The Arizona Diamondbacks selected high school shortstop Jordan Lawlar with the team’s first pick, No. 6 overall in the 2021 MLB Draft on Sunday.
Lawlar of Jesuit Prep High School in Dallas, Texas, is regarded by MLB.com as a five-tool shortstop who parallels to Bobby Witt Jr., the No. 2 overall pick to the Kansas City Royals in 2019.
We got our guy. And @jordanlawlar got the call.
pic.twitter.com/fA6NIYfaKZ
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 12, 2021
He was ranked No. 3 on the MLB.com prospect rankings, behind fellow high school shortstop Marcelo Mayer – who went No. 4 to the Boston Red Sox – and Vanderbilt pitcher Jack Leiter who went to the Texas Rangers as the No. 2 overall pick.
Lawlar won Gatorade’s Texas high school player of the year award after hitting .412 with six home runs and 37 RBI in 36 games while also stealing 32 bases.
He is described by MLB.com as having a quick, compact right-handed swing with a mature approach at the plate, even though he struck out more than expected as a senior.
Lawlar is expected to develop solid power once he adds strength and starts turning on more pitches, according to MLB.com.
The 18-year-old who will turn 19 in one week is committed to play at Vanderbilt University.
High school catcher Henry Davis was the first overall pick of the draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.