Starling Peralta

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #26 prospect in 2013
  Peralta spent three years in the Cubs' Dominican Summer League program before making his U.S. debut in 2011, starting with three games in Rookie ball before jumping to low Class A Peoria. He returned to Peoria in 2012 with better results after an early season hand injury, holding hitters to a .199 average in the second half. The Diamondbacks selected Peralta in the Rule 5 draft during the 2012 Winter Meetings when Chicago left the lanky righthander off the 40-man roster in his first year of eligibility. His fastball averages 94 mph and gets as high as 97. He pitches with a short-arm, upright delivery that is not loose and leads to command issues. Peralta tends to get slider happy at times instead of trusting the fastball, but the slider has the potential to be an average pitch. His third pitch is a below-average changeup that he seldom uses. With a two-pitch mix and effectiveness against righthanders, Peralta profiles better as a bullpen arm, and he'll attempt to make the Arizona roster in that role. The Diamondbacks have a history of making trades to retain Rule 5 picks they like and may do so again if he impresses during spring training. They can't send him to the minors in 2013 without exposing him to waivers and offering him back to the Cubs for half of his $50,000 draft price.