Checking in on D-backs' Minor League standouts

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Let's take a look around the Diamondbacks’ Minor League system, courtesy of farm director Chris Slivka:

Triple-A Reno
Left-hander Mitch Bratt, who was acquired from the Rangers last year in the Merrill Kelly trade and is ranked as the organization's No. 14 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is back pitching after a stint on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. Bratt allowed a pair of runs in four innings in his return to action Wednesday.

"He threw pretty well," Slivka said. "Obviously, on a pitch count, we're still getting him built up, but really good to see him continue to attack the strike zone and be efficient with his stuff. It's been good seeing him perform how he has this year at that level. The numbers he's putting up are no joke in that league."

On the offensive side of things, Manuel Pena was recently promoted from Double-A Amarillo to Reno after dominating the Texas League with a slash line of .311/.354/.673.

"He was hitting home runs left and right in the Texas League and he was clearly ready for the next challenge," Slivka said. "... He's going to see some time at first base and DH. There may be occasional work in a corner outfield spot, but it's a crowded outfield there right now, so mostly first base and DH. His first few games up there have been promising and we'll see how he continues to do there."

Double-A Amarillo
Much like with Reno in the Pacific Coast League, when you look at numbers either put up by hitters or pitchers, you have to factor in the pitcher-friendly nature of most of the parks.

So keep that in mind when you look at the ERAs for right-handers Daniel Eagen (5.66) and Ashton Izzi (4.47).

"Daniel Egan and Ashton Izzi are both finding some success over the last month," Slivka said. "ERA is kind of a tough barometer for performance at Amarillo, given how it's a launching pad, but the underlying stuff's been exceptional."

Part of the "underlying stuff" that Slivka references relates to proprietary statistics the Diamondbacks use to try and account for the environment. It's a lot like the FIP metric, but even more detailed with things like contact quality and launch angle.

"That helps us as a staff better evaluate the player's performances," Slivka said.

High-A Hillsboro
The Hops recently got an infusion of promotions, particularly on the hitting side of things, and their lineup is stacked with catcher Carlos Virahonda (No. 17 per MLB Pipeline), second baseman JD Dix (No. 6), shortstop Kayson Cunningham (No. 2) and third baseman Yassel Soler (No. 20).

"It's a pretty exciting young position-player group," Slivka said. "They're definitely young for that level, and the Northwest League is not the most hitter-friendly environment, so we'll see how they continue to make their adjustments."

The pitching side has plenty of talent as well with right-handers Wellington Aracena (No. 23), David Hagaman (No. 8), Patrick Forbes (No. 9) and Brian Curley (No. 21).

"There's some pretty high-octane stuff in that rotation," Slivka said.

Single-A Visalia
Center fielder Jose Alpuria, who spent last year in Visalia, has really made strides and through his first 177 at-bats this year he had a .958 OPS.

"He's got a lot of tools, and we're starting to see the hit ability and his plate discipline come into shape a little bit more, and he's taking off with that," Slivka said. "He's got legit raw power, and he's not really scratching the surface yet in terms of his physical maturation, so he's an exciting position player to keep an eye on."

On the pitching side of things, right-handers Junior Ciprian and Dean Livingston (No. 19) have impressed. Livingston was selected in the fourth round of last year's MLB Draft out of high school.

Ciprian, from the Dominican Republic, is just 21 and finished last season in Visalia.

"He's got an upper-90s fastball, upper-80s slider and a developing changeup," Slivka said of Ciprian. "He's starting to find the strike zone with more consistency this season, and he's a really overpowering guy. He's a pretty high upside arm that we're seeing really pop."