ANAHEIM — With their second Day 1 pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks took Louisville right-handed pitcher Patrick Forbes No. 29 overall on Sunday.
Arizona drafted Johnson High School (Texas) shortstop Kayson Cunningham with the No. 18 pick to headline its draft class.
Forbes made 15 starts last season for the College World Series-bound Cardinals, pitching to a 4.42 ERA with 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings and 4.3 walks per nine innings.
The 6-foot-3 right-hander joined Louisville as primarily a hitter, as he threw only 38.1 innings over his first two collegiate seasons.
He became a full-time pitcher this past season. Forbes missed a couple starts early with a flexor strain, but he performed well down the stretch. Forbes allowed six earned runs over his final three starts, striking out 32 batters in 17 innings.
He delivers a fastball that can touch the upper 90s mph, along with a well-regarded slider.
Patrick Forbes (@LouisvilleBSB) just pure 🔥octane🔥 here. FB 93-96; T97 (2600) w/ power SNK upwards 17” run. 83-85 SL (2740) showing EZ sweep & bend. Hard CUT @ 87-89 (2719) to BS. Long & loose; high upside stuff. ‘25 elig @PG_Draft pic.twitter.com/s5obTosKNh
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 15, 2025
From MLB Pipeline:
As Forbes concentrates all of his energy on pitching, the hope is that he’ll be able to improve his changeup and strike-throwing. His delivery features some effort and he missed two starts in April with a flexor strain, though he recaptured his stuff when he returned and helped Louisville reach the College World Series. If everything comes together, he could fit in the front half of a big league rotation.
The D-backs secured the No. 29 pick as compensation for Christian Walker departing as a free agent. The D-backs extended the qualifying offer to Walker, which he declined. He signed a $60 million contract with Houston, and as a revenue-sharing club, the Diamondbacks were awarded a pick between the first round the competitive balance A round.
Arizona does not have a second-round pick this year after signing free agent starting pitcher Corbin Burnes, plus it traded its competitive balance round B pick along with pitcher Slade Cecconi to Cleveland for first baseman Josh Naylor.
The next pick Arizona owns is No. 92 overall in the third round.
The moment dreams become reality. @patrick_forbes3 x @Dbacks #GoCards pic.twitter.com/tewDoXyZdk
— Louisville Baseball (@LouisvilleBSB) July 14, 2025
The MLB Draft is split between two days this year, as the first three rounds are on Sunday and 4-20 on Monday.
The Washington Nationals kicked off the draft by taking prep shortstop Eli Willits with the No. 1 overall pick. The Los Angeles Angels followed by taking UC Santa Barbara right-handed pitcher Tyler Bremner, and the Seattle Mariners rounded out the top three with LSU lefty Kade Anderson.
