Here’s the D-backs’ new Top 30 Prospects list
Steve Gilbert
@SteveGilbertMLBThe preseason top prospect for the D-backs, outfielder Alek Thomas, is already in the big leagues, and the man who replaces him now at the top of the list in MLB Pipeline’s updated Top 30 prospects list, outfielder Corbin Carroll, is likely not far behind.
Carroll hammered Double-A pitching while with Amarillo to start the year and he has continued that production at Triple-A Reno. An outstanding defender with tremendous speed, Carroll has an advanced approach at the plate. At this point, it seems more a matter of when he’s called up this year rather than if the team will wait until 2023.
MLB Pipeline has released a new Top 100 prospects list, and that includes four Arizona prospects. The Top 30 list for the D-backs includes four of their picks from the most recent MLB Draft.
Here’s a look at the D-backs top prospects:
1. Corbin Carroll, OF (MLB No. 3)
2. Druw Jones, OF (MLB No. 12)
3. Jordan Lawlar, SS (MLB No. 13)
4. Brandon Pfaadt, RHP (MLB No. 95)
5. Blake Walston, LHP
Complete Top 30 list »
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:
Jump: Deyvison De Los Santos (Preseason: 11 | Midseason: 6) -- De Los Santos has moved up from Single-A Visalia to High-A Hillsboro and continues to mash the ball. There were questions about whether he could stick at third or would eventually have to move to first, but while he has seen time at first this year, he is also still playing more at third.
Fall: Ryan Bliss, SS (Preseason: 13 | Midseason: 27) -- It’s been a struggle at the plate this year for Bliss with his strikeouts rising. He has continued to show great speed on the bases.
New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:
2. Druw Jones, OF (1st round, 2nd overall in 2022 MLB Draft)
7. Landon Sims, RHP (Competitive Balance round A)
10. Ivan Melendez, 1B (2nd round)
26. Nate Savino, LHP (3rd round)
Impact callup
Does Arizona need to call up its top prospect for the final weeks of the season? Probably not. Do they historically like challenging Carroll? You bet, including his assignments to Double-A and Triple-A this season. Carroll has handled Reno well already, hitting .297/.420/.505 with four homers and a near-even 22/17 K/BB ratio through 23 games, and he could certainly play a quality center field in the Majors right now. Calling up Carroll could give the 21-year-old a taste of The Show before another offseason of preparation and help him take the league by storm for a full campaign in 2023.
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 65 -- Corbin Carroll
Power: 65 -- Deyvison De Los Santos
Run: 70 -- Druw Jones (Corbin Carroll)
Arm: 70 -- Blaze Alexander
Field: 70 -- Druw Jones
Fastball: 65 -- Drey Jameson (Landon Sims, Luis Frias)
Curveball: 60 -- Blake Walston (Luis Frias)
Slider: 70 -- Landon Sims
Changeup: 60 -- Brandon Pfaadt (Drey Jameson, Yu-Min Lin, Bryce Jarvis)
Control: 60 -- Joe Elbis