Vanderbilt SS Dansby Swanson selected No. 1 by Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson the first pick in Monday’s MLB draft.

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Vanderbilt's Dansby Swanson with the first pick in Monday’s MLB draft.

The 6'1", 190-pound shortstop was considered by many to be the leading candidate for the draft's top selection. Swanson's strong performance in the NCAA postseason helped lead Vanderbilt to an appearance in the College World Series. 

Swanson heads to a Diamondbacks team firmly in rebuilding mode after compiling a 64–98 record in 2014 and sitting in fourth place in the National League West going into Monday's games.

Another candidate for the draft's first overall pick was 6'0", 185-pound LSU shortstop Alex Bregman, who went No. 2 overall to the Astros. Bregman’stwo-out, two-run single in the eighth inning of LSU's Super Regional win over UL-Lafayette ​helped send LSU to the College World Series.

• 2015 MLB draft tracker: Live analysis for every first-round pick

The 2015 draft field is deep at the shortstop position, and also includes Lake Mary High School (Longwood, Fla.) prospect Brendan Rodgers, who went No. 3 to the Rockies.

In last year’s MLB draft, the Houston Astros selected Cathedral Catholic High School (San Diego) lefthander Brady Aiken with the top pick. Aiken did not end up signing with the team once health issues arose with the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm.

He later underwent Tommy John surgery on March 26.