PROSPECT RANKINGS (MIDSEASON 2025)

Goldy Happens Volume 4

It’s about to get real crazy Diamondbacks fans. The MLB Draft & All-Star Game are now in the books, so the 2 week chaotic sprint to the MLB Trade Deadline begins now. One of my pet peeves is how awful and outdated prospect rankings are when big trades go down. Somehow everyone is applying offseason rankings to midseason trades every July. Almost EVERY Diamondbacks prospect list you can find online is from the offseason….

So it’s time for me to update my rankings!

1 - JD Dix, SS (Prev. GH12, MLB Pipeline 12)

I don’t care I’ll go against the grain and make JD Dix my #1 Diamondbacks prospect. Taken at a discount at 35th last year, JD Dix is healthy from a HS hip surgery and balling out in his minor league debut at just 19. Already mastering rookie ball, JD .333/.409/.483 with 4 HR, 11 SB. As a big 6’2 switch hitter playing a strong SS, JD’s film and swing just pops man. JD Dix is only going to get stronger and healthier post surgery, so I’ll keep dreaming on my switch hitting Corey Seager. Take a look at this Baseball America tweet and article.

If JD Dix was healthy entering the 2024 draft, he would have been a top 20 pick easily. JD Dix had a hard commitment to Wake Forest, but the Diamondbacks paid u $2.15M for a 2nd round pick and boy is it looking good right now. JD was so elite that I have rival HS coaches following me and telling me how elite JD Dix was and will be.

You heard it here first, JD Dix is my #1 Diamondback prospect and everyone else will catch up to it.

2 - Slade Caldwell, OF (Prev. GH7, MLB Pipeline 2)

MLB Pipeline will sometimes update their rankings for big names, like Slade Caldwell who they’ve moved up to 2. Slade is the next short, fast, LH OF for the Diamondbacks in the Carroll & Alek mold. Slade has a .808 OPS, 4 HR and 22 SB while playing stellar defense in the OF. Slade’s not hitting as well as Dix, but is at A+ ball and has shown his crazy athleticism is translating to pro ball. 19.3% walk rate is amazing, but the K% is at 26.5% so hopefully that starts to trend south against better competition when he jumps to AA/AAA.

3 - Jordan Lawlar, SS (Prev. GH1, MLB Pipeline 1)

Copy and paste… injuries and not showing anything in limited playing time at the MLB level. I still think Lawlar will be a legit MLB SS or 3B for a long time, but once again he needs to get healthy as he’s currently on the IL list. Even in Reno .993 OPS is incredible, but as a career 4-50 MLB bat, he’s lost his #1 spot.

Lawlar struggles with MLB spin, but he’s amazingly still just 23 and his dominance in AAA isn’t just someone put up stats, he’s the BEST hitter in AAA.

4- Ryan Waldschmidt, OF (Prev. GH9, MLB Pipeline 3)

#WaldschmidtHappens

Ryan Waldschmidt was an advanced college bat who’s getting even better in the minors. .848 OPS right now between A/AA ball w/ 10 HR & 13 SB, he also hit a couple HR in Spring Training. Waldschmidt is a high floor RH OF bat that I think could in the majors midway through next season.

That’s 3 2024 draft picks in the first 4 ranked players…. that draft could be special.

5- Adrian Del Castillo, C/DH (Prev. GH6, MLB Pipeline 6)

ADC is rumored to be called up today! The bat leveled up in AAA with 26 HR, 75 RBI in 105 games at Reno last year then slashed .313/.368/.525 good for .893 OPS at the MLB level including some clutch late game heroics. ADC had a 12 base 2 HR, 2 double game last Sunday, he’s healthy after being out most of the season and it’s time to let him be the DH every game vs RHP at MLB level.

I don’t think he’s a catcher as he has a noodle arm, and it’s an absolute failure by the Diamondbacks that he’s played ZERO games at 1B in the minors.

The bat is legit enough to be a DH only though, so it’s time to punt Pavin Smith to a new team and see what ADC can do in an extended run.

6- LuJames “Gino” Groover, 3B (Prev. GH3, MLB Pipeline 10)

Groover has done nothing to move down 3 spots for me, there’s just some big bats that jumped ahead of him. Groover is mashing this year to a .312/.386/.469 line for a .855 OPS. He’s fine with the glove, below average runner, but the bat has been legit and I think he’s a good bet to be a solid MLB bat for a long time. A promotion from AA to AAA should be coming soon.

