Arizona

Diamondbacks Sign First Round Pick Slade Caldwell to Deal

Published

2 years ago

July 27, 2024

Diamondbacks Sign First Round Pick Slade Caldwell to Deal

The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed top draft pick, outfielder Slade Caldwell, to a deal. Caldwell signed for $3,087,000, $41,500 above slot value, per MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis. He becomes the 18th member of the D-backs’ draft class to sign with the organization.

Caldwell has a locker at Chase Field, and took BP with the major league squad today before speaking to the media.

The young outfielder was Arizona’s first pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, going 29th overall to the D-backs out of Valley View High School in Arkansas–the top draft prospect in the state.

He’s got a high motor, able to cover plenty of ground and create chaos on the basepaths. He sports a 55-grade hit tool and 65-grade speed, and while he doesn’t exactly come off as a power hitter, there’s still a bit of pop in the bat.

After getting in some reps at the plate, Caldwell spoke to the media about his decision to sign with the organization, rather than play college ball at Ole Miss, where he had previously committed.

“It was very exciting, I took some time off and let my agent work. I had two good opportunities between school and here, and I finally came down to wanting to play pro baseball, and it was just really surreal,” Caldwell said.

“It was pretty tough for me, I have a pretty good connection over there at Ole Miss, with all the coaches and all the new teammates,” said the 18-year-old, “ultimately, I think I made the best decision coming to Arizona.”

Caldwell fits the D-backs archetype well, profiling as a left-handed hitting, 5-foot-9, 172-pound speedster with good instincts, excellent fielding and good contact-hitting ability.

His style and build are reminiscent of reigning Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll, and he’ll join Arizona’s horde of diminutive lefty outfield speedsters.

Caldwell noted how his build and style of play fit in with what the D-backs have seen out of many of their younger prospects, and feels encouraged to see players of his build and stature succeed and compete at the highest level.

“It brings me hope to see these guys out on the field playing in the World Series and everything. It gives me hope as a smaller guy to come out here and compete with everybody,” Caldwell said.

“I can definitely hit the ball as hard as anybody else, I just think it’s working hard, and your work ethic really pushes you forward no matter what your size is.”

Earlier, the young outfielder met one-on-one with manager Torey Lovullo. The skipper was impressed with Caldwell’s maturity at only 18 years old.

“He handled himself unbelievably, very mature. You walk into a major league manager’s office, could be a little intimidating, but he looked me square in the eye, we had a good conversation,” Lovullo said.

“I was very glad with the meeting [with Lovullo],” Caldwell reflected, “it gives me hope, and it gives me a determination to come out here and hopefully be here in the next couple years.”

Caldwell said he expects to head out to the Arizona Complex League in the next few days, and spend a few months getting “settled” in the D-backs’ farm system before being evaluated.

“To make sure that he continues to progress through the system is entirely up to what he does each and every day, and he accepted that challenge, he’s excited to go out and take some BP today, and we’re all excited to watch him go to work as well,” Lovullo said.

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Arizona

Person accused of making terroristic threats to medical facility in northern Arizona

Published

10 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Person accused of making terroristic threats to medical facility in northern Arizona

PAGE, AZ (AZFamily) — A person accused of making terroristic threats toward a northern Arizona medical facility was arrested Friday morning.

Just after 10:30 p.m., police received a report of a person calling the facility and threatening to kill staff and Native Americans, according to the Page Police Department.

Authorities said staff placed the facility on lockdown until officers identified the suspect and arrested them outside their home.

The suspect was booked on charges of disorderly conduct, threatening and intimidating, and making terroristic threats. Police have not publicly identified the person.

“The Page Police Department is grateful for and supports the medical staff’s decision to put the medical facility into lockdown until the suspect was arrested and the situation was rendered safe,” the department said in a Facebook post.

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Arizona

NFL mock draft: 4-round projections for Arizona Cardinals

Published

22 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

NFL mock draft: 4-round projections for Arizona Cardinals

In these four-round projections, the Arizona Cardinals don’t get a tackle until the fourth round.

We are just days away from the 2026 NFL draft, and that means some final mock drafts. What direction will the draft take the Arizona Cardinals?

Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy put together a four-round mock draft for the Cardinals. They go defense early but rebuild the offense for 2026 and moving forward, including landing their potential franchise quarterback.

Cardinals 4-round mock draft

Here are the players in the first four rounds Popejoy projects for Arizona.

Round 1: Ohio State EDGE/LB Arvell Reese
Round 2: Alabama QB Ty Simpson
Round 3: Clemson WR Antonio Williams
Round 4: Florida OT Austin Barber

What we think of the picks

The Cardinals want to trade out of the third pick and draft a tackle, so not getting a tackle until Round 4 seems unlikely, although they did meet with Barber. They do have options at right tackle for 2026 already on the roster.

Reese would be a great pick if they don’t trade back, as they badly need pass-rushing help off the edge.

Drafting Simpson seems inevitable at this point, so it has to be in a mock draft, although the feeling is they will need to go up into Round 1 again to get him.

Williams has speed and is almost six feet tall, but he does have short arms.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Arizona

Detroit Lions NFL Draft Injury Report: Arizona State CB Keith Abney

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Detroit Lions NFL Draft Injury Report: Arizona State CB Keith Abney

Due to significant injuries to the CB position last year which includes a shoulder surgery for Terrion Arnold, the Lions CB position scored a 6/10 need on my Lions Defensive Draft Need Rankings. Thus, an early-round selection of a young, healthy prospect like Keith Abney would not come as a surprise. He enters the draft with very low medical concern level.

Here is the excerpt from my medical report on Keith Abney:

(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information are unverified and subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)

Keith Abney, CB (21) – Arizona State

Projected round 2-3. #43 on Jeff Risdon board Feb 19.

Concern level 0/10

There is an isolated report of a hand injury but no corroborating information. Even if the hand injury is true, that’s of minimal to no long-term concern.

His availability in his final two seasons has been perfect. Overall, Abney appears to be medically clean and is at an excellent age.

He finished college with 6 INT and 21 PBU.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Jimmy on X, @JimmyLiaoMD

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