Nick Ahmed

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #10 prospect in 2015
  A college teammate of the Astros' George Springer and Red Sox farmhand Matt Barnes, Ahmed was one of five players the Diamondbacks got from the Braves in the 2013 Justin Upton trade. Regarded as one of the top defensive shortstops in the minors, the Connecticut product struggled at the plate in his first season with the Diamondbacks organization in 2013, but took advantage of hitter-happy conditions at Triple-A Reno in 2014. Ahmed made his big league debut as an emergency callup in July and returned in September after Reno's playoff run ended. No one doubts Ahmed's ability to play shortstop at a plus level. He can be a game-changer with the glove, with soft hands, a strong, accurate arm and a quick release. He has a quick first step and makes virtually all the routine plays. He's an above-average runner who can steal a base. His approach at the plate improved in 2014 when he lowered his hands and created a better path to the zone, allowing his swing to make better contact and generate more line-drive pop. He doesn't have much power but can drive balls into the gap. Ahmed profiles best as a light-hitting regular shortstop with Gold Glove-caliber defense. He increased his versatility by showing that he could also handle second base. He'll challenge Chris Owings and Cliff Pennington for the everyday job in Arizona, likely heading back to Reno at least to start the 2015 season.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #18 prospect in 2014
  A Braves second-round pick in 2011, Ahmed is another in the bundle of players received by the Diamondbacks in the January 2013 Justin Upton trade. Regarded as one of the best defensive shortstops in the minors, he struggled mightily with the bat at Double-A Mobile over the first two months of 2013 before righting the ship and hitting .284/.326/.404 in the final three months. Scouts who believe in Ahmed think he'll hit enough to contribute at the big league level because he's athletic, drives the ball with his hips and has good bat speed. Others see too much weak contact to project his bat as anything but well below-average. Ahmed is a plus defender at shortstop with soft hands, a strong, accurate arm and a quick release. He's an above-average runner with plenty of first-step quickness. He also shows good instincts on the bases, having swiped 26 bags in 2013 and 40 the year before. Ahmed has good makeup and draws comparisons with former Diamondbacks shortstop John McDonald, who carved out a long career with a similar skillset. Ahmed will move to Triple-A Reno for 2014, but with a lot of shortstops ahead of him in the organization he'll likely spend the whole season there.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #11 prospect in 2013
  Ahmed had an outstanding first full pro season in 2012 at high Class A Lynchburg. He led the Carolina League in runs (84), doubles (36), steals (40) and fielding percentage at shortstop (.963). Managers rated him the fastest baserunner and best defensive shortstop in the CL, and he capped the year by leading Lynchburg to the league title by going 4-for-5 with three doubles in the deciding contest against Winston-Salem. Ahmed has great first-step quickness and above-average speed that give him outstanding lateral range at shortstop. He has soft hands and enhances his solid arm strength with a quick release and good accuracy. Ahmed is adept at working the count and can drive the ball but strikes out too much because he chases pitches up in the strike zone. He needs to use the opposite field more often and improve upon his bunting ability to increase his on-base percentage. Ahmed is a gritty player who proved his toughness by coming back quickly from a collapsed lung during his draft year at Connecticut. He continued to excel in the Arizona Fall League and will make the jump to Double-A in 2013. Andrelton Simmons looms as a significant obstacle ahead of him in Atlanta.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #15 prospect in 2012
  The fifth college shortstop taken in the 2011 draft, Ahmed went 85th overall and signed for $417,600. He attracted attention thanks in part to Connecticut teammates George Springer and Matt Barnes, both first-round selections, but also added impressive size and strength last offseason thanks to physical maturation and dedication in the weight room. A high-energy player, Ahmed showed his toughness last spring by returning quickly from a collapsed lung he suffered during a collision at first base. He's a good athlete with plus arm strength and a quick release that generated 91-94 mph heat as a reliever during his sophomore season at UConn. A smart defender with solid range, he positions himself well with his quick feet and ability to read hops. While he makes most of the routine plays, he doesn't possess the smoothest infield actions and looks awkward on occasion. Offensively, he manages the strike zone well, generates walks and has solid speed. He doesn't drive the ball consistently and can struggle against quality fastballs. Ahmed has a chance to be a regular at shortstop but may profile better as a utility player. He'll open his first full pro season in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #19 prospect in 2014
