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Vandy’s Swanson drafted 1st Overall in 2015 MLB Draft

By Ryan Summers

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The Arizona Diamondbacks used their No.1 overall pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft to select Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson.

Swanson was the only player analyst and fans could talk about leading up to the draft. His climb up the draft board this season was helped by the success of the Commodores, who reached the College World Series for the second straight season Monday.

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The Commodores will be looking for their second straight national championship this week in Omaha.

With Swanson’s selection on Monday night, the D-backs and their new slugger made history.

Swanson was the first shortstop selected first overall since 1974 and the D-backs No.1 overall pick was the organization’s first since 2005 when they selected OF Justin Upton.

Swanson’s selection also created a brand new statistic that may never be broken again.

The next two draft picks after Swanson were also shortstops – the first time in MLB history shortstops were selected 1-2-3.

The top-three picks highlighted a first round stacked with shortstop selections. Eight of the 36 players selected in the first round Monday night were shortstops.

Swanson will try and help Vanderbilt claim their second straight CWS Championship, but after that, the focus shifts to making waves in the MLB.

Swanson, whose hitting .350 this season with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs, has what it takes to make a huge impact on the game at the next level.

This shortstop hits for average and has a power shot. His slugging percentage this season is .661, second highest in the SEC.

There is no way the Diamondbacks don’t call up Dansby Swanson by this time next season to make his debut in the big leagues,because if they don’t bring him up quickly they’ll be missing out on serious star potential.

Swanson is going to be the next Bryce Harper and Mike Trout-type player. He is a franchise player that the D-backs will want to build an organization around.

The D-backs current starting shortstop, Nick Ahmed, has a .209 batting average and has only 32 hits through 57 games this season.

May 12, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed against the Washington Nationals at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona got themselves a star player, but how fast will he make it into the starting lineup? Swanson needs to be in the MLB by the end of May next season, otherwise the D-backs may lose out on his star potential.

Look at what the Chicago Cubs did this season with youngster Kris Bryant. The Cubs delayed starting Bryant to begin the season, but later called him up from the minors.

Every sports fan wanted to watch this kid to see if he lives up to the hype the Cubs organization built around him.

Let’s hope the D-Backs will let Swanson build up to that sort of hype in the minors, then bring him up in a month or so after spring training to open up the 2016 season.

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