Drafted in the eighth round of the 2009 draft was a stocky first baseman with lots of upside from Texas State University. Originally from one of the most dominant high school programs in the country, The Woodlands High School (TX), he was drafted by the Dodgers in the 48th round of the 2006. At TSU he hit 0.360/17/69 and 0.352/18/88 in his sophomore and Junior seasons.
However it wasn’t until after he signed and the Diamondbacks moved him to the Pioneer league to play at Missoula that they realized they might have someone special. In the short season Pioneer league, Goldschmidt rattled off a 0.334/18/62 statline in just 287 at bats. When you combine that with his junior year numbers he hit 36 homers and drove in 150 runs. The Diamondbacks moved him up to high A Visalia of the California League, partly because of his age and partly because of how well he had done at the Pioneer level.
He has taken the California League by storm, reeling off a 0.320/26/76 stat line with still over a month left to play. I would not be the least bit surprised if he got the call to advance to AA before the season is out. Someone with his talent and the fact that first base is being kept warm for him by Andy LaRoche, means that he has the opportunity to make it to the big leagues by next season. Is it a long shot? No. Will it be easy? No. However, he has the skills and the Diamondbacks need them.
As far as his cards go, the pickings are slim. The card pictured below is from his 2008 stint with the Anchorage Bucs of the Alaskan Summer League. That was pretty much the only card I could find of him. I can only assume that he makes an appearance in Bowman’s next release. It just goes to show though, You can strike Gold anywhere in the draft.
I don’t think he will be up in the Bigs next year out of spring training. He might make it as a late season call up in September next year. I think Goldschmidt’s swing need’s some fine tuning. I saw him aginst the Rancho Quakes, he swung at pitches low and away. I do feel he is almost Big League ready.