How did the Arizona Diamondbacks fare in the 2024 MLB Draft?

Very well, according to one MLB Draft insider, who wrote that the team "scored" with all of its early picks.

The insider, MLB.com's Jim Callis, included the Diamondbacks on a list of teams that had the best 2024 MLB Draft hauls, ranking Arizona's class No. 5 of six teams that showed up on the list.

Of Arizona's class, Callis wrote: "The D-backs' first three selections came earlier than anyone else's — at Nos. 29, 31 and 35 — and they scored with all of them. Two-time Gatorade Arkansas state high school player of the year Slade Caldwell is a sparkplug with hitting ability, well-above-average speed and center-field chops. Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt impresses scouts with his tools and analysts with his metrics, and he brings 20/20 potential. Wisconsin prep shortstop J.D. Dix is a switch-hitter who has been likened to a more athletic version of DJ LeMahieu. Puerto Rican catcher Ivan Luciano (second round) and Missouri shortstop Tytus Cissell (fourth) are raw high schoolers who will need time to develop. Righties Daniel Eagen (Presbyterian, third) and Connor Foley (Indiana, fifth) stood out in 2024's thin college pitching group and should have gone earlier in the Draft."

MLB.com ranked the Cleveland Guardians' draft No. 1, with the Pittsburgh Pirates No. 2, the Cincinnati Reds No. 3, the Oakland Athletics No. 4 and the Miami Marlins No. 6.

MLB: Diamondbacks select high school OF Slade Caldwell at No. 29 overall, 3 others in round 1

What MLB experts are saying about Arizona Diamondbacks' 2024 MLB Draft class

Callis wasn't the only one high on Arizona's 2024 MLB Draft class.

Baseball America liked the "exciting tools" of some of the DBacks' picks.

Carlos Collazo wrote: "No team selected more high school outfielders (3) or high school catchers (2) than the Diamondbacks did in this year’s draft. In the first round, the team grabbed OF Slade Caldwell, who has a pretty similar game and multi-sport background to current D-back Alek Thomas, and then on the final day drafted athletic outfielders Bo Walker and Hunter Carns. Carns was a 20th-round pick so there’s some questions about whether or not he’ll be signed, but he certainly fits the bill as 1.) an athlete, 2.) a high school outfielder and 3.) a high school catcher. Carns also ranked as the No. 69 player in the class. Many teams shy away from high school catchers, but Arizona liked C Ivan Luciano’s defensive skill enough to make him a day-one selection, and shortstops JD Dix and Tytus Cissell both have exciting tools as hitters and defenders. I’ve not even mentioned OF Ryan Waldschmidt, who was a polarizing prospect, but one who many teams expected to get picked in the teens."

2024 MLB Draft notes: DBacks target arms on Day 2

The Athletic wrote that the Diamondbacks got Top 15 talent in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Keith Law wrote: "I heard back in March or April that the D-Backs wouldn’t let Slade Caldwell (1) get past them, and that was correct, as they took the diminutive outfielder from Jonesboro, Ark., with the 29th pick. Caldwell earns raves for his feel to hit and his makeup, apparently blowing teams away with his interviews at the MLB Draft Combine. He can really run and hit and probably sticks in center field — the issue is his arm, not his range — but scouts couldn’t decide if he had enough power to profile as an everyday guy or better, or if he’d end up a tweener because he really doesn’t offer any projection. Betting on makeup and a hit tool doesn’t always work — Nick Madrigal had those as well, and he’s back in the minors at age 27 — but I am willing to bet Caldwell gets to enough strength to be a regular. Outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt (PPI) ranked 11 on my final board but slid to pick 31, outstanding value for the D-Backs given his hit/power combination and the potential to unlock even more in-game power if they give him any kind of stride at the plate. I heard after the pick that some teams were worried about the torn ACL that ended his 2023 summer on the Cape after just four games. That’s two top-15 talents for Arizona even though they didn’t pick at all until 29."

Arizona Diamondbacks 2025 schedule: DBacks open vs Chicago Cubs, host Boston Red Sox

ESPN detailed how the Diamondbacks could have got a "sleeper" in JD Dix at No. 35.

Kiley McDaniel wrote: "This time last year, Dix was tracking like a first-rounder, but other players moved ahead of him as injuries limited his exposure for much of the season. The early spring buzz was that he was seen as a third-rounder or later with a real chance of ending up at Wake Forest, where he had committed to play college baseball. He finished the spring strong, giving scouts certainty that he really is that advanced hitter they had seen before the injuries."

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Diamondbacks' 2024 MLB draft class near top of rankings