2017 Arizona Diamondbacks Midseason Top 10 Prospects

Diamondbacks Midseason Top 10

1. Anthony Banda, LHP

2. Pavin Smith, 1B

3. Jon Duplantier, RHP

4. Jazz Chisholm, SS

5. Domingo Leyba, 2B/SS

6. Taylor Clarke, RHP

7. Marcus Wilson, OF

8. Jhoan Duran, RHP

9. Drew Ellis, 3B

10. Daulton Varsho, C

A management team led by general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo has breathed new life into a Diamondbacks franchise that hasn’t had a winning record since 2011, also the last time it reached the postseason. The D-backs entered the All-Star Break with a 53-36 record, third-best in baseball, thanks to an improved pitching staff and a more resilient offensive attack. While the Dodgers were running away with the National League West, the Diamondbacks are a favorite to at least capture one of the two NL wild card slots.

The improvement of Robbie Ray, now considered one of the top southpaws in the game, and the return to form of ace Zack Greinke has helped the staff achieve the second-best ERA (3.41) in the majors at the break. The bullpen was also noticeably better, in part due to the decision to move one-time top prospect Archie Bradley to relief, as well as the economical offseason signings of Fernando Rodney, T.J. McFarland, J.J. Hoover and Jorge De La Rosa. Improved roster construction further allowed the team to weather injuries to outfielders A.J. Pollock and Yasmany Tomas and starting pitcher Shelby Miller.

Four D-backs—Paul Goldschmidt, Jake Lamb, Ray and Greinke—were named to the All-Star Game, the most Arizona selectees since 2002.

With a playoff berth in sight and fan enthusiasm on the rise, the D-backs already made one deadline move, acquiring slugger J.D. Martinez from the Tigers in exchange for three prospects. They are in position to make further moves if they choose, but their payroll limitations, with a large chunk of their payroll going to Greinke, will hamper them somewhat.

Even so, the Diamondbacks have already vaulted from one of baseball’s worst teams to one of the best in one year, as remarkable a turnaround as any in the game this season.

1. Anthony Banda, LHP
Triple-A Reno
Age: 23

Banda began the year out of rhythm from big league camp and took time to adjust in his return to hitter-friendly Reno. He left too many pitches over the plate early but has shown better poise and is cutting back on walks. Banda sits 92-95 mph with his fastball, touching as high as 98, with a curveball that flashes plus and at least an average changeup. The Diamondbacks are reaping the rewards of being patient with Robbie Ray, another hard-throwing lefty who took a few seasons to fine-tune his command, and hope Banda is following a similar development arc.

2. Pavin Smith, 1B
Short-season Hillsboro
Age: 21

Smith was the best pure hitter in this draft for some scouts, and the D-backs drafted him No. 7 overall and signed him for just over $5 million. The Virginia product possesses a picturesque lefthanded stroke and swings and misses so rarely he had more had more home runs (13) than strikeouts (12) his junior season. Defensively, Smith has soft hands and sound footwork at first base. He is athletic enough to handle a corner outfield spot, but the Diamondbacks will play him at first for the foreseeable future.

3. Jon Duplantier, RHP
High Class A Visalia
Age: 22

Duplantier pitched sparingly in 2016 due to injury and fatigue but was a dynamo this year, posting a 1.24 ERA in 72.2 innings with 45 hits allowed at low A Kane County to earn a Futures Game selection and a promotion. Duplantier lowered his arm angle and added a slider in the offseason, giving him a well-rounded four-pitch mix with a boost.

4. Jazz Chisholm, SS
Low Class A Kane County
Age: 19

The Bahamas native earned his first full-season assignment after an impressive spring training, but his year was cut short by season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus in May. Chisholm showed confidence and flair but was also mistake-prone because he tried to do too much in his 29-game showing this year. He is expected to be ready for next season.

5. Domingo Leyba, 2B/SS
Double-A Jackson
Age: 21

Leyba injured his shoulder in spring training and did not make his season debut until June 15. The switch-hitter started out slowly but still shows the ability to barrel the ball from both sides at a young age. Leyba remains a shortstop presently, but most scouts believe his arm is better suited for second base in the long-term.

6. Taylor Clarke, RHP
Double-A Jackson
Age: 24

After zooming through three levels of the system in 2016 in his first full season, Clarke has settled nicely into the rotation at Double-A. Often referred to as a model of consistency, Clarke commands all his pitches, including a downhill 91-94 mph fastball, a solid-average slider with downer action and an improving changeup. He is athletic and fields his position well.

7. Marcus Wilson, OF
Low Class A Kane County
Age: 20

From the time he was drafted in 2014, Wilson was expected to need up to three years of short-season ball, so his standout first full season is right on target. The key for Wilson has been much-improved pitch recognition and better plate discipline. Always on the slender side, Wilson has added strength and gotten more physical this year while not losing the plus speed he needs to patrol center field.

8. Jhoan Duran, RHP
Short-season Hillsboro
Age: 19

The 19-year-old Dominican was one of the stars of extended spring training and may have the highest-ceiling arm in the organization. Duran has the athleticism to throw his pitches for strikes with a free and easy delivery, and his 92-97 mph fastball with late life should approach triple digits as he adds strength to his slender frame. Duran is already showing the ability to handle short-season ball and could get a shot at full-season ball later this summer.

9. Drew Ellis, 3B
Short-season Hillsboro
Age: 21

Ellis was a key contributor on a Louisville team that went to the College World Series, delivering a slash line of .355/.448/.701 and a team-leading 20 homers, before signing as the D-backs’ second-round pick. Ellis split time at the infield corners at Louisville but will concentrate on the hot corner to start, where he has shown smooth footwork and an accurate arm with a quick release.

10. Daulton Varsho, C
Short-season Hillsboro
Age: 21

The son of former big league outfielder Gary Varsho was a third-team All-American at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the Diamondbacks made him the 68th overall pick in June. Varsho is an athletic, lefthanded hitter with pull power and bat speed who is expected to hit for power. He blocks and receives well, but improving his below-average arm will be a focal point of his development.

RISING

• RHP Mason McCullough saw his stuff back up last year but returned to high Class A Visalia this season pumping a heavy 96-97 mph fastball and explosive slider in relief. He was promoted to Double-A and is fanning more than 15 batters per nine innings.

• 1B Kevin Cron hit .187 in the Arizona Fall League last year and afterwards put in the work to tighten his approach and look for better pitches to hit. The result has been a .288/.382/.525 line and 17 home runs just past the midpoint of the season at Double-A.

• RHP Jimmie Sherfy has dominated as Reno’s closer with a 1.39 ERA, 12 saves in 13 opportunities, and a 41-to-3 strikeout-to-walk mark in 32.1 innings.

FALLING

• OF Anfernee Grier is fully recovered from a shoulder injury that limited him to DH duty last year but hasn’t hit for power as a pro. Scouts who don’t see future power projection believe he could wind up as a fourth outfielder, at best.

• RHP Brad Keller’s walk rate has more than doubled in Double-A as he struggles to keep his 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame in sync.

• C Ryan January showed a promising lefthanded power bat in his pro debut in 2016 but has yet to play this season after a 50-game suspension for the banned stimulant Amphetamine.

HURTING

• C Jose Herrera has been hurt every year since he was Arizona’s top international signee in 2013 and is out until early August with a sprained ankle.

• RHP Matt Koch missed more than two months with a shoulder impingement but returned in late June.

• LHP Steve Hathaway is on the 60-day disabled list with shoulder bursitis.

GRADUATING

• OF Socrates Brito is two at-bats away from exhausting his prospect eligibility.