Finally Healthy, Diamondbacks’ Demetrio Crisantes Breaks Out
After tearing his elbow ligament in 2020, shortstop Demetrio Crisantes tore it again two years later.
Both injuries happened while Crisantes was still at Nogales (Ariz.) High, and they left him frustrated and confused.
“I didn’t understand,” Crisantes said, “why it was happening to me.”
Having gone through a pair of Tommy John surgeries and subsequent rehabs, Crisantes is enjoying his first fully healthy, rehab-free season as a professional since the D-backs drafted him in the seventh round in 2022.
To say it has gone well would be an understatement.
The 19-year-old Crisantes broke out in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League this season to earn a quick promotion to Low-A Visalia in mid June.
Through 77 total games, the second baseman hit .351/.442/.505 with six home runs and 24 stolen bases. He drew 49 walks versus 57 strikeouts.
Crisantes is not sure why he reinjured his throwing arm. He said the original surgery was performed by a doctor who was not a specialist in repairing athletes’ elbows. He also admitted he might have been rushing to get through his rehab.
Even now, his injury history raises questions about his future. Crisantes’ throwing arm is not all the way back, but he said it is getting stronger with each passing week.
But whether he ends up playing second base, third base or first base, it appears Crisantes’ bat will be his carrying tool.
“He walks. He hits the ball hard. He doesn’t strike out—he has all the ingredients of being a really good hitter,” D-backs farm director Shaun Larkin said.
Crisantes has above-average chase and contact rates, and he hits the ball hard enough that plus power might not be out of the question, Larkin said.
“He’s hitting the ball hard on a line,” Larkin said. “As he gets older and stronger and better understands contact points, could he turn more of those doubles into homers? I don’t know, but it’s something you can dream on.”
Crisantes is encouraged about future development because the 6-foot righthanded hitter can focus more on adding strength this offseason.
“I’m going to keep the same approach, the same style of hitting—I’m not going to change that—but I think the power is going to come more,” he said.
