Major League Baseball

Let's get graphic: Diamondbacks struck gold in '09 MLB draft

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:53 p.m. ET

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Defensively challenged. Too slow. A small-school prospect who couldn't mash at the highest level. That was the harsh scouting assessment of Paul Goldschmidt heading into the 2009 MLB draft, which dropped the Texas State slugger to the eighth round despite his earning two Southland Conference Hitter of the Year awards and All American honors. Those same scouting doubts also prevented him from cracking any major top 100 prospect lists in the minors, despite posting an OPS north of one thousand.

As the 2015 draft kicks off on Monday, Goldschmidt is now arguably the game's best all-around first baseman -- and one of the greatest late-round finds in the event's 50-year history. With lethal bat speed, all-fields power, and far more base running and defensive prowess than you'd expect from a WWE-sized slugger, Goldschmidt has racked up more career Wins Above Replacement than any 2009 draft pick not named Mike Trout. Eat your heart out, Strasburg.

Goldschmidt's signing bonus turned out to be the best $95K that the D-Backs ever spent. And, considering that he signed a long-term deal before he morphed into a perennial MVP candidate, he'll continue to be a massive bargain for years to come. 

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