Prospect stocks are rising and falling in the D-backs’ farm system as the fourth month of the season comes to a close.
Ahead of the Trade Deadline, MLB Pipeline has undergone its first major changes to team Top 30 Prospects lists. This wasn’t a full rerank -- that will come in August as the 2026 Draft class joins the rankings -- but these changes reflect the biggest movers as each team gets a fresh Top 10 and some players move up or down at least 10 spots.
Arizona now has a new top hitting and pitching prospect, as infielder Demetrio Crisantes (Arizona No. 1/MLB No. 86) leaps into the Top 100 and righty David Hagaman (Arizona No. 3) continues his upward trajectory in his first full season with the organization. Both had questions surrounding their health but are performing at a high level this year, with Crisantes recently promoted to Triple-A Reno and Hagaman likely headed to Double-A Amarillo soon.
There are other small changes around the top, but let’s take a closer look at the players who are trending up and down the most.
COMPLETE D-BACKS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Trending up:
Carlos Virahonda, C, No. 10 (previously No. 15)
The Venezuela native joins the Top 10 for the first time as his bat has made big strides in his second season playing stateside. The 20-year-old has seen a big uptick in power as he continues to elevate more and make more contact. Although opposing basestealers have been more successful against Virahonda this year, he still projects as an above-average defender thanks to strong blocking and receiving.
Alberto Barriga, C, No. 14 (previously No. 26)
The D-backs are flush with catching depth -- Ivan Luciano (Arizona No. 21) is trending up and 2026 first-rounder Ryder Helfrick will land in the top three of the club’s rankings -- and Barriga is in the midst of a breakout campaign heading into his Rule 5 Draft-eligible offseason. His defense alone will attract attention -- he has a rocket of an arm -- and the 5-foot-9 backstop has shown more power as he earned a promotion from High-A Hillsboro to Double-A Amarillo.
Junior Ciprian, RHP, No. 17 (previously No. 21)
Ciprian is the second-highest ranking prospect (behind Barriga) among players who weren’t on Arizona’s preseason Top 30. The 6-foot-3 righty can touch upper-90s on his heater and has an absurd 56 percent whiff rate on his upper-80s slider. Improving his changeup will be key to sticking as a starter, but the 20-year-old is a fluid mover with untapped potential.
Jun-Sang Eom, SS, No. 20 (previously not ranked)
Eom signed for $1.5 million out of South Korea in June, opting to forgo the KBO Draft, where he was likely to be a top selection. A two-way prospect on the international stage, the 18-year-old will instead focus on shortstop. He has a strong arm befitting a player who hit 95 mph on the mound and a hit-over-power profile from the right side of the plate.
Trending down:
Slade Caldwell, OF, No. 19 (previously No. 2)
The 2024 first-rounder has long been known for his disciplined approach, but it’s veering into passivity lately. He’s still only swinging at a 36 percent clip, and he’s whiffing (28 percent) and chasing (20 percent) more while slugging just .293 at High-A. The good news is that his speed and glove still give him big league value, even if it’s harder to see him as an everyday player.
Cristian Mena, RHP, No. 23 (previously No. 9)
The hard-throwing righty saw his 2025 season end in June with a right shoulder strain, and he never got off the ground in 2026, eventually undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in June. The Dominican Republic native, who also dealt with a right forearm strain that ended his 2024 season early, will be 24 when he returns next year.
Druw Jones, OF, No. 24 (previously No. 14)
Jones remains the premier defender in the organization, which gives him a fifth-outfielder floor, but he’s not showing consistent offensive improvements, even playing half his games at the hitter’s paradise that is HODGETOWN (Double-A Amarillo’s ballpark). Problems against changeups (60 percent whiff rate) and sliders (45 percent) are only getting worse, although he’s continuing to hammer fastballs.
Yassel Soler, 3B, No. 30 (previously No. 18)
Soler’s plate discipline is trending in the wrong direction upon his promotion to High-A, where he's particularly struggled against changeups. Not only has that eaten into his walk rate, but he's putting the ball on the ground on well over half his contact. He’s only 20, but that’s a tough profile for a power-hitting corner infielder.