D-backs sign top pick Grier, agree to terms with 23 others
PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with outfielder Anfernee Grier, the team's top selection and No. 39 overall in last week's MLB Draft.
Grier, 20, hit .366 with eight doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, 41 RBI, 56 runs and 19 stolen bases in 56 games as a junior for Auburn. The 6-0, 170-pounder ranked among the Southeastern Conference leaders in most offensive categories, including runs (first), total bases (first, 137), homers (second), hits (second), average (fourth) and stolen bases (seventh).
Supp 1st-rder Anfernee Grier signs w/@Dbacks, $1.5 mil (pick 39 = $1,658,600). Auburn CF, plus speed, bat & power came on this yr. @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) June 15, 2016
"It's been a great feeling meeting everybody in the organization," Grier said Wednesday. "It's been a pretty busy week, but it was definitely worth it just coming out here and meeting with everybody. They treated me so well while I was here."
Grier is a 2016 Golden Spikes Award semifinalist as well as a Baseball America First-Team All-American and Second Team All-SEC selection. He was rated by Perfect Game as the No. 1 player in Alabama out of Russell County High School in 2014.
"Pure center fielder," D-backs scouting director Deric Ladnier said last week. "He's a tooled-out player that stays in center field, he's plus out there, he has a plus arm, he's an above-average runner, he's shown above-average power and the ability to hit."
Grier will begin his professional career with the Hillsboro Hops, the D-backs Class-A short season affiliate, the organization announced.
The D-backs on Wednesday also announced the signings of third-rounder Jon Duplantler and fourth-rounder Taylor Curtis. In all, the D-backs agreed to terms with 24 of their 40 draft picks.
The players who agreed to terms with the club are noted in bold below.
