Arizona Diamonbacks Top 20 Prospects
1. Tyler Skaggs, LHP, A
I really love Skaggs, even though he does not have ace level potential. He has well above average stuff, great command and a really good idea of the art of pitching. He should be a great number 2 starter at the big league level for a long time.
2. Archie Bradley, RHP, A-
Bradley’s pure stuff is great and he has ace potential with a blistering fastball and a nasty breaking ball. His control and command are somewhat shaky at this stage, but he has plenty of time to figure that out. And once he does, look out, as he is already pretty much unhittable at this stage.
3. Stryker Trahan, C, B
Trahan absolutely rakes. The ball just sounds different when it comes off of his bat. He pairs that hitting ability and power with very good athleticism, making him one of our favorite bats from the 2012 class. He has defensive concerns which limit his value and a position switch to the outfield could be in his future, especially if the bat continues to develop at the expected pace.
4. Andrew Chafin, LHP, B
Chafin was a fairly advanced college arm when he was selected in the supplemental round in 2011. He is solid mid rotation guy going forward and it will be interesting to see if the high strikeout rate that he is putting up this year continues at higher levels. Additionally, it will be intriguing to see if his hits and walks come down once he leaves the Cal League, which they most likely will.
5. Matt Davidson, 3B/1B, B
Davidson has big time power, but his contact skills are a major question mark. His swing does not look great on film and he swings and misses a lot. His power is playing very well at AA, which is why he is moving up some boards at this point, but with a probable position switch to first, I’m not sure how valuable the bat will be.
6. Adam Eaton, OF, B
Eaton is a small guy, but that will not stop him from always out perform his physical tools. Some project him as a fourth outfielder type, but one with the ability to hit for a very high average, good base stealing ability and gap power. He has a chance to be a solid regular.
7. Alfredo Marte, OF, B-
Marte is very intriguing due to his breakout campaign this spring. He has an improved approach this year and is showing more power in his first full season in AA. He, like Eaton, could end up as a fourth outfielder but he has a shot to be a good regular player.
8. David Holmberg, LHP, B-
Holmberg is a very advanced pitcher, but does not have frontline stuff. He could be a mid- rotation starter like Chafin, but does not have as good stuff, albeit with better command.
9. Anthony Meo, RHP, B-/C+
Meo was another fairly advanced college arm that the Diamondbacks selected in 2011. He has solid stuff and command and could also be a mid rotation guy.
10. Chris Owings, SS, B-/C+
11. Andrew Velazquez, SS, C+ (very good hitter with speed)
12. Wagner Mateo, OF, C+ (big time tools, low level skills)
13. Chase Anderson, RHP, C+
14. David Nick, 2B, C+
15. Jake Barrett, RHP, C+
16. Jose Munoz, SS, C+
17. Tyler Bortnick, 2B, C+
18. Raymond Hernandez, RHP, C/C+ (a little old, good k:bb rate, pitching in Cal League can be tough)
19. Jonathan Griffin, 1B, C/C+ (a little old, can hit though, will be interesting to see what he does outside of Pioneer and Cal Leagues)
20. Kyle Winkler, RHP, C/C+
I really love Skaggs, even though he does not have ace level potential. He has well above average stuff, great command and a really good idea of the art of pitching. He should be a great number 2 starter at the big league level for a long time.
2. Archie Bradley, RHP, A-
Bradley’s pure stuff is great and he has ace potential with a blistering fastball and a nasty breaking ball. His control and command are somewhat shaky at this stage, but he has plenty of time to figure that out. And once he does, look out, as he is already pretty much unhittable at this stage.
3. Stryker Trahan, C, B
Trahan absolutely rakes. The ball just sounds different when it comes off of his bat. He pairs that hitting ability and power with very good athleticism, making him one of our favorite bats from the 2012 class. He has defensive concerns which limit his value and a position switch to the outfield could be in his future, especially if the bat continues to develop at the expected pace.
4. Andrew Chafin, LHP, B
Chafin was a fairly advanced college arm when he was selected in the supplemental round in 2011. He is solid mid rotation guy going forward and it will be interesting to see if the high strikeout rate that he is putting up this year continues at higher levels. Additionally, it will be intriguing to see if his hits and walks come down once he leaves the Cal League, which they most likely will.
