Barret Loux, RHP From Texas A&M, Drafted 6th By Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks were generally expected to take Chris Sale but instead went with Barret Loux.

via AZ Snakepit

D-backs' Director, Scouting Tom Allison: "We've scouted Barret since high school and have seen him grow as a pitcher and as a person at Texas A&M, where he was the team's Friday night starting pitcher this season. He had a successful season this year and is now in the midst of leading his team in a must-win game against the University of Miami tonight to advance to the NCAA Super Regional against Florida this weekend.

We believe Barret has all of the physical and mental ingredients to be a starting pitcher in the Major Leagues and look forward to him joining the D-backs soon."

Here's the book on him from AZ Central:

RHP Barret Loux

Texas A&M

Stats: 2.60 ERA, 104 IP, 75 H, 33 BB, 136 K, .197 average against

Loux -- whose name is pronounced like “loud” only with an x at the end, according to this article --seems to have made a late charge up draft boards this spring. He has a good fastball (low 90s, touching 94-95) and change-up, and apparently has made big strides with his breaking ball. There’s not a ton of effort in the delivery, likely something that attracts the Diamondbacks, although he has an injury history: he had shoulder problems that cost him two months in high school, according to Baseball America, and last year needed surgery to remove bone chips. Also, according to the above-linked article, he is nicknamed Big Thunder, making him increasingly difficult for the Diamondbacks to pass on. Law deserves credit for first connecting the D-Backs to Loux, and as of last night it sounded like this might be where the Diamondbacks were leaning.

Fan reaction at AZ Snakepit appears to be mixed in early stages.