It’s clear the Arizona Diamondbacks have one of the best farm systems in baseball with the work General Manager Mike Hazen has done. Hazen has been able to rebuild the team while staying competitive at major league level. Arizona has acquired top prospects through trades and developed their own. Some top prospects were invited to be part of the team’s taxi squad during the unusual 2020 MLB season. Not all of those prospects reported to the taxi squad, but it shows how talented their prospects are.
With the restructuring of the minor leagues, some prospects will be returning to cities they played at in lower levels. A number of those players are those currently at the Low-A full season level. This includes players such as Corbin Carroll and Kristian Robinson. Carroll and Robinson will most likely start out with the Low-A Visalia Rawhide before returning to the High-A Hillsboro Hops. Hillsboro was previously at Single-A Short Season level until the restructuring took place during pandemic extended off-season.
Other Players to Watch
Expect Tristin English (28), Ryne Nelson (24), Matt Tabor (21), Drey Jameson (19) and Bryce Jarvis (7) each at their respective ranking to start in Visalia. If they can grow their game and produce at consistent pace, there’s a chance English, Nelson, Tabor and Jameson also return to Hillsboro like those mentioned above. Those four each spent time at Single-A Short Season level in 2019 with Hillsboro.
Blaze Alexander (16) is another prospect worth keeping your eye on. In 2019 he spent 97 games with Low-A Kane County where he batted .262. In those 97 games he drove in 47 RBIs, seven home runs, four triples, 12 doubles and total of 90 hits. With that type of production one might expect him to start at High-A Hillsboro this spring.
Luis Frias (8) dominated from the mound during his time at Single-A Short Season level with Hillsboro. He posted 1.99 ERA in ten games with Hillsboro ending the season with a 3-3 record. However, after getting promoted to Low-A full season level he struggled a bit despite posting 3-1 record. In six games played, he posted a 4.39 ERA. Expect Frias to start the season with the Low-A Visalia Rawhide. If he can drop his ERA back to similar level from his Single-A Short Season days, expect him to find his way back to Hillsboro with them now at High-A level.
Couple Notable Prospects
Right below Kristian Robinson, Arizona’s number two prospect Alek Thomas is definitely somebody to keep your eye on. Thomas spent 91 games with Kane County in 2019 where he batted .312 before moving up to High-A Visalia where he batted .255. In 23 games with Visalia he collected seven RBIs, two home runs, two doubles and total of 24 hits. Expect him to start the season with High-A Hillsboro this spring.
There’s one player that isn’t talked about too much, but produces consistently and the Hillsboro Hops wish they had him. Seth Beer (14) came over to the Diamondbacks organization in the trade centered about starting pitcher Zack Greinke. Beer spent 87 games at the Double-A level in 2019 batting .299 with Houston’s affiliate, the Corpus Christi Hooks. With Arizona’s affiliate, the Jackson Generals his average dropped slightly to .205. However, if he can stay at a consistent pace or even improve, look for him to be key contributor with their new affiliate, the Amarillo Sod Poodles this season and possibly even move up to the Triple-A Reno Aces.
What Have We Learned?
Arizona has many prospects who once they grow their skillset and have well rounded game will be able to contribute well at major league level. If players stay healthy and teams gel, expect Arizona’s top prospects to rise through the rankings at a good pace. If we’ve learned anything, it’s that Hazen knows how to develop top prospects. He knows how to stock the farm system while also fielding a competitive team at major league level.
