UNLV’s Armstrong drafted by Diamondbacks in 10th round

By MARK ANDERSON LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

9 years ago

UNLV’s Joey Armstrong (3) runs to home base for a run against U.S. Air Force in their baseball game at Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas Sunday, April 26, 2015. UNLV won 6-5. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

UNLV junior center fielder Joey Armstrong was selected Tuesday by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the first pick in the 10th round of the major league draft.

He was the 286th overall pick and the first Rebel taken. Armstrong also was the second local player, with College of Southern Nevada right-hander Phil Bickford going to the San Francisco Giants in the first round (18th overall) on Monday.

No other locals were selected through the first 10 rounds. The final 30 rounds of the draft take place today.

Armstrong (5 feet 11 inches, 195 pounds) batted .277 with 26 RBIs and eight stolen bases. He is a career .301 hitter and a strong defensive player, leading the Mountain West this season with eight outfield assists.