what teams below them do. What complicates matters in this regard is that Arizona has a new decision making regime, so there’s no real sense where
In this scenario, Arizona targets University of Virginia outfielder Adams Haseley. The left hand hitting Haseley is a bit of a tweener in that to this point in his college career, he has yet to hit for much power, and there are questions if his speed will play in center or if whatever team drafts him will have a non power hitting corner outfielder, though his power is developing.
Regardless of power, Haseley is a complete hitting college hitting prospect. According to the University of Virginia baseball website, Hasley is hitting almost .400 (.399), slugging well over .600 (.676) and has hit 14 home runs in 2017 leading many pundits to believe that power is beginning to emerge in Haseley’s game. He also has walked twice as often as he’s struck out in 2017 (41 BB to 20 K), so at the plate, Haseley can do a lot to help the team that drafts him, in this case, the Diamondbacks.
Defensively, Haseley appears to be above average in all aspects, including instincts and throwing arm. He doesn’t have the best arm or speed, but it’s good enough that it likely won’t hurt the team.
Concerns about Haseley, some having faded a bit (would he be able to hit for enough power to play a corner spot) and does he have enough speed to truly hold down center field defensively) Past that, Haseley appears to be a solid outfield prospect.
Current center fielder AJ Pollock appears headed towards free agency after the 2018 season. While drafting Haseley with the intention of him replacing Pollack may be aggressive, his overall hit tool should allow him to move quickly through the Diamondbacks system.