MLB Draft Review: NL West
January 14, 2021
Continuing with the NL West, here's a look at how the 2015-2018 draft classes are shaping up using WAR. The Dodgers are the cream of the crop, currently ranking No. 3 overall in Return on Investment and have loads of upside with high ceiling, Major League ready prospects. The D'Backs are coiled strong at No. 9 with solid upside for the future. In the cellar are the Rockies at No. 28, while both the Giants (No. 13) and Padres (No. 17) sit squarely in the middle at this point. In particular, the Padres have several high ceiling prospects and significant depth which bodes well for the future, not only for them, but for the powerhouse that this division could soon become.
NOTES: All references to a prospect’s overall MLB ranking is per MLB Pipeline. Negative WAR is not used to calculate total WAR. For any WAR value less than zero, 0.0 is used to calculate a team’s total WAR.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (Scouting Director Deric Ladnier 2015-18)
2015: 1st Round 1st Overall Dansby Swanson. Career WAR: 7.5
Individual Career WAR Leader: Swanson
2015 Draft Totals: WAR: 8.3
MLers to Date: 4 (Swanson, Alex Young, Taylor Clarke, Ryan Burr)
Signing Bonuses: $12.27M
2016: 1st Round, 39th Overall. Anfernee Grier. Career WAR: 0.0
Individual WAR Leader: Riley Smith, 24th Round. Career WAR: 0.6
2016 Draft Totals: WAR: 1.2
MLers to Date: 4 (Jon Duplantier, Colin Poche, Kevin Ginkel, Smith)
Signing Bonuses: $6.12M
2017: 1st Round 7th Overall Pavin Smith. Career WAR: 0.2
Individual Career WAR Leader: Smith
2017 Draft Totals: WAR: 0.2
MLers to Date: 2 (Smith, Dalton Varsho)
Signing Bonuses: $11.28M
2018: 1st Round 25th Overall Matt McLain. Did Not Sign
Individual Career WAR Leader: N/A
2018 Draft Totals: WAR: 0.0
MLers to Date: 0
Signing Bonuses: $5.77M
2015-18 TOTALS WAR: 9.7 MLers: 10 BONUSES: $35.44M
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: $3.65M per 1.0 WAR (ranks 9 of 30 overall)
SUMMARY: The D’Backs hold the No. 9 overall spot in the ROI rankings thanks mostly...