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The Ducks have a Day 1 draft pick in Ryne Nelson via the second round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
With the 56th pick of the 2019 #MLBDraft, the @Dbacks select @OregonBaseball RHP Ryne Nelson: https://t.co/OHooNe2EPu pic.twitter.com/JDPCqVjD3H
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 4, 2019
According to MLB.com, some scouts believe that his future lies in the bullpen due to a lack of command but an electric fastball that can reach triple digits with a plus breaking ball.
2 (56): @Dbacks select Oregon (OR) P Ryne Nelson. https://t.co/W9l8KS3u0e #MLBDraft
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 4, 2019
Baseball America ranked Nelson as their 83rd overall ranked prospect in the BA 500.
With the No. 56 overall pick in the 2019 #MLBDraft, the Diamondbacks select Ryne Nelson, a RHP from Oregon.
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 4, 2019
Nelson was No. 83 on the BA 500. Read his scouting report right here: https://t.co/mb7Nl0HvJc pic.twitter.com/yvjUOo58k6
J.J. Cooper of Baseball America has some thoughts on Nelson’s pro prospects
First likely to be college reliever is off the board is Ryne Nelson to D-Backs at 56. Big arm has tried to start and played SS before that. May start right away, but most likely ends up in the pen.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) June 4, 2019
It appears the Diamondbacks have a specific type of pitcher in mind for their draft prospects
Pitchers picked by D-backs in Draft:
— David Adler (@_dadler) June 4, 2019
6' 5" Blake Walston
6' 4" Brennan Malone
6' 3" Ryne Nelson
6' 3" Tommy Henry
6' 0" Drey Jameson
Pitcher picking for D-backs at Draft:
6' 10" Randy Johnson
Fun fact: MLB Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson’s daughter is a student at the University of Oregon. Inside source, perhaps?
Ryne Nelson of Oregon goes NO. 56 overall to Arizona Diamondbacks. Second round pick. Introduced in draft by Randy Johnson, whose daughter goes to UO.
— Steve Mims (@SteveMims_RG) June 4, 2019
Tyson Alger of The Athletic has some thoughts on Nelson. He believes in Nelson’s fastball will be his ticket to the big leagues like many of the scouting reports have said. Plus an interesting story detailing the Beavers’ antics against Nelson.
For more coverage on Nelson, go to AZ Snake Pit’s quick profile of RN here
Coach Horton via Aaron Fitt of D1Baseball.com with some lofty praise for young Ryne Nelson. Jacob DeGrom is one of the best pitchers in either league and has been for a period of years now.
Former Oregon coach George Horton drew some comparisons between Ryne Nelson and Jacob deGrom — and look, we're not saying he's deGrom. But like deGrom, he's an athletic, live-bodied converted shortstop with a whippy arm that can generate high-90s cheddar. Reliever profile though. https://t.co/nnArcfahFp
— Aaron Fitt (@aaronfitt) June 4, 2019
Another DeGrom comp, courtesy of the man himself in this Daily Emerald article
Nelson pitched to a 4.29 era in 65 innings of work during the 2019 season while recording 104 strikeouts to 60 hits given up in 23 total appearances for the Ducks.
The Diamondbacks just can’t resist former Ducks as they drafted Matt Mercer in last year’s draft. Nelson’s bread and butter will be the potential 100 mph aka the Aroldis Chapman speed fastball, if he can develop some other pitches, maybe he can stick as a starter but it looks like a bullpen role for him in the future.
I’m sure ATQ’s baseball writer extraordinaire Colt Johnson will have more information in the coming days about any other drafted Ducks.
Congratulations Ryne! Go get em in the big leagues!