Sep 14, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Daniel Hudson (41) throws a pitch during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Although the coveted pitcher/catcher official reporting day for the Arizona Diamondbacks isn’t until February 19th, several pitchers from the big league staff and 40-man roster are throwing their first bullpens of the new year this week.

2011 16-game winner Daniel Hudson, a heavy Twitter user, informed the general public of his first pen this morning saying, @DHuddy41: “#SaltRiver for a good workout and first bullpen of the year!  Then getting some practice in for the #PatriotProAm tomorrow! #gripNrip” (sic). (more…)

Tyler Skaggs, who started 27 games in the Diamondbacks minor league system last season, is rated as one of the top southpaw prospects in the MLB. Mandatory Credit: Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

MLB.com released their first Top 100 Prospects list this morning, and the Diamondbacks top three pitching prospects all cracked the top 25 of a future star-studded list.

Trevor Bauer, the 21-year old right-hander drafted out of UCLA with the third overall pick in this past June’s draft, leads the DBacks prospects on the list at number 9 overall.

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Third overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, Trevor Bauer, will likely spend 2012 down on the farm.

It’s rare for a Major League Baseball team to find themselves in the unique position the Arizona Diamondbacks enter the 2012 campaign in.  That is, a defending division champion, as well as possessors of one of the highest touted farm systems in the MLB.  But where does that leave the top prospects that are ready to crack their way into the show?

At the beginning of most seasons, the top five prospects on any given MLB club are seen as having a chance to find their way onto the big club at some point during the year.  But for the 2012 Arizona Diamondbacks, even the most big league-ready prospects like Tyler Skaggs and Trevor Bauer will be hard-pressed to see significant time in Chase Field this season (barring injuries of course).

The Diamondbacks return every significant piece of their 2011 Division Champion roster, and thanks to General Manager Kevin Towers, have added even more talent in free agency.  A pitching rotation that was already bringing back ace Ian Kennedy and 16-game winner Daniel Hudson, was bolstered by Towers’ acquisition of Trevor Cahill from Oakland.  Now that the Diamondbacks have resigned lefty Joe Saunders to a one-year deal, and assuming Josh Collmenter ties up the fifth spot in the rotation, that leaves the biggest names on Arizona’s prospect list down on the farm to begin 2012.

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