AMARILLO, TX (October 6, 2026) – The Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday announced that Carlos Virahonda and David Hagaman were named the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year and Minor League Pitcher of the Year, respectively. As the Diamondbacks’ top minor league performers for 2026, the duo were instrumental contributors to the Sod Poodles’ Texas League Championship run.
Virahonda, Arizona’s 5th-ranked prospect (per MLB Pipeline), spent the majority of the 2026 campaign with Single-A Visalia and High-A Hillsboro before joining the Sod Poodles on September 8 for the final week of the regular season. In 10 combined regular-season and postseason games with the Sod Poodles, the catcher batted .343 (12x35) with nine runs, three doubles, three home runs, six RBI and a 1.175 OPS.
A 20-year-old prospect out of Venezuela, Virahonda reached base five times in Amarillo’s Game 2 victory over Frisco (Texas Rangers) in the Texas League South Division Series. He also homered in each of the first two games of the Texas League Championship Series against Springfield (St. Louis Cardinals) to aid in Amarillo’s path towards the club’s third Texas League title. Across all three levels in 2026, he led all Diamondbacks minor leaguers in RBI (94) while ranking tied for third in home runs (19) and 9th in total bases (185).
Hagaman, the top-ranked pitcher and 4th overall prospect (per MLB Pipeline) in Arizona’s farm system, began the year with Hillsboro and pitched 15 games with the Hops before his promotion to Amarillo on August 4. The righty struck out 10 batters over five innings in his Sod Poodles debut on August 7 on the road against Arkansas. In seven starts with the Sod Poodles through the end of the regular season, he went 2-2 with a 2.55 ERA (10 ER/35.1 IP) and allowed no more than three runs in any of his seven outings.
In August, Hagaman ranked second across Double-A baseball in strikeouts (38). Furthermore, including his August 1 start with Hillsboro, he pitched three 10-strikeout games in August, the most among all Minor League pitchers for the month. A West Virginia University alum, he led all D-backs farmhands in strikeouts (132) for the year while ranking third in the organization with a 2.87 ERA (min. 20 G). Hagaman was acquired by Arizona via trade with the Texas Rangers on July 31, 2025 in a deal that also brought LHP Kohl Drake (ARI no. 21) and former Sod Poodle LHP Mitch Bratt (ARI no. 12) to the D-backs in exchange for RHP Merrill Kelly.
With the 2026 Sod Poodles Championship season now in the rearview, baseball fans in the Panhandle can look ahead to next season as Amarillo’s home opener in 2027 is scheduled for April 6 against the visiting Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City Royals). To view the entire 2027 home schedule, please click HERE or visit sodpoodles.com for more information on season tickets and groups and hospitality options.