Welcome to the D-backs Beat Newsletter! I’m Steve Gilbert and I’ve been writing about the D-backs since 1998. |
As a medium-to-small market team, the Diamondbacks need to have a steady flow of young players if they hope to continue to be successful. Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo, Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy, just to name a few, have broken through in recent years. The good news for the Diamondbacks is that there are more on the way. Let's take a look at the state of the system: 3 players who forced their way onto the radar this year OF Ryan Waldschmidt (D-backs' No. 1 prospect/No. 66 in MLB) Taken with the 31st overall pick in the 2024 Draft, the one Arizona received for Carroll winning the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year Award, Waldschmidt started at High-A Hillsboro and rose to Double-A Amarillo in 2025 and should be one of the organization's non-roster invitees to Spring Training next year. Waldschmidt hit a combined .289 with 27 doubles, four triples, 18 homers and 78 RBIs with 29 stolen bases in 134 games for Hillsboro and Amarillo, and his 96 walks ranked second in the Minor Leagues. While his offensive numbers get well-deserved attention, especially the way he controls the strike zone, the Diamondbacks were pleased with his defense. He got some looks in center in Amarillo and showed he might be able to stick there. |
RHP Daniel Eagen (No. 13) A third-round selection in the 2024 Draft, Eagen was named the organization's Pitcher of the Year. He opened the season with Hillsboro and was dominant in 19 starts, earning him Northwest League Pitcher of the Year honors along with a promotion to Amarillo. "He did a really good job in Hillsboro of leveraging his breaking stuff, showing the swing-and-miss ability," Arizona farm director Chris Slivka said. "He developed a changeup too, a playable fourth pitch that is only continuing to improve." C Carlos Virahonda (No. 24) After two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, the 19-year-old Virahonda opened 2025 in the Arizona Complex League, where he slashed .347/.464/.455 and earned a promotion to Single-A Visalia. "There's a lot to be excited about with his defensive ability," Slivka said. "He has an above-average arm. He has a very high aptitude and instincts for the game behind the plate, and then his bat-to-ball ability and his hit ability is something that stands out as well." |
2 possible breakout players to watch in 2026 SS Cristofer Torin (No. 19) Just 20 years old, Torin advanced all the way to Amarillo this year, showing the kind of attributes at the plate that the Diamondbacks love to see in their prospects. He held his own offensively at High-A Hillsboro, a pitcher-friendly league, and took off offensively when he was promoted to Amarillo during the final week of the season to help the Sod Poodles make the playoffs. "He's an exceptional defender at shortstop," Slivka said. "He has excellent bat-to-ball ability, really good feel for the strike zone, manages his at-bats well. He plays the game with a high level of aptitude. He has a good feel for situational plays, and he's a winning player." RHP David Hagaman (No. 15) The Diamondbacks acquired Hagaman from the Rangers in the Trade Deadline deal that sent Merrill Kelly to Texas, and he is currently pitching in the Arizona Fall League. The Rangers picked Hagaman in the 2024 Draft despite him having undergone the Tommy John internal brace procedure, which delayed his pro debut until June. "He's shown us a lot to like," Slivka said. "He features a four-pitch mix with a slider, changeup and a curveball as well. The curveball is an addition to his mix after arriving here, and it really was a game-changer in his profile. It's a power curveball that has a swing-and-miss ability. It's looking like a well-rounded starter arsenal." |
1 big question for next year: Which Minor Leaguer will have the biggest impact at the big league level? Waldschmidt could be the guy -- as could Tommy Troy (No. 5) -- who was drafted in the first round in 2023 as a shortstop and has played some second base and outfield in the Minors. Infielder LuJames Groover (No. 10), who impressed during Spring Training last year and played well at Amarillo, is another possibility. Left-handed pitchers Kohl Drake (No. 6) and Mitch Bratt (No. 9), both of whom came over in the Kelly deal, could break out on the pitching side, as could Dylan Ray or Landon Sims. There are a lot of candidates, which bodes well for the future. |
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