Arizona Diamondbacks: Minor League Comings and Goings
By Thomas Lynch
Teams in Major League Baseball are always reshuffling players throughout their Minor League systems. Today, Matt Eddy at Baseball America put out a nice recap, which you can read here, of the comings and goings of Minor League players in all 32 organizations. The Arizona Diamondbacks released a total of 17 players while re-signing two players. The list is as follows:
Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Nick Sarianides (re-signed), SS Ildemaro Vargas (re-signed)
Released: RHP Mike Cetta, RHP Joey Donino, RHP Holden Helmink, RHP Will Landsheft, RHP Troy Marks, RHP Andrew Potter, RHP Scooter Price, RHP Aaron Sookee, RHP Kevin Vance, LHP Roberto Cancio, C Nate Irving, 1B Ismael Pena, 2B Mike Abreu, 3B Jacob Cordero, 3B Tyler Humphreys, 3B Nate Robertson, OF Maik Ehmcke
Elected free agency: RHP Kevin Munson
More from Diamondbacks Prospects
- Diamondbacks make some BIG 40-man roster Moves
- About time! Diamondbacks to now provide housing for Minor League players
- What is the Rule 5 Draft? How does it impact Diamondbacks?
- VenomStrikes’ Diamondbacks Awards for the 2021 Season
- The Dbacks have finally drank some Beer
Many names on this list are unfamiliar to most of us. However, there are some players that we have seen stall at various points in the organization. Let’s start with the two that are staying. Sarianides, a 26-year old reliever, was the closer at High Class A Visalia with 28 saves and a 2.11 ERA in 54 appearances. The right-hander had an eye-popping 91 strikeouts and only 16 walks in 55 1/3 innings. He was originally taken in the 26th round of the 2009 Draft by the Cleveland Indians. Vargas hit .321 with a .385 on-base percentage for the Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League. He started the season in Bridgeport of the Independent Atlantic League. The 24-year old Vargas was signed at the age of 16 by the St. Louis Cardinals from Venezuela.
Of all the names that were released, Robertson and Irving are the most familiar as they were part of the 2015 Northwest champion Hillsboro Hops. Robertson, a 22-year old infielder, was taken in the 27th round of the 2014 Draft out of Mesa State College in Grand Junction, CO. Robertson hit .196 in 2015 with four home runs and 21 RBI’s in 181 plate appearances for the Hops. Irving, a 23-year old catcher, was taken in the 34th round of the 2014 Draft out of the University of Virginia. He hit .276 with ten RBI’s in 76 plate appearances this season for Hillsboro. Donino was signed from the independent Can-American League but injuries limited him to five appearances for the Hops. Potter was selected by the D-backs in the 31st round of the 2012 Draft out of Eastside High School in Lancaster, CA. The 21-year old Potter appeared in 22 games for the Missoula Osprey to the tune of a 7.15 ERA.
We wish all the best for the players who now be searching for work in other organizations.