The Diamondbacks tapped into a familiar demographic on Day 1 of the draft on Sunday, taking an undersized position player with their top pick, then following that up with three more hitters before the end of the second round.

In discussing Arkansas prep outfielder Slade Caldwell, whom the Diamondbacks took with their top pick at No. 29 overall, scouting director Ian Rebhan could have been describing any number of picks the organization has made over the past eight years.

Rebhan called Caldwell someone who is “super athletic” and “can really hit.” He said the club sees a dynamic player who be an offensive catalyst. He also said the scouting staff saw a player who could stick in center field and be at least an above-average defender.

Add in the fact that Caldwell is listed at 5-foot-9, 182 pounds and Rebhan could have been describing Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas or Daulton Varsho.

Rebhan said player’s size only becomes a factor if it limits their game.

“He shows real power and is someone who can be a really well-rounded offensive player while also being super athletic, super strong, playing a really good center field,” Rebhan said. “His instincts are off the chart. The stature wasn’t really a worry because he plays like he’s 6-2.”

Caldwell, 18, a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Arkansas, led Valley View High to a state championship.

Baseball America called him as one of the more advanced prep hitters in the draft, writing that he has “short levers and twitchy hands with a compact swing that leads to tons of contact and line drives.”

The Diamondbacks took Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt at No. 31 overall and Wisconsin prep shortstop JD Dix at No. 35. Their last pick of the day was Puerto Rican prep catcher Ivan Luciano, whom they took with their second-round pick at No. 64 overall.

Waldschmidt, 21, put together a monster 2024 season at Kentucky, hitting .333/.469/.610 with 14 homers and nearly as many walks (41) as strikeouts (45). He was taken with the pick the Diamondbacks received after Carroll’s National League Rookie of the Year Award last year.

After requiring ACL surgery on his left knee following an injury in the Cape Cod League last summer, Waldschmidt performed so well this year that the knee “really wasn’t a concern at all” in the eyes of the Diamondbacks, Rebhan said.

“In the best conference in college baseball, he performed,” Rebhan said. “He doesn’t strike out. He walked a lot. He controls the zone. He hits. He hits for power. I think he checked a lot of boxes as a really interesting, proven college bat.”

Dix, 18, is a switch-hitter whom the Diamondbacks “have every belief” will be able to remain at shortstop long-term, Rebhan said, adding that the club had “a lot of comfort” in projecting his ability to hit. He missed time following surgery to repair his right labrum but the club’s evaluators thought he looked fine late in the scouting process, Rebhan said.

Dix, who is listed at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, was described by Baseball America as “a standout athlete with a lean build and broad shoulders with quick-twitch actions on the defensive side.”

As for Luciano, Rebhan said the Diamondbacks “love” his offensive upside, and see him as someone who can catch and throw.

“He doesn’t swing and miss, he controls the strike zone, he’s 17 years old and can grow into power,” Rebhan said. “And he plays a premium position. When you start putting all those pieces together, it’s a really interesting package.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks select high school OF Slade Caldwell at No. 29 overall