Lawlar debuts on Top 100 Prospects list

MLB Pipeline's new Top 100 Prospects list was released Thursday, and the D-backs have three players -- shortstop Jordan Lawlar and outfielders Corbin Carroll and Alek Thomas -- who are ranked.

Lawlar, who was selected by the D-backs with the No. 6 overall pick in this year's MLB Draft, is the No. 13 overall prospect. Carroll, who injured his shoulder during the first week of the Minor League season and is out for the year, came in at No. 21. Thomas was among the biggest risers on the list, going from No. 81 to No. 42.

The D-backs were thrilled that Lawlar fell to them at No. 6 in the Draft, considering he was higher on their internal board. He's now Arizona's No. 1 prospect, which dropped Carroll to No. 2.

Thomas, who was recently promoted to Triple-A Reno, is now Arizona's No. 3 prospect.

Left-hander Blake Walston, right-hander Ryne Nelson, right-hander Bryce Jarvis, right-hander Slade Cecconi, outfielder Kristian Robinson, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and third baseman A.J. Vukovich round out the D-backs' top 10 prospects.

No on-field batting practice
The D-backs' position players have not taken batting practice on the field before games during this seven-game homestand, something that manager Torey Lovullo said was the result of feedback he received from his players.

The players have instead been hitting in the batting tunnels behind the dugout.

"It was a couple players speaking up and coming to me and me listening to what their needs were," Lovullo said. "And we've done it this entire homestand, where we've come to the ballpark a little bit later in the afternoon and stayed inside [in the cages], and it's paid off. I think these guys are doing their job and they're prepping, just in a different way."

When the D-backs go to Coors Field for this weekend's series against the Rockies, Lovullo said they will likely hit on the field Friday and then in the cages Saturday and Sunday.