Where the D-backs' Top 30 prospects are starting season

April 5th, 2023

With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the D-backs’ Top 30 prospects are projected to start:

  1. Corbin Carroll (MLB No. 2), OF -- Arizona (MLB)
  2. Jordan Lawlar (MLB No. 11), SS -- Amarillo (Double-A)
  3. Druw Jones (MLB No. 15), OF -- Visalia (Single-A)
  4. Brandon Pfaadt (MLB No. 59), RHP -- Reno (Triple-A)
  5. Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B -- Amarillo (Double-A)
  6. Ryne Nelson, RHP -- Arizona (MLB)
  7. Drey Jameson, RHP -- Arizona (MLB)
  8. Blake Walston, LHP -- Reno (Triple-A)
  9. Landon Sims, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John rehab)
  10. Ivan Melendez, 1B -- Injured (left hand)
  11. Blaze Alexander, SS -- Reno (Triple-A)
  12. Slade Cecconi, RHP -- Reno (Triple-A)
  13. Yu-Min Lin, LHP -- Extended spring training
  14. A.J. Vukovich, 3B -- Amarillo (Double-A)
  15. Jorge Barrosa, OF -- Injured (hamstring)
  16. Wilderd Patino, OF -- Hillsboro (High-A)
  17. Dominic Fletcher, OF -- Reno (Triple-A)
  18. Cristofer Torin, SS -- Extended spring training
  19. Ruben Santana, 3B -- Extended spring training
  20. Manuel Pena, SS -- Visalia (Single-A)
  21. Justin Martinez, RHP -- Reno (Triple-A)
  22. Dominic Canzone, OF -- Reno (Triple-A)
  23. Nate Savino, LHP -- Injured (shoulder surgery)
  24. Carlos Vargas, RHP -- Arizona (MLB)
  25. Dylan Ray, RHP -- Hillsboro (High-A)
  26. Andrew Pintar, SS -- Visalia (Single-A)
  27. Bryce Jarvis, RHP -- Amarillo (Double-A)
  28. Yilber Diaz, RHP -- Hillsboro (High-A)
  29. Joe Elbis, RHP -- Visalia (Single-A)
  30. Conor Grammes, RHP -- Hillsboro (High-A)

Team to watch
and both return to Double-A Amarillo after getting late-season promotions there in 2022, and the pair should provide a powerful 1-2 punch in the heart of the Amarillo lineup. HODGETOWN has proved to be one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in the Minors, so it’s possible both could put up some eye-popping numbers at just 20 and 19 years old, respectively. Keep an eye on too. The No. 27 prospect had a rough go in that environment last year, but Arizona remains a believer that his above-average slider and plus changeup could keep him as a starting option in his age-25 campaign.

Teams on MLB.TV and MiLB.TV
Arizona Diamondbacks
Triple-A Reno
Double-A Amarillo
High-A Hillsboro
Single-A Visalia

Players we could see in MLB in 2023
, , and all cracked the Opening Day roster, and Carroll enters 2023 as a National League Rookie of the Year favorite. was already knocking on the door of the Major League rotation this spring and has more upside than any other pitcher in the system, making him a likely first-half addition. Don’t be surprised to see early either. The 21-year-old right-hander has touched 101.5 mph already with Triple-A Reno and has the additional plus changeup needed to thrive as an MLB reliever.

New faces
Vargas joined the D-backs system in a November trade for Ross Carver and immediately joined the Arizona bullpen, where his triple-digit heater can be an asset. Even more notably, 2022 No. 2 overall pick will make his Minor League debut with Single-A Visalia this week. The talented outfielder underwent shoulder surgery shortly after the Draft and didn’t see pro ball at all in 2022, though he did face Shohei Ohtani on the backfields this spring.

On the shelf
Landon Sims, the 34th overall pick last year, is still working his way back from last spring’s Tommy John surgery. Second-rounder Ivan Melendez will miss Opening Day with a sore left hand but is not expected to miss much time. Gifted defensive outfielder Jorge Barrosa suffered a right hamstring strain in Spring Training and will also miss the start of the season. Nate Savino, a 2022 third-rounder, will miss the entire 2023 campaign after undergoing shoulder surgery.