With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where Arizona’s Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:
- Jordan Lawlar (MLB No. 11), SS -- Reno (Triple-A)
- Demetrio Crisantes, INF -- Hillsboro (High-A)
- Slade Caldwell, OF -- Visalia (Single-A)
- Yilber Diaz, RHP -- Reno (Triple-A)
- Adrian Del Castillo, C -- Reno (Triple-A) -- IL (right shoulder strain)
- Ryan Waldschmidt, OF -- Hillsboro (High-A)
- Druw Jones, OF -- Hillsboro (High-A)
- Tommy Troy, 2B/SS -- Amarillo (Double-A)
- Jansel Luis, INF -- Hillsboro (High-A)
- LuJames Groover, INF -- Amarillo (Double-A)
- Yu-Min Lin, LHP -- Extended Spring Training
- JD Dix, SS -- Extended Spring Training
- Cristian Mena, RHP -- Reno (Triple-A)
- Cristofer Torin, SS/2B -- Hillsboro (High-A)
- Yassel Soler, 3B -- Visalia (Single-A)
- Daniel Eagen, RHP -- Hillsboro (High-A)
- Yordin Chalas,RHP -- Hillsboro (High-A)
- Spencer Giesting, LHP -- Amarillo (Double-A)
- Joe Elbis, RHP -- Amarillo (Double-A) -- IL
- Dylan Ray, RHP -- Amarillo (Double-A)
- Jorge Barrosa, OF -- Reno (Triple-A)
- Adriel Radney, OF -- Dominican Republic extended Spring Training
- Connor Foley, RHP -- Visalia (Single-A)
- Gavin Conticello, OF -- Amarillo (Double-A)
- Tim Tawa, UTIL -- Reno (Triple-A)
- Roman Angelo, RHP -- Amarillo (Double-A)
- Alberto Barriga, C -- Visalia (Single-A)
- Ivan Luciano, C -- Extended Spring Training
- Elian De La Cruz, OF -- Dominican Republic extended Spring Training
- Blake Walston, LHP -- Arizona (MLB) -- IL (Tommy John surgery)
Team to watch
Seven of the D-backs’ top 17 prospects will open with High-A Hillsboro, including most notably infielder Crisantes -- a career .342 hitter in the Minors’ lowest levels. He is knocking on the door of the Top 100. Luis and Torin give the Hops additional talent on the dirt, while the grass will bring ample interest as well with recent top picks Jones and Waldschmidt. Keep an eye on Chalas, a 21-year-old right-hander who touches the 90s with his heater and has worked on adding a splinker this offseason.
Players we could see in MLB in 2025
Now healthy after a limited 2024, Lawlar will try to find his way back to Arizona after making the club’s postseason roster in ‘23. He’ll move around the infield to find a place with shortstop Geraldo Perdomo earning an extension in the offseason. Del Castillo (currently out with a right shoulder strain) brings plenty of power to the D-backs’ catching depth and could be an option quickly for manager Torey Lovullo once healthy. Diaz has three plus pitches to be an impact arm after making seven appearances (four starts) for the big league club last year. Lin, Mena and Ray could also be part of the pitching equation from the upper Minors.
New faces
Top 2024 pick Caldwell makes his professional debut at the Single-A level after not playing in an official Minor League game last year. The 18-year-old outfielder comes from the Corbin Carroll school of small Arizona outfielders as a 5-foot-9, left-handed hitter with plus-plus speed. Third-rounder Eagen and fifth-rounder Foley will similarly debut with Hillsboro and Visalia, respectively. Shortstop Dix (the 35th overall pick) will be held back in extended Spring Training as he awaits his official Minor League bow.
On the shelf
Del Castillo is likely to miss at least one month with his right shoulder strain. Lin is still being built up after a delayed arrival in Spring Training due to a military obligation back home in Taiwan. Walston underwent Tommy John surgery on March 26 and will miss the entire 2025 season as a result.