Three Arizona Diamondbacks who could be Rookie of the Year contenders next year

Which Arizona Diamondbacks could win the Rookie of the Year next season?

Oct 15, 2022; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Salt River Rafters infielder Jordan Lawlar (1) walks away from home
Oct 15, 2022; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Salt River Rafters infielder Jordan Lawlar (1) walks away from home | Alex Gould/The Republic / USA TODAY
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Jorge Barrosa

Jorge Barrosa could enter Spring Training looking to secure one of the starting outfield spots. The speedy outfielder hit well at Triple-A, even though he was at the PCL. He showed off his great hit tool, as well as good plate discipline, getting on base and using his speed to swipe a handful of bases.

In 502 plate appearances, Barrosa hit .274/.3394/.456 with a .385 wOBA and 110 wRC+. Barrosa nearly matched his 16.3% strikeout rate with a 15.9% walk rate. His .182 isolated slugging percentage was a sizable 22-point uptick from his 2022 campaign. However, keep in mind that’s about the league average. Overall, he’s hit for about a league-average amount of power across the last two seasons.

Barrosa could win a Gold Glove next season. He’s the best non-Druw Jones defender in the system and one of the fastest runners in the system. Lawlar may be the only one faster than him, who registered the tenth-highest sprint speed in baseball last season during his brief MLB stint. MLB Pipeline puts his glove as a 70-grade item. He doesn’t have a cannon on his right shoulder, but he can make throws from center field without any trouble.

Barrosa rarely strikes out, and 2023 was not an outlier. His minor league career K% is just 15.8%. At the very least, it’s a plus part of his game. Barrosa projects similarly to Ender Inciarte, with little power but Gold Glove potential, great baserunning, and the potential to hit .300 consistently. If the Diamondbacks wanted to have the rangyest and best defensive outfield, starting Jorge Barrosa would be the best option. Even though Fletcher may have the inside track, the D-Backs did add Barrosa to the 40-man roster.

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