DBacks Prospect Rankings

Post Rule 5 Draft Update 12/7

I’ll be using Substack to post long form rankings and thoughts that I don’t want to get lost on X/Twitter. With a busy offseason ahead and the Dbacks in the thick of trade rumors, here is my Dbacks prospects rankings.

1 Druw Jones OF

-Carroll, Lawlar were hurt early on too (all 3 needed shoulder surgery quick into their MiLB Career… freaky) just insane tools at 6’4 with plus power and speed, super young, give it time-

2 Jordan Lawlar SS/3B

3 Tommy Troy SS/3B

-Got Lawlar and Troy closer than most-

-Tier break-

4 Jack Hurley OF

-LH OF with good power/speed blend, perfect DBack to fit the Thomas, Carroll, McCarthy, Fletcher mold that has thrived in this player development program. Loved the pick on draft day-

5 Yu-Min Lin LHP

-You all know I like him but I think he's a future #4/5 guy or RP, 5'11 throws 89-92, best pitcher in a weak pitching system imo-

-Tier Break-

6/7 SS's Cristofer Torin/Jansel Luis

-Top 22' Int signees, producing early in Rook/A ball, still just 19-

8 Gino Groover 3B

-Dude just rakes-

-Tier Break-

9 Slade Cecconi

10 Dominic Fletcher

-2 solid MLB fringe guys, Slade can be a good SP5 or RP, Fletcher 4th OF-

-Tier Break-

11 Blaze Alexander

-Toolsy, big arm, flashy SS, can play 3B, in game power still developing had a hand injury last year though-

12 AJ Vukovich 3B/OF

-Played 3B, CF in fall league, fun profile with 24 HR 20 SB last year, could be a great utility player, really like Blaze and Vuk a ton-

13 Landon Sims RP

-Elite stuff coming off TJ, if healthy will be in majors quick-

14 Ruben Santana 3B

-Dec '22 Int signing, 750k, .874 OPS in rookie ball-

15 Gian Zapata OF

-Dec '22 Int, 9 HR in 134 AB, 6'4, 950k big signing-

16 Yilber Diaz RHP

-140K in 102.2 IP last year, mid 90's stuff, made 25 GS too-

-Tier Break-

17 Deyvison De Los Santos

*Selected in Rule 5 Draft by Cleveland Guardians*

-Jump to AA struggled, just 20 though average 3B, should fill out more, 20 HR but .728 OPS in '23, like the tools still-

18 Tristan English 1B/3B/OF

-Forgotten man, 23 HR .938 OPS '23, '19 3rd round pick, close to being an interesting bench option-

19 Kristian Robinson OF

-Missed 3 years but still .914 OPS in '23-

20 Jorge Barrosa OF

-True CF, SB's dipped high 20's to 15 last year, could bereally great 4th OF, coming for Jake and Fletch this year-

21 Wilderd Patino OF

-121 SB last 2 years still in Rook/A ball, bat needs to handle jump to AA this year-

22 Dylan Ray SP

-Mid 90's stuff 11 K/9 between A/AA last year, 6'3 230 feel like he follows Slade's path with little more K upside, might be too low here-

23 Bryce Jarvis RP

-Found niche has multi inning RP last year, control falls off too much but I think he settles in as a RP-

24 Ricardo Yan RHP

-138 K's in 103.2 IP last year, 6'4 plus sweeper, '21 Int signing pitching very well-

25 Kevin Sim 3B

-‘23 5th rounder, dad KBO legend nickname "Hercules" hit 300 HR, sneaky think he's better than Melendez, power w/ less K's, better glove-

-Tier Break-

26 Ivan Melendez 3B

-Kevin Cron, except Cron stuck out less, mid 34%+ K rates in A/AA/AFL, hard to imagine that improves against better pitching, can't play 3B, okay 1B, just Cron/Peter O'Brien/'23 Kyle Lewis idk guess I'm the Melendez hater, he'll be great in Japan-

27 Blake Walston LHP

-Below average stuff, 6.27 K/9 5.6 BB/9 last year, just dont see it-

-Tier Break-

Taking 5-6 prospects lists online and making my own rankings from them, sure theres mid level guys I'm missing. Excited to update this list as Spring Training hits. Here’s the rest of my rankings:

28 Caden Grice LHP

-6'6 250 big lefty, may still DH too but huge tools-

29 Adrian Del Castillo C

-Reportedly has made big strides behind the dish to be okay w/ glove, 12 HR .891 OPS in AA, struggled in Reno, should start there could be backup C option-

NAMES TO WATCH

Conor Grammes RHP

-A/AA 82 K 59.2 IP, TJ in '21, '19 5th rounder, interest pen propsect-

Diego Castillo INF

-Played a lot for Pirates in '22, .313.431.410 in Reno last year, hit LHP really well sneaky versatile bench bat should have gotten MLB look last year-

Austin Pope RHP

-Mini breakout in '23, AA/AAA 66.2 IP 84K's 3.65 ERA (2.45 in Reno)-

JJ D'Orazio C

-Athletic behind the dish, bat work in progress but improving, from TOR in Soria trade-

Grayson Hitt LHP

-'23 4th rounder, recovering from TJ, stuff over results at Bama, project-

Luke Albright RHP

-136K in 112 AA IP, 1.67 WHIP though w/ 69 BB's, 5.47 ERA last 2 years-

Christian Cerda C

-Acquired for David Peralta, huge walk rates, Q's if he can stay behind the dish-

Jacob Steinmetz RHP

-Really good stuff, extremely raw, long ways away-

Spencer Giesting LHP

-24 GS, 117 IP 124 K's 4.00 ERA in A ball last year, 6'4, only throws 90-92, maybe more of a RP-

Will Mabrey LHP

-'22 6th rounder, A/AA in '23 3.00 ERA 66 IP 64 K-

Taylor Rashi RHP

AAA Rule 5 pick from SF after 2022 season in which he posted 52 K’s in 35 IP. Missed most of 2023 with injury but returned at the end of the season. Big 2024 ahead, a bullpen name to keep an eye on.

Darlin Pinales RHP

2023 Rule 5 AAA pick, 21, was with Dodgers. Big 6’4 240 ibs RHP. 2.63 ERA in ‘22 (41 IP 42 K) but tough ‘23 (9.16 ERA, 38.1 IP, 47 K’s, 45 BB’s). Great stuff, great size, poor control. Another Strom project.

If there’s another prospect you think I should include, reach out to me @GoldyHappens on Twitter! (Or comment below)