The 2019 MLB Draft wrapped up this week and, like last year, clubs primarily inked pitchers. There were 653 pitchers drafted this time around (493 righties and 160 lefties), the exact number that were drafted in the 2018 class. In all, 1,217 players were chosen across the 40 rounds, two Compensation Rounds and two Competitive Balance rounds.
The Red Sox used their top pick this year for 21-year-old University of Arizona infielder Cameron Cannon. The Diamondbacks had originally drafted Cannon out of high school in 2016, but he declined in order to attend college. Last summer he played for Falmouth in the Cape Cod League.
Among their 40 overall picks, the Sox chose Matthew Lugo in the second round. He’s the nephew of nine-time All-Star Carlos Beltran. Jaxx Groshans, the brother of Blue Jays prospect Jordan Groshans, was selected by Boston in the fifth round. In the 16th round the club went with Oraj Anu, whose dad was former Olympian track athlete Oralee Fowler.
Players chosen across the draft represented 44 states this time (all but Alaska, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming). The states with the most players selected were California (180), Florida (129) and Texas (128).