7- Demetrio Crisantes, 2B (Prev. GH2, MLB Pipeline 7)

You can throw this season out the window as Crisantes in Diamondbacks prospect tradition got season ending shoulder surgery. Crisantes was solid with .773 OPS, 4 HR, 6 SB & .358 OBP in 123 AB. Battling elbow injuries in the past and officially getting shoulder surgery this year, Crisantes will take this season to get healthy and bounce back next Spring.

From this offseason: “Moving Crisantes up from 12 (12/6 release) to 2, currently the 2nd player ranked in top 100 on Baseball America for the D-backs, on a 57 game hitting streak right now, elite glove, he deserves to be #2.”

8- Kayson Cunningham, 2B (2025 1st round pick)

After the MLB combine I wrote about Cunningham and loved what I saw, so I’m a big fan of the Diamondbacks taking him 18th overall.

Was the SS for a stacked and draft filled team USA, wrote about him a couple weeks ago, high floor really athletic player, great feel for the zone, Perdomo like. This is a good spot to put the top draft pick.

9- Tommy Troy, SS (Prev. 17, MLB Pipeline 8)

Tommy Troy struggled last season and the book on him not hitting curveballs well came out. He’s bounced back from a .681 OPS 2024 to .832 this season. 10 HR and 16 SB are already career highs, so Troy is back on track. While he doesn’t flash the upside of Slade or Lawlar, Troy seems to be able to at least be a future bench infielder with some pop. Troy runs the bases well and plays solid defense, so the path to be a MLB player is there.

11- Daniel Eagen, RHP SP (Prev. GH27, MLB Pipeline 16)

14 GS, 2.60 ERA, 94 K’s in 69.1 IP, that plays! 6’4 RHP SP who throws mid 90’s has dominated High A ball and is my top pitching prospect for the Diamondbacks.

12- Cristian Mena, RHP SP (Prev. 10, MLB Pipeline 13)

Unfortunately Mena is injured again. Forearm strain last year and shoulder injury this year, my #2 Diamondbacks pitching prospect is in a rough spot. 4.61 and 4.84 ERA in 2 Reno seasons, Mena has flashed with the MLB team with 6.2 IP, 1 ER this year before the injury. Mena is no doubt a MLB SP, but probably a SP4.

13- Patrick Forbes, RHP SP (2025 29th overall pick)

9 K/9 as a SP, hard to not see a lot of Brandon Pfaadt in him with a fastball/sweeper combo, Forbes was pumping 98/99 consistently, slider has a lot of bite. Forbes may already be the best arm in the farm system…. I cannot stress enough how little pitching is in this farm system.

13.5 -TRADE- Brandyn Garcia, LHP (Via Seattle/Naylor trade, MLB Pipeline SEA 13)

So it begins, I didn’t see a Josh Naylor trade being 1st though. It’s no secret the Diamondbacks want to add pitching and a lot if it. I think Seattle made it clear they weren’t trading SP’s like Evans, Cijntje or Sloan so that ended the Geno talks. Also, the 1B market is so weak. Alonso struggled in FA. C Walk barely got $50M and he was a far better FA than what Naylor is. No lock for Naylor to get $50M (the amount he needs to sign for in order to get a Comp pick) so take this deal.

Brandyn Garcia is a 6’4 LHP who lives off 95-96 sinker and an above average cutter. The Diamondbacks have shown to love this profile. Burnes a cutter guy, they’re trying to teach Pfaadt a cutter and it’s helped get him back on track, Merrill’s got one in his arsenal too. Garcia has a 2.49 career MiLB ERA split between being a SP and then a full time RP in 2025. The sweeper is fine, the change-up is awful, so strides will need to be made there to become a SP. Gambo said the Diamondbacks view him as a RP and he will join the bullpen ASAP.

I still have Eagan, Forbes & Mena ahead of them because of their SP future value, but Garcia would become the top RP prospect for the D-Backs in my opinion as he has more upside than Backhus & Saalfrank at 6’4 & mid 90’s heater. The trio gives 3 unique looks from the left side in the bullpen, so I’m intrigued!

14- Jansel Luis, SS (Prev. GH11, MLB Pipeline 9)

Luis is a switch hitting SS who’s fully in A ball as a young 20 year old and hitting a solid .288. Luis is toolsy with speed, good glove and could add some pop as he gets bigger. Of the young players at this age, Luis has always looked the best to me in this group of prospects at Spring Training games but he is still hard to gauge this young.

Sidenote: The Diamondbacks farm system is weaker than ever. It gets really hard at this stage as there’s just not a lot of guys popping right now. The pitching is scary weak right now.

