Justin Upton was simply too good for the Arizona Diamondbacks to pass up.

Despite having a few talented shortstops already in their minor league system, the Diamondbacks added another when they made the Virginia high school star the top pick in the baseball draft yesterday.

“I think everybody saw the same thing,” general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. told the Associated Press. “They saw an extremely gifted athlete. That understandably catches your eye. And when you’re around him and around his family, you get the feeling that these people have their values together.”

Upton and his brother B.J., the second pick in 2002 by Tampa Bay, are the highest-drafted siblings. The Virginia player of the year, who batted .519 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI in just 54 plate appearances, joins the recently signed Stephen Drew, Arizona’s top pick last year, and Sergio Santos as top Diamondbacks prospects at shortstop. Upton, 17, was mainly a shortstop at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, but also played third base and the outfield.

Upton is Arizona’s first no. 1 overall draft selection. The Diamondbacks’ previous highest pick was no. 4 in 1999, when they took another high school shortstop, Corey Myers.

Arizona had also considered three college right-handers: Wichita State’s Mike Pelfrey, Craig Hansen of St. John’s, and Tennessee’s Luke Hochevar – all represented by agent Scott Boras. All three slid to lower slots than originally expected.

The 6-foot-7 Pelfrey, a two-time Missouri Valley Conference pitcher of the year, went to the Mets at no. 9. Hansen, one of college baseball’s most dominant closers, was taken by Boston with the 26th pick. Hochevar, a Golden Spikes Award finalist, wasn’t drafted until the supplemental round when the Los Angeles Dodgers took him at no. 40.

Kansas City selected Nebraska third baseman Alex Gordon with the second pick, the team’s highest ever. Undrafted out of high school, the two-time Big 12 player of year hit .382 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI for the Huskers.

Southern California catcher Jeff Clement went no. 3 to Seattle. He set the national high school career home run record, and has become an all-arounds hitter and solid defensive catcher for the Trojans.

Washington took University of Virginia third baseman Ryan Zimmerman with the fourth pick, and already agreed to contract terms with him. Zimmerman said the contract could be signed as early as today.

The Nationals will send Zimmerman, described as a future Gold Glover, directly to Double-A Harrisburg to start his professional career.