5. Matt Davidson, 3B/1B, B
Davidson has big time power, but his contact skills are a major question mark. His swing does not look great on film and he swings and misses a lot. His power is playing very well at AA, which is why he is moving up some boards at this point, but with a probable position switch to first, I’m not sure how valuable the bat will be.
6. Adam Eaton, OF, B
Eaton is a small guy, but that will not stop him from always out perform his physical tools. Some project him as a fourth outfielder type, but one with the ability to hit for a very high average, good base stealing ability and gap power. He has a chance to be a solid regular.
7. Alfredo Marte, OF, B-
Marte is very intriguing due to his breakout campaign this spring. He has an improved approach this year and is showing more power in his first full season in AA. He, like Eaton, could end up as a fourth outfielder but he has a shot to be a good regular player.
8. David Holmberg, LHP, B-
Holmberg is a very advanced pitcher, but does not have frontline stuff. He could be a mid- rotation starter like Chafin, but does not have as good stuff, albeit with better command.
9. Anthony Meo, RHP, B-/C+
Meo was another fairly advanced college arm that the Diamondbacks selected in 2011. He has solid stuff and command and could also be a mid rotation guy.
10. Chris Owings, SS, B-/C+
11. Andrew Velazquez, SS, C+ (very good hitter with speed)
12. Wagner Mateo, OF, C+ (big time tools, low level skills)
13. Chase Anderson, RHP, C+
14. David Nick, 2B, C+
15. Jake Barrett, RHP, C+
16. Jose Munoz, SS, C+
17. Tyler Bortnick, 2B, C+
18. Raymond Hernandez, RHP, C/C+ (a little old, good k:bb rate, pitching in Cal League can be tough)
19. Jonathan Griffin, 1B, C/C+ (a little old, can hit though, will be interesting to see what he does outside of Pioneer and Cal Leagues)
20. Kyle Winkler, RHP, C/C+
2012 Draft Review: Arizona Diamondbacks
Overall Draft Grade: C/C-
There's not too much in this draft to be excited about. Trahan is a dynamic talent up top, but he's a long way away and a big risk as a high school catcher. Munoz and Taylor seem like reaches in the early rounds, but Jake Barrett and Ronnie Freeman are intriguing college guys with some power to their game. The D-Backs didn't have a lot of money this year, but they will still be able to sign most if not all of these top guys thanks to their tendency for college players.
1st Round (26): Stryker Trahan, C, Acadiana HS (LA), 6'1", 215, L/R
Trahan is an athletic catcher with very good present strength who has shown some power potential. He swings the bat hard and the ball flies off his barrel when he squares it up. Behind the plate, while he makes up for it with pure athleticism at times, he will need some refinement to be solid behind the plate at the next level. Regardless, he's an interesting selection here, and while high school catchers are always risky, Trahan has some major upside.
There's not too much in this draft to be excited about. Trahan is a dynamic talent up top, but he's a long way away and a big risk as a high school catcher. Munoz and Taylor seem like reaches in the early rounds, but Jake Barrett and Ronnie Freeman are intriguing college guys with some power to their game. The D-Backs didn't have a lot of money this year, but they will still be able to sign most if not all of these top guys thanks to their tendency for college players.
1st Round (26): Stryker Trahan, C, Acadiana HS (LA), 6'1", 215, L/R
Trahan is an athletic catcher with very good present strength who has shown some power potential. He swings the bat hard and the ball flies off his barrel when he squares it up. Behind the plate, while he makes up for it with pure athleticism at times, he will need some refinement to be solid behind the plate at the next level. Regardless, he's an interesting selection here, and while high school catchers are always risky, Trahan has some major upside.
2nd Round (90): Jose Munoz, SS, Los Altos HS (CA), 6'3", 185, R/R
Munoz is a bit of a reach here as most people had him in the 200-300 range. He's a solid athlete with well above-average speed and a strong throwing arm from short. His bat is a long-term project, but the tools are all there.
3rd Round (120): Jake Barrett, RHP, Arizona State University (JR), 6'4", 220
Barrett is a big-bodied reliever with a heavy fastball. The fastball has hit the upper 90s at times and paired with his erratic command and high-effort delivery, he looks like a bullpen arm at the next level. That being said, Barrett profiles very well as a power reliever that has the chance to come out of the back end of a bullpen.