15- Kristian Robinson, OF (Prev. 34, MLB Pipeline Unranked)

K-Rob’s journey from top prospect to out of baseball to make in the minors for the Diamondbacks has been a rollercoaster, but he’s healthy and playing ball again and I love to see it. Here’s what Iw rote last year, “He’s a massive dude who hits the ball hard, but needs to improve on 36% K rate he posted last year”. It’s down to 30%, which is more manageable as he has 11 HR and 20 SB which are already near career highs. Still just 24!!! We’re trending in the right direction.

15.5 -TRADE- Ashton Izzi, RHP (Via Seattle/Naylor trade, MLB Pipeline SEA 16)

First off, great name. I view the Naylor trade as getting MLB ready LHP RP prospect/rookie + an extra 4th round pick in Ashton Izzi. As 2022 4th round pick himself, Izzi is still just 21 and pretty raw. Feels like drafting a 3/4 round college arm.

6’3 RHP who handled a 26 start 110.2 IP 2.85 ERA age 20 season, he like Garcia has 2 fastballs that play off each other well. 4 seamer with ride that he throws up in the zone, 2 seamer that he uses like a sinker. Sits 94-97 already. Izzi throws a sweeper that is his main off-speed pitch.

Izzi has the SP frame, stuff and durability that is rare in today’s game. Still 21 he’s an upside add in the farm system that desperately needs SP talent. There’s more upside in his game than Ray & Giesting, his success in the minors puts him ahead of newly drafted Curley for me too.

16- Dylan Ray, RHP SP (Prev. GH25, MLB Pipeline 20)

Dylan Ray is healthy and been really solid in AA. 10 GS 3.93 ERA with 53 K in 50.2 IP, Ray’s stuff wasn’t back last year with his stuff far below pre injury numbers, but he’s throwing harder and pitching better in 2025 as he won May organization pitcher of the month. Now promoted to AAA, Dylan Ray is healthy and could sneak into a SP5 spot soon. Ray won’t be a top of the rotation guy we dreamed on, but I think if he stays healthy he can be a MLB SP. He reminds me of Corbin Martin pre-injuries.

17- Spencer Giesting, LHP, SP (Prev. GH29, MLB Pipeline 18)

Like Ray, Giestling has been bumped up to AAA due to all these injuries. Giesting a 6’4 lefty would has continued to have success in the minors with 3.31 ERA last year, 154 K in 141.1 IP. He sits low 90’s with a strong sweeper, which makes me wonder if he’ll eventually be a LH RP with this 2 pitch mix. 3.67 ERA in 10 GS in AA before AAA Reno.

18- Brian Curley, RHP (2025 3rd Round Pick)

Brian Curley is a high spin rate pitcher with great curveball feel. He made a big velo jump into mid 90’s this season. He started the season as a closer, but joined the rotation and thrived in season in a loaded SEC. Only 5’9, he probably signs for less than slot value but could be a quick riser in the farm system. He’ll get a chance to start first, but he reminds me a Bryce Jarvis/Drey Jameson hybrid. Also, he went viral this season for this… he’s a high energy guy.

19- Kyle Backhus, LHP, RP (Prev. HM, MLB Pipeline Unranked)

I want to use this time to say Tim Tawa has aged out in my book of prospect rankings, (Henry, Jameson, Jarvis, Saalfrank, Blaze, Walston are aged out too), but Kyle Backhus I’ll keep in here. I had him as an honorable mention but he’s been really good in Reno and MLB this year. Crafty LHP RP, I think he’s stick.

20- Dean Livingston, RHP (2025 4th Round Pick)

My #3 player from this MLB draft, Livingston was ranked #95 by MLB Pipeline pre-draft. 6’3 Georgian HS kid pumping 97/98, big loose arm who just looks the part, big upside but HS pitchers are obviously riskiest draft profile.

21- Yilber Diaz, RHP, SP? RP Soon (Prev. GH5, MLB Pipeline 5)

Diaz has been horrible in Reno with a 11.20 ERA in 41 IP. Diaz needed to gain curveball control and some sort of 3rd pitch, which neither has happened this year. It’s got to be real tempting to move him to a RP and let him rip 2 pitches and be a RP. It’s a shame because Yilber really flashed in 2024 with 3.80 ERA in Reno and a couple appearances at MLB level. If a RP only, he could quickly become a 7/8 inning option…

22- Elian De La Cruz, OF (International Signee Jan, 2025)

$1.1 million signee, was ranked #27 in this international class by MLB Pipeline. Will appear in the DSL later in the summer.

