The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Georgia prep outfielder Drew Jones with the second pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft on Sunday night. The Baltimore Orioles previously selected prep shortstop Jackson Holliday, the son of former big league outfielder Matt Holliday, for the No. 1.
Jones, the son of longtime big league outfielder Andruw Jones, was ranked the top prospect in the class by CBS Sports in June. This is what we wrote at the time:
Jones, whose father Andruw is a borderline Hall of Famer, was in contention for the No. 1 spot entering the spring. Since then, it has emerged as the preferred choice of the industry. It’s not hard to see why. He’s a good-to-great defender at the top position who could finish his developmental arc with five-plus or better tools, including both components of his bat. In fact, he has the type of build and hand speed that should allow him to add muscle and strength as he matures. Jones might lose some speed as a result, but they believe he has the instincts and innate positional feel that should allow his game to stay lush with secondary value. There’s legitimate All-Star potential here, and he’s worth the No. 1 pick. 1, even if the Orioles’ financial strategy makes him a No. 2 or No. instead. 3.
Jones’ high school, Wesleyan School, previously produced another big leaguer: former Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles shortstop Jahmai Jones.
This is the second straight draft in which the Diamondbacks have selected a highly touted prep hitter with their first pick. Last summer, Arizona selected shortstop Jordan Lawlar with the No. 6 pick. That’s a departure from 2020, when the Diamondbacks selected a college right-hander in Duke’s Bryce Jarvis.
