This story was excerpted from Steve Gilbert's D-backs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

I would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season and all the best for a happy and healthy 2024. Speaking of 2024, with Spring Training rapidly approaching, it’s time to start looking ahead.

PHOENIX -- As far as seasons go, 2023 is one that the D-backs and their fans will remember for quite some time thanks to Arizona’s magical ride to the World Series.

After bottoming out with 110 losses in 2021, the D-backs improved in 2022 and were expected to take another step forward in 2023. Instead, they took a giant leap. Chase Field was once again packed in October and the state’s love affair with its team was rekindled.

As fun as it was for the fans, the players enjoyed seeing the stadium full as excitement spread throughout the Valley.

As the calendar gets ready to flip to 2024, it’s time to look ahead at what the D-backs still need to get done before pitchers and catchers report to Salt River Fields and another season begins. Here are some things to keep in mind when thinking of the coming season:

Biggest question to answer before Spring Training
The D-backs have done an outstanding job of filling in areas they identified as needs so far this offseason, but one question remains: Will they find themselves a designated hitter?

Over the last three seasons, the D-backs have been content to rotate players through the DH spot, using it as a way of giving some players a partial day off, but even with the return of Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Arizona is still in the hunt for another bat that can be plugged in as the everyday DH.

One player poised to have a breakout season
From his first game in the big leagues, it was clear that playing center field was not going to be a problem for Alek Thomas. With his speed, fearlessness and ability to get good reads on balls off the bat, Thomas has been a human highlight reel on defense.

Offensively, it has been more of a challenge for Thomas at times, but after a demotion to Triple-A Reno -- where he made some adjustments to his approach during the 2023 season -- Thomas began to hit better. The postseason was a coming-out party of sorts for him as he hit four homers, including a crucial game-tying blast in Game 4 of the NLCS.

Prospect to watch in 2024
The D-backs called up their top prospect, Jordan Lawlar, in September just before a crucial series against the Cubs in Chicago. Lawlar saw limited action the rest of the month and in the postseason, and it was a struggle for him at the plate.

In 31 at-bats, Lawlar managed just four hits, but he did play outstanding defense, answering any questions scouts had about his ability at shortstop.

Whether Lawlar starts the season in the big leagues or at Triple-A Reno, the D-backs feel like he benefited greatly from being around during the postseason run and they expect him to be a significant contributor at some point in 2024.

One prediction for the new year
For the first time since 2001-02, the D-backs will appear in the postseason in back-to-back years.

Arizona’s young players flashed their potential in 2023, and with a year of experience under their collective belts, they should be ready to take another step forward. Combine that with the additions that the team has made this offseason, and it seems reasonable to expect the D-backs to be back in the postseason.

And as they showed this past year, once you get in, anything can happen.