23- Druw Jones, OF (Prev. GH4, MLBP 7)

I just don’t care about being an elite defender… all 30 teams can go get Christian Pache at any time yet nobody has him playing CF everyday. Druw Jones is still just 21 but after a promising Low-A ball season in 2024 w/ .409 OBP, 2025 has been bad. #2 overall picks shouldn’t struggle this bad 3 years into their career. The swing looks awful, just 3 HR in 331 AB… the glove and #2 overall pick probably gets him to the show one day for a couple AB’s but drastic changes are needed, you’re asking for a guy to pull a 180. Still 23rd because of the tools, but yikes.

24 Connor Foley, RHP (Prev. GH26, MLBP 23)

Just getting his career started, 20 K’s in 14 IP. Connor Foley signed over slot for $1 million (slot was $392,300). Ranked 106 by MLB Pipeline, Foley became a full time starter in 2024 and was able to throw 94/95 consistently while touching 99 at times. Foley is 6’5, 235, former HS TE and is extremely athletic for his size. Unlike most prospects, he has great feel and movement on his change-up, as the slider is still a work in progress.

There’s a large list of super young 20 or younger international players who are just breaking into pro ball. I’ll keep the write ups brief in this tier 25-29…

25- Yassel Soler, 3B (Prev. GH 19, MLBP 15)

Big power, but it takes awhile for it to start showing in minor league ball.

26- Cristofer Torin - SS (Prev. GH 20, MLBP 14)

Last year I had Torin & Luis ranked for a tie at 6/7. Luis flashed more with the bat, but Torin had a good year too. Torin slashed .255/.381/.344 at Low-A ball last year showcasing his ability to get on base but he’s always going to be a contact guy and just a solid not great glove.

27- Adriel Radney - OF (Prev. GH 8, MLBP 22)

Adriel Radney was a big time $1.85M international signing for the Diamondbacks in 2024. Ranked 10th in the 2024 class by MLB Pipeline, Radney has massive power and speed tools and could stay in CF in the minors. To me Radney is similar to the Slade Caldwell draft pick in upside and ranking and I can’t wait to see both play in 2025.

28- Gian Zapata - OF (Prev. GH 22, MLBP UNR)

Like ADLC, Zapata is big time international signing who’s 6’4 and even more athletic. The issue with a 6’4 19 year old is the swing takes time to smooth out. The Diamondbacks bounced Zapata from the DR to complex league in 2024, so he’s still very raw. I don’t want to lower him too much off last year since he’s barely played and still 19, but a good amount of international prospects leap him this year.

29- Yordin Chalas - RP (Prev. GH 14, MLBP 17)

Chalas has really struggled with control in 2025, but the arm has massive potential and juice. Here is what I wrote last offseason:

20 year old that throws upper 90’s already?? I’m in. Standing at 6’3, 72 K’s in 50.2 IP last year, RP prospects can fly through the minors. Here’s an absolutely hilarious video of Yordin Chalas ending an inning with a well… strikeout? But for real here’s a video of easy heat, as this aggressive ranking from me is really centered around having maybe the best fastball in the farm system at just 20 years old.

30- Jorge Barrosa, OF (Prev. GH18, MLBP 21)

Makes a great 4th OF, good speed, good glove, crushes AAA pitching, just a low ceiling at this point.

31- Gavin Conticello, 1B/OF (GH Unranked, MLB Pipeline 24)

Conticello is a really interesting prospect as he’s taken massive steps forward the last 2 years. In AA he has .394 OBP, 6 HR, but struggles vs LHP still. I love how much he’s improved each season, just a really good hitter, just a LH younger version of #32….

32- Tristin English, 1B/OF (GH Unranked, 18th year before, MLBP Unranked)

English has always put up stats at AAA and got a cup of coffee this year with MLB squad, could maybe be a platoon guy off the bench in the MLB.

33- Yu Min-Lin, LHP (GH 16, MLBP 11)

What I wrote last year: “Everyone loves Yu-Min Lin but he’s 5’10 160 ibs and throws 88-91. I just don’t know if someone throwing that softly can considered a legit MLB prospect? Yes he was just 20 last year and he was okay in AA (4.28 ERA rough 1.45 WHIP in 19 GS), but while some people hype up Lin to be future key rotation piece, I just don’t see it. Reno could be an incredibly difficult task for Lin in 2025, but I think Ryan Yarbrough is the ceiling here.”

Reno: 13 GS, 6.05 ERA, 58 IP, 65 H, 35 BB, 1.72 WHIP.

