The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with the team possessing the worst record receiving the first pick.
[2] In addition, teams which lost free agents in the previous off-season may be awarded compensatory or supplementary picks.
Of the 28 players picked in the first round by the Diamondbacks, 15 have been pitchers, the most of any position; 11 of these have been right-handed, while 4 have been left-handed.
[4] The Diamondbacks' 2003 selection—Carlos Quentin, who was then playing with the Chicago White Sox—won the 2008 Silver Slugger Award as one of the three best offensive outfielders in the American League.
[4] These additional picks are provided when a team loses a particularly valuable free agent in the previous off-season,[3][6][V] or, more recently, if a team fails to sign a draft pick from the previous year.