Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen is thrilled with the fact that Druw Jones, son of former Atlanta Braves All-Star Andruw Jones, fell to the D-backs with the second overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.
Many scouts were projecting Jones to go No. 1 overall. However, after Jackson Holliday — the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday — was the first pick in the draft, taking Jones at No. 2 was a no-brainer for the D-backs.
Hazen joined Wolf & Luke Wednesday to discuss his prized first-round pick, who reportedly agreed to an $8.18 million deal with the team.
“We are pretty excited. He is someone we spent a lot of time on this past year. He is an impact player with impact tools,” Hazen said.
“Having the opportunity to take somebody like that is certainly something we feel very fortunate and we look forward to getting him out this week to start playing,” Hazen added.
The 18-year-old Jones was named the 2022 Georgia High School State Player of the Year and led his team to an undefeated 35-0 record.
Hazen compared Jones’ path to the big leagues to two current D-backs prospects, Corbin Carroll and Jordan Lawlar.
D-backs president and CEO Derrick Hall said that Thursday on Bickley & Marotta.
“I think Lawlar and Carroll are fairly analogous paths you could see,” Hazen said.
Lawlar has spent time with the High-A affiliate while Carroll has made his way to Triple-A Reno and is already showing off his abilities this season.
The intriguing outfield combination of Alek Thomas, Carroll and Jones is something fans will be anxiously waiting for.
Thomas is the only one of the trio to make it to the big leagues thus far and has been superb in his rookie season, batting .250 and smashing seven home runs.
“The faster we get these guys to the big leagues the better,” Hazen said.
With scouting reports mentioning that Jones could play shortstop, Hazen put those rumors to bed while revealing where Jones will play at the big-league level.
“He’s not gonna play shortstop for us. We think he will be an elite center fielder,” Hazen said.
With Jones now a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Hall and Hazen are excited and optimistic for the future of the D-backs outfield.
“When you have (Daulton) Varsho and Thomas and Carroll and the future in Jones, that are all center fielders and athletic, they can play anywhere in the outfield. The sooner we can get them up here the better, in my opinion,” Hall said.