10 Diamondbacks prospects that could make their MLB debuts in 2023
*By each name there will be a rank. For example, SP Brandon Pfaadt (#4). This means Brandon Pfaadt is ranked the 4th best prospect in the Arizona farm system by MLB.com*
SP Brandon Pfaadt (#4)
In the 5th round of the 2020 MLB draft, the Diamondbacks selected SP Brandon Pfaadt. In 51 career minor league starts, Pfaadt is 19-14 with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. Pfaadt’s best asset is his fastball, sitting around 93-94 he is able to locate it well. Pfaadt also had the lowest walk rate (4.8 percent) among D-backs full-season qualifiers showing that he has good command of all his pitches. In 5 innings this spring training, he has yet to give up a single run and he has struck out 6 batters. When you watch Brandon’s delivery, it reminds you a lot of Phillies phenom Aaron Nola…
SP Blake Walston (#8)
With the 26th overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft, the Diamondbacks selected SP Blake Walston. In 49 career minor league starts, Walston is 12-8 with a 4.25 ERA and he's added 271 strikeouts in 230.2 innings. The lefty has a dirty slider and a changeup that has improved immensely over the past year. His velocity is not great as his fastball sits in the low 90s but Arizona is hopeful that will change over the years. When you watch Blake’s delivery, he reminds you of a more athletic Mike Minor…
IF Blaze Alexander (#11)
In the 11th round of the 2018 MLB draft, the Diamondbacks selected Blaze Alexander. In 98 minor league games a season ago, Alexander hit 20 HRS, 59 RBIs, and slashed .301/.389/.540. According to MLB.com, Alexander’s best tool is his arm. Blaze has a cannon and can throw anybody out from just about any place on the infield. In 20 spring training ABs over the past two years, Alexander owns a .636 OPS…
SP Slade Cecconi (#12)
With the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft, the Diamondbacks selected SP Slade Cecconi. In 37 career starts in the minors, Slade is 11-8 with a 4.29 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. His slider is his best pitch and he does a good job of keeping walks to a minimum (5.7%). In 3.1 spring training innings, he has given up 4 earned runs and has struck out 5 batters…
OF Jorge Barrosa (#15)
On July 2, 2017, Arizona signed OF Jorge Barrosa. In 341 minor league games, Barrosa is slashing .276/.361/.407 for an OPS of .768. Barrosa is an on-base machine and has scored 250 times in those 341 games. He does a good job of getting on base but his best tool is his work in the field. According to MLB.com, he is one of the best defensive outfielders out of any prospect in baseball. He has struggled in spring training so far; through 14 at-bats his OBP is .200. He is only 22 however and needs time to grow. When you watch him swing, he reminds you of a shorter Bryce Harper…
OF Dominic Fletcher (#17)
With the 75th overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft, the Diamondbacks selected OF Dominic Fletcher. In 290 minor league games, Fletcher has hit 32 HRs, 156 RBIs, and has an OPS of .825. Like Barrosa, Fletcher is known for his great fielding abilities; Fletcher also possesses a cannon of an arm. He has struggled in his spring training career; In 12 games over the past 3 seasons, his OPS is .350. When you watch Fletcher swing, he reminds you of Dodgers infielder Max Muncy…
RP Justin Martinez (#21)
On March 5, 2018, the Diamondbacks signed P Justin Martinez. In 161 minor league innings, Martinez owns a 4.81 ERA along with 194 strikeouts. His career ERA isn’t great, but last season he was switched from a starter to the bullpen, and in 20 games in relief, he posted a 3.32 ERA with 62 Ks in 38 innings. His biggest strength is his heater; averaging 97.5 MPH he is able to generate a lot of swings and misses. When you watch him, he reminds you of Mets closer Edwin Diaz…
OF Dominic Canzone (#22)
In the 8th round of the 2019 MLB draft, the Diamondbacks selected outfielder Dominic Canzone. In 2022, Canzone played 106 minor league games across 3 different levels. In those 106 games, he hit 22 HRs, 89 RBIs, and slashed .299/.367/.541 for an OPS of .908. Canazone is a pure contact hitter and clearly, from his numbers, he has some pop in his bat as well. When you watch Canzone swing, it reminds you of Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich…
RP Carlos Vargas (#24)
Arizona signed Vargas on July 2, 2016. Vargas pitched 34.1 innings in relief a season ago in the minors. He posted a 4-3 record with a 3.67 ERA. Vargas has a solid fastball-slider combo but still needs a little work on his changeup and his overall control…
SP Bryce Jarvis (#27)
With the 18th overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft, the Diamondbacks selected SP Bryce Jarvis. It’s been a rough couple of years in the minors for Jarvis. In 41 starts, he owns a 6.68 ERA and a .286 BAA. Jarvis does have an effective changeup but his lower 90s fastball is like batting practice to the opposition. When you watch him pitch, he reminds you of Arizona’s very own, Zach Davies…