Munoz is a bit of a reach here as most people had him in the 200-300 range. He's a solid athlete with well above-average speed and a strong throwing arm from short. His bat is a long-term project, but the tools are all there.
3rd Round (120): Jake Barrett, RHP, Arizona State University (JR), 6'4", 220
Barrett is a big-bodied reliever with a heavy fastball. The fastball has hit the upper 90s at times and paired with his erratic command and high-effort delivery, he looks like a bullpen arm at the next level. That being said, Barrett profiles very well as a power reliever that has the chance to come out of the back end of a bullpen.
4th Round (153): Chuck Taylor, OF, Mansfield Timberview HS (TX), 5'10", 175, S/L
Taylor is more of an athlete than a baseball player at this point and he's shown the defensive tools necessary to patrol center field at the next level. He's not very refined, especially with the bat, and will need a lot of work to profile as an everyday outfielder. A bit of a reach here.
5th Round (183): Ronnie Freeman, C, Keenesaw State University (JR), 6'1", 195, R/R
Freeman has shown quite a bit of power potential and projects above-average pop at the next level. He won't be anything more than average behind the plate, but he can handle the position and is good value here.
6th Round (213): Jacob Lamb, 3B, Washington University (JR), 6'3", 215, L/R
7th Round (243): Andrew Velasquez, SS, Fordham Prep School (NY), 5'8", 175, S/R
8th Round (273): Evan Marzilli, OF, South Carolina University (JR), 6'0", 185, L/L
9th Round (303): Jeff Gibbs, RHP, University of Maine-Orono (JR), 6'4", 210
10th Round (333): Daniel Poma, OF, Hofstra University (SR), 6'1", 210
Taylor is more of an athlete than a baseball player at this point and he's shown the defensive tools necessary to patrol center field at the next level. He's not very refined, especially with the bat, and will need a lot of work to profile as an everyday outfielder. A bit of a reach here.
5th Round (183): Ronnie Freeman, C, Keenesaw State University (JR), 6'1", 195, R/R
Freeman has shown quite a bit of power potential and projects above-average pop at the next level. He won't be anything more than average behind the plate, but he can handle the position and is good value here.
6th Round (213): Jacob Lamb, 3B, Washington University (JR), 6'3", 215, L/R
7th Round (243): Andrew Velasquez, SS, Fordham Prep School (NY), 5'8", 175, S/R
8th Round (273): Evan Marzilli, OF, South Carolina University (JR), 6'0", 185, L/L
9th Round (303): Jeff Gibbs, RHP, University of Maine-Orono (JR), 6'4", 210
10th Round (333): Daniel Poma, OF, Hofstra University (SR), 6'1", 210
Diamondbacks Draft Strategy: An Overview
The Diamondbacks have shown the tendency to select the best player available and have taken a plethora of right handed pitchers the last two years, as 8 out of their first 12 picks in 2011 and 7 out of their first 8 picks in 2010 were right handers. This year, with only $3.818 million to spread over their first 10 selections, it seems as though it will be pretty tough for them to go over-slot with any of their picks unless they load up on college seniors with the majority of their other picks.
A solid player should be available for them at pick 26 and it will be very interesting to see what route they go. Last year, in Kevin Towers’ first year as the GM, they selected a very balanced class, with 6 college players and 5 high schoolers through the first 11 picks. There won’t be too much risk in the Arizona class this year, and they are most likely heavily scouting talent in the college ranks. We had them taking a risk with Matt Smoral, a UNC commit, in the first round of our mock.
Mock Draft Selection: Matt Smoral, LHP, Solon HS (OH)
A solid player should be available for them at pick 26 and it will be very interesting to see what route they go. Last year, in Kevin Towers’ first year as the GM, they selected a very balanced class, with 6 college players and 5 high schoolers through the first 11 picks. There won’t be too much risk in the Arizona class this year, and they are most likely heavily scouting talent in the college ranks. We had them taking a risk with Matt Smoral, a UNC commit, in the first round of our mock.
Mock Draft Selection: Matt Smoral, LHP, Solon HS (OH)
Coming Soon to the Diamondbacks Team Page: 2012 Draft Review and Report Card, Top 20 Prospect List
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