JONESBORO, Ark. – The expected turned into a dream come true for Slade Caldwell.
The Valley View All-American outfielder and Ole Miss signee has been long-projected to be picked in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft and the Arizona Diamondbacks nabbed him with the 29th overall selection. He was the tenth high school player drafted.
The pick is worth a slot value of $3,045,500 and Caldwell is the first Arkansas prep baseball player picked in the first round since Dustin Moseley was nabbed at No. 34 by the Cincinnati Reds in 2000, plus the highest drafted out of high school since Tony McKnight went 22nd to the Houston Astros in 1995.
In other Arkansas news, National Pitcher of the Year and Razorbacks ace Hagen Smith went fifth overall to the Chicago White Sox. The draft is being held at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth (Texas) as part of 2024 MLB All-Star Week.
Caldwell led a loaded Valley View squad to a 31-2 finish against stiff competition and the program’s second state championship in the past four seasons. He was named the Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year for the second consecutive season after batting .485 and finishing with an eye-popping .708 on-base percentage, hitting 3 home runs, scoring 58 runs and batting in 18 while swiping 51 bases and only struck out 10 times. Caldwell stole a state-record 171 bags in his career and also went 5-0 on the mound this spring, striking out 53 batters and compiling a 1.63 ERA in 34.1 innings.
The Diamondbacks currently sit in second place in the NL-West standings, tied for seven games out of first place with the San Diego Padres, with an overall record of 49-48.
(Cover photo by Jhude Dizon/Arkansas PBS)
Kyle Sutherland is a journalist and podcast host (Arkansas Preps Weekly) for The Natural State Sports Network. His written work has been featured in outlets including the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Best of Arkansas Sports and Hooten’s Arkansas Football. He is also the color commentator for 103.7 The Buzz’s high school football Game of the Week. Email Kyle at kyle@naturalstatesports.com.