SECAUCUS, N.J. — Shortstops were a big hit leading off the Major League Baseball draft.
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Vanderbilt slugger Dansby Swanson with the No. 1 pick Monday night, setting off a history-making run at the position.
With the second pick, Houston took LSU's Alex Bregman — marking the first time since 1982 the first two players chosen were shortstops. That year it was Shawon Dunston (Cubs) and Augie Schmidt (Blue Jays).
And for the first time, Colorado made it 3 for 3 by taking Florida high schooler Brendan Rodgers at No. 3 overall.
A fourth shortstop went 10th, with Philadelphia selecting Georgia high schooler Cornelius Randolph. A record-tying eight shortstops were selected in the first round (36 picks), matching the number that were taken in 1971 and 2002.
Swanson, who helped lead the Commodores to the College World Series earlier in the day, was the first college shortstop to be the top pick since Bill Almon from Brown University in 1974.
"I think it sounds pretty good," a smiling Swanson said in an interview on MLB Network.
It marked the first time the Diamondbacks had the No. 1 selection since they drafted Justin Upton in 2005.