SIDENOTE: Joe Elbis - SP (GH15, 19 MLBP)

He’s currently on the restricted list which who knows if that’s good or bad… here’s from this offseason: “Joe Elbis was added to the 40 man roster this offseason to avoid the Rule 5 Draft. Elbis broke out in 2024 with 3.79 ERA, 1.19 WHIP in 24 GS over 135.1 IP between A/AA. Elbis sits low 90’s with a slider as his secondary pitch and AAA Reno will obviously be a big test, but Elbis was fantastic in 2024 and being protected by the Diamondbacks this offseason means he’s firmly on their radar too.”

34 Ivan Luciano - C (Prev. GH 42, MLBP 28)

Smooth left handed swing, solid behind the dish. Just turned 18 so he’s a long ways away, but there’s tools here. Solid .723 in his first sample of pro ball.

35 Roman Angelo - RHP - (Prev. GH 44, MLBP 26)

6’5 24 year old who has put together a strong 2024 with 151 K’s in 121.1 IP, 3.39 ERA in A ball. 6.30 ERA in AA but big arm still has a lot of potential.

36 Kyle Amendt - RP (Prev. GH37, MLBP UNR)

Out for the season, but you gotta respect his strong 2025 in Reno. Low 90’s guy with great deception, got hit hard in the Arizona Fall League though. It’s a tough Dylan Floro type profile which i hate, but he’s had a lot of success in the minors and probably will get MLB looks in 2025.

37 Ricardo Yan - SP (Prev. GH37, MLBP UNR)

Yan had a strong 2023 with 138 K's in 103.2 IP, but took a step back in 2024 with a rotator cuff strain limiting him to just 9 GS. 6'4 plus sweeper is still incredibly interesting.

38 Abdias De La Cruz - OF (Prev. GH 21, MLBP UNR)

Last offseason: “ADLC is a really fun prospect who’s 6’3, slashed 301/.399/.435 in rookie ball with 14.3% walk rate and 20.5% K rate (both great). While he didn’t homer last year he’s a big kid with great bat to ball skills, so that could come in time.”

He’s had a slow start to 2025 but still just 20.

Just going to rip off 12 more to get to 50:

39 Austin Pope, RHP (Prev. Honorable Mention)

Just 5 IP in Reno this year but healthy now, RHP RP, 70K in 56.2 IP last year in Reno.

40 Landon Sims, RHP (Prev. 13)

Finally healthy but hasn’t been able to fully regain his college stuff or dominate AA.

41 Jose Cabrera, RHP (Prev. UNR, MLBP 25-last MLBP guy)

Same boat as Angelo, hit a wall in AA right now. Really intriguing stuff though.

42 Hayden Durke, RHP (Prev. Honorable Mention)

RHP, 22, 13th round pick in 2023, mid 90’s fastball, 12-6 curve

43 Jacob Steinmetz - SP (Honorable Mention Last Year)

Steinmetz broke out in 2024 making 23 starts between Low-A & High-A finishing with 113 K in 107 IP and a 4.01 ERA. At 6’6, Steinmetz has plenty of potential and projectability to continue to develop at just age 21 next year. He throws a ton of strikes consistently and his slider was even hitting 88+ last year. Injured right now.

44 Christian Montes de Oca RHP (Prev. Honorable Mention)

Threw the ball well in Rneo but got hurt in MLB debut.

45 Ivan Melendez 1B (Prev. 49th)

Last year I wrote: “I’ve always been really concerned about Ivan Melendez as he consistently had 35%+ K rates. To Melendez credit he lowered it to 30% last year in AA, but just 22 HR as someone who is a terrible defender is tough. The Diamondbacks refused to all up DDLS last year and traded him when he hit 40 HR in AAA, so Melendez will have to somehow top that while still lowering his K rate. I just don’t see it still.” K rate in now in the high 20’s, OPS over .800, encouraging steps forward but like I said, DDLS never got a call up, Hazen doesn’t like this profile.

46 Christian Cerda C (Prev. 41st)

Return for David Peralta a couple years ago, .745 OPS in AA, glove behind the dish still a work in progress.

47 Jose Fernandez 3B (Prev. Honorable Mention)

Big 6’4 3B, 21 years old, good glove but bat has been average.

48 Avery Short LHP

LHP, 12 GS, 3.84 ERA in AA.

49 Jose Alpuria OF

Toolsy 19 year old CF

50 AJ Vukovich OF

Stalled out in AAA, power/speed combo still.

-Goldy Happens