With the 25th pick of the 2018 MLB Draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks have selected Matt McLain, a utility guy from Arnold O. Beckman High School in Tustin, California.
By utility guy, I’m not joking. McLain has literally every position listed by Perfect Game at his position, and he can play all over the diamond with relative ease. He is likely going to make his home as a middle-infielder, specifically a shortstop, but if he is needed to, he will move to the outfield.
Matt McLain
Beckman HS. UCLA commit 3b at USA baseball tournament of the stars. #DoDamage #EBS10 @mattmclain_ pic.twitter.com/G9pxc7IvQP— Elite (@EliteBaseball) June 30, 2017
McLain doesn’t have fantastic power, but he is a good gap-to-gap hitter with really good speed. McLain is a great athlete, and it’s the athletic tools which Arizona must have highlighted to take McLain as high as they did.
McLain will be in the top four of Diamondbacks prospects, but the big question will come whether or not he is above fellow middle infielder Jasrado Chisholm. I’m guessing not.
