Struggling Dansby Swanson says he's not distracted by draft selection

ByABC News
June 21, 2015, 5:00 PM

— -- OMAHA, Neb. -- Vanderbilt's Dansby Swanson, the top overall pick by the  Arizona Diamondbacks in this year's draft, has struggled mightily in the College World Series but said he hasn't been distracted since being selected.

Dansby is 1-for-13 with five strikeouts and an error at shortstop in Vanderbilt's three CWS games. Last year he was the CWS Most Outstanding Player after batting .323 with three doubles and four stolen bases.

"It's one of those things you can't control, what's going on outside of you anyway," he said on the eve of Game 1 of the CWS finals against Virginia. "You just play your best and your hardest and hopefully the results will speak for themselves."

Swanson, batting a team-leading .337 for the season, is at .242 with 11 strikeouts in eight NCAA tournament games.

Defending champion Vanderbilt will start Carson Fulmer (13-2, 1.95 ERA) against Virginia's Connor Jones (7-2, 3.05 ERA) in Game 1 Monday. 

Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said he hadn't made pitching plans beyond Monday. Vanderbilt will start Philip Pfeifer on Tuesday and, if necessary, probably Walker Buehler on Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.