SECAUCUS, N.J.: The Arizona Diamondbacks have selected slugging Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson with the No. 1 pick in the Major League Baseball draft.

Swanson, who helped lead the Commodores to the College World Series earlier in the day, is the first college shortstop to be chosen with the top selection in the draft since Brown University’s Bill Almon in 1974.

The pick Monday night at MLB Network studios marked the first time the Diamondbacks had the No. 1 selection since they took Justin Upton in 2005. It’s the 50th anniversary of the first draft in 1965, and the first for new Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Swanson seamlessly switched from second base to shortstop this season as a junior. He was the College World Series’ Most Outstanding Player last year, helping the Commodores to the national championship.

Meantime, high school left-hander Kolby Allard might be seen as a risky first-round draft pick for the Atlanta Braves after missing most of his senior season with a back injury.

The Braves believe Allard’s injury was good luck for them.

Braves director of scouting Brian Bridges says Allard, from San Clemente (California) High School, had the draft’s “best amateur curveball.” If not for the stress reaction in his back that limited Allard to three appearances as a senior, Bridges says Allard wouldn’t have been available at No. 14 overall.

Allard says the injury was “just a stupid, freak, little thing.”

Before the injury, Bridges says it was a “pipe dream” for the Braves to draft Allard. He was ranked among the nation’s top high school pitchers by Baseball America.