With the Minor League season kicking off, here's where the D-backs’ Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:
- Ryan Waldschmidt (MLB No. 57), OF -- Reno (Triple-A)
- Kayson Cunningham, SS -- Visalia (Single-A)
- Slade Caldwell, OF -- Hillsboro (High-A)
- Tommy Troy, 2B/OF -- Reno (Triple-A)
- Demetrio Crisantes, 2B/3B -- Injured (hamstring)
- JD Dix, 2B -- Visalia (Single-A)
- Daniel Eagen, RHP -- Amarillo (Double-A)
- David Hagaman, RHP -- Extended spring training
- Patrick Forbes, RHP -- Injured (flexor)
- LuJames Groover, 3B -- Reno (Triple-A)
- Cristian Mena, RHP -- Injured (strained right shoulder)
- Kohl Drake, LHP -- Reno (Triple-A)
- Jansel Luis, INF -- Amarillo (Double-a)
- Mitch Bratt, LHP -- Reno (Triple-A)
- Cristofer Torin, SS/2B -- Amarillo (Double-a)
- Druw Jones, OF -- Amarillo (Double-a)
- Carlos Virahonda, C -- Visalia (Single-A)
- Ashton Izzi, RHP -- Amarillo (Double-a)
- Dean Livingston, RHP -- Extended spring training
- Brandyn Garcia, LHP -- Reno (Triple-A)
- Yassel Soler, 3B -- Hillsboro (High-A)
- Brian Curley, RHP -- Hillsboro (High-A)
- Yilber Díaz, RHP -- Reno (Triple-A)
- Wellington Aracena, RHP -- Hillsboro (High-A)
- Daury Vasquez, RHP -- Visalia (Single-A)
- Ivan Luciano, C -- Visalia (Single-A)
- Jose Fernandez, SS -- Reno (Triple-A)/Arizona (MLB)
- Mason Marriott, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John rehab)
- Avery Owusu-Asiedu, OF -- Hillsboro (High-A)
- Gavin Conticello, OF -- Amarillo (Double-A)
Team to watch
Top prospect Waldschmidt opens his second full season with Triple-A Reno and brings his blend of power, patience and speed to the Pacific Coast League. He isn’t alone in a deep Aces lineup that also features No. 4 prospect Troy and No. 10 Groover. The group also boasted Fernandez before his promotion and two-homer MLB debut. The pitching side has a few fresh faces in left-handers Drake and Bratt, both of whom were acquired from the Rangers in last year’s Deadline deal for Merrill Kelly.
COMPLETE D-BACKS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Players we could see in MLB in 2026
Fernandez has set quite the tone for D-backs debutants, and he likely won’t be alone in the season to come. Waldschmidt was a dark horse to win an outfield job out of Spring Training before former top prospect Jordan Lawlar claimed it, but the 23-year-old will be waiting in the wings. Garcia made 14 Major League appearances last year between Seattle and Arizona, and while he’s back in Triple-A to begin 2026, his mid-90s sinker and mid-80s sweeper could get him a quick move back to the D-backs’ bullpen. Beyond the other hitters and pitchers mentioned above, keep an eye out for Díaz, who was once one of the best arms in the system before tumbling early in ‘25 and rebuilding himself late at Amarillo and as a closer in the Venezuelan Winter League.
New faces
Arizona was one of the most active sellers at last year’s Trade Deadline, and it continued to pick up prospects in the offseason too. Acquired from the Orioles in the Blaze Alexander deal, Aracena was the biggest name joining the Top 30 as a right-hander with a 96-99 mph fastball and an above-average cutter. While he has some control issues to work out, he’ll head to High-A Hillsboro to begin his age-21 season. He’ll be joined on the Hops’ roster by Owusu-Asiedu, who was picked up from the Phillies for reliever Kyle Backhus. The 22-year-old outfielder has size at 6-foot-4 and speed, but he needs to improve his in-zone contact rate before he can push for the upper Minors.
On the shelf
Crisantes’ return to play was highly anticipated across the industry after he was limited to only 34 games last year due to left shoulder surgery, but he’ll miss more time to begin 2026 with a hamstring injury. The D-backs anticipate he’ll miss six to eight weeks as a result. Forbes -- last year’s 29th overall Draft pick out of Louisville -- will be on a similar return timeline after dealing with a flexor issue in his first Spring Training.
Hagaman, who underwent internal brace surgery in 2024 and returned to the mound last year, is still being slowly built up in extended spring training after the Arizona Fall League ate into his offseason. Livingston is healthy but will also hang back in Arizona for now as the 19-year-old prepares for his first Minor League season.
How to watch
Fans can watch Minor League Baseball games for free on the Bally Sports Live app or at BallySports.com. Fans may also purchase an MLB+ subscription, which includes access to MiLB games live and on demand, in addition to live MLB audio for all 30 teams, MLBNetwork and MLB Big Inning. Plus -- with or without a subscription -- Minor League games featuring MLB's top prospects are available in the MiLB Free Game of the Day.