  Ahmed came to the Diamondbacks in the deal that brought Justin Upton to Atlanta in January 2013. Long regarded as one of the best defensive shortstops in the minors for his athleticism, range and arm strength, he had struggled with the bat until this season. Calling hitter-friendly Reno his home park, Ahmed far surpassed his career norms. He improved his contact and line-drive rates, and his manager Phil Nevin pointed to adjustments made by Ahmed. "He changed his hand position, lowered his hands and created a better path to the zone," Nevin said. "That created more power. Everybody talks about (hitting in) Reno, but he hit one (of his four home runs) in Fresno . . He's hit a lot of doubles, had a lot of big hits. He's an everyday big league shortstop." As for his defense, Nevin called Ahmed "the best shortstop I've seen since Omar Vizquel. The plays he made, he's a game-changer with his glove. There's not any manager in our division who will argue that."
• 
  Ranked Carolina League #13 prospect in 2012
  Ahmed saved his best game of the season for his last, lifting Lynchburg to the league title by going 4-for-5 with three doubles and making several key plays at shortstop in an extra-inning win over Winston-Salem. That capped a fine first full pro season in which he led the CL in runs (84), doubles (36), steals (40) and fielding percentage at shortstop (.963). Ahmed is particularly impressive in the field and on the basepaths. He uses his above-average speed and first-step quickness to steal bases and cover plenty of ground to both sides at shortstop. His strong arm plays up because of his quick release and throwing accuracy. Offensively, Ahmed was at his best early in the season when he worked counts to get a pitch he could drive. He began swinging for the fences and chasing high fastballs in the second half. He has enough bat speed to pull a fastball but needs to focus on taking offspeed pitches the other way and improving his bunting skills to better utilize his speed.
• 
  Ranked National League #18 prospect in 2011
  Most every scouting director got a look at Ahmed this spring, because his Connecticut teammates George Springer and Matt Barnes went 11th and 19th overall in the 2011 draft. Ahmed batted .326 in 51 games for the Huskies this spring, rebounding from a collapsed lung suffered in a collision at first base in April. Scouts admired the grittiness required to return from serious injury, and Atlanta made him the fourth college shortstop drafted, taking him with the 85th pick. Ahmed does most things well but nothing great. His solid-average running speed, steady defensive play and strike-zone management are his greatest assets. He draws walks but may not hit much more than .260--and with below-average power--because he often seemed overmatched by good fastballs. Ahmed makes all the routine plays at shortstop because he positions himself well to get good hops. His range and arm grade as at least average, his feet are quick and so is his release. His actions are far from classic, however, and Appy League managers picked up on the awkwardness just as amateur scouts did.

• December, 2013 Scouting Report
  Ahmed came to the Diamondbacks in the deal that brought Justin Upton to Atlanta in January 2013. Long regarded as one of the best defensive shortstops in the minors for his athleticism, range and arm strength, he had struggled with the bat until this season. Calling hitter-friendly Reno his home park, Ahmed far surpassed his career norms. He improved his contact and line-drive rates, and his manager Phil Nevin pointed to adjustments made by Ahmed. "He changed his hand position, lowered his hands and created a better path to the zone," Nevin said. "That created more power. Everybody talks about (hitting in) Reno, but he hit one (of his four home runs) in Fresno . . He's hit a lot of doubles, had a lot of big hits. He's an everyday big league shortstop." As for his defense, Nevin called Ahmed "the best shortstop I've seen since Omar Vizquel. The plays he made, he's a game-changer with his glove. There's not any manager in our division who will argue that."