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Diamondbacks select Dansby Swanson 1st overall in 2015 MLB Draft

Steven Branscombe / USA TODAY Sports

Look back at every pick from Day 1 of the MLB Draft with theScore's MLB Draft Tracker, which includes trades and rumors from around the league.

Determined to fill a longstanding hole at shortstop, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Vanderbilt product Dansby Swanson with the first overall pick in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft on Monday night.

Widely considered the top college player in the country, Swanson headlined an impressive crop of shortstops in this year's draft class after enjoying a superb junior season for the Commodores in 2015. Immediately after the Diamondbacks selected Swanson, the Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies followed suit by grabbing a pair of shortstops - Alex Bregman of LSU and Florida high-schooler Brendan Rodgers, respectively - with the next two picks.

Swanson wasn't able to shake commissioner Rob Manfred's hand at Studio 42 on Monday, however, as he was busy leading Vanderbilt to a 4-2 victory over Illinois in the NCAA Super Regionals, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run and a double.

Still, the game finished in time for Swanson (and his ecstatic teammates) to watch Manfred call out the young infielder's name.

And the No. 1 pick is...

Bio

Position: SS
School: Vanderbilt
Height/Weight: 6-0, 175 pounds
Age: 21
Bats: Right; Throws: Right

Stats

GP (PA) AVG/OBP/SLG HR (ISO) K% SB-CS
64 (307) .348/.441/.648 14 (.300) 14.7% 15-2

Overview

A well-rounded talent with a future plus hit tool, Swanson managed a 1.089 OPS with 42 extra-base hits and 15 stolen bases in a notoriously competitive conference this season, emerging as the best player on a college team known for graduating talent to the major leagues. According to ESPN's Keith Law, the 21-year-old projects to wield four solid-average tools, at worst, and shouldn't require too much seasoning in the minor leagues.

Universally praised for his makeup, Swanson rebounded with aplomb after foot and shoulder injuries limited him to just 16 at-bats as a freshman, and transitioned seamlessly to shortstop after spending his first two seasons with the Commodores at second base.

"I think he's a kid that can stay [at shortstop]," Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin said. "There's no hesitation with me, because he continually gets better at that position. He's a point guard out there. He can play on the run. He can play in any direction. He's got dexterity, he's got flexibility, he's got awareness, and he creates angles. There's just a lot to his game."

Highlights

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