Bryce Jarvis, a former Brentwood Academy ace, drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks in first round

Tom Kreager
Nashville Tennessean

Former Brentwood Academy pitching ace Bryce Jarvis, a Duke junior, was picked by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of Wednesday's MLB Draft.

Jarvis, a 6-foot-2 right-hander, was selected 18th overall.

In a season shorted by the coronavirus pandemic, Jarvis finished 3-1 in four starts with a 0.67 ERA in 27 innings pitched. He struck out 40 and walked two. He went 13-4 in three seasons with a 2.81 ERA, 201 strikeouts and 61 walks.

Jarvis led Brentwood Academy to a state championship his senior year in 2017.

Former Brentwood Academy baseball coach Buddy Alexander was with Jarvis and his family at their Williamson County home when Jarvis was picked.

"I told him when I got there (Wednesday night) that I had never been with somebody when they got drafted," Alexander said. "It was a neat experience. I'm proud of him.

"He's done a lot for our program. He was a great player and a great student. He's a great all-around guy."

Jarvis is the second in the family to be drafted. His dad, Kevin, was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 21st round of the 1991 MLB Draft as a pitcher. Kevin Jarvis is currently an MLB scout for the Angels.

"He grew up in a clubhouse," ESPN analyst Eduardo Perez said during the draft broadcast. "That matters. The organization knows that. The building block that he will have and improvement that he had from last year to who he is now, he knows how to get to the big leagues.

"The hardest part as my dad told me, 'Now you have to stay in the big leagues.'"

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.