Written By: Austin Farmer & Drake Mann
Follow them on Twitter:@AustinF0421, @DrakeMann4
Follow Prospects Worldwide on Twitter: @ProspectsWorldW
**Right below is the Diamondbacks Risers and Shiners list simplified. Scroll further down for FULL Future Grades, Role, ETA, and summaries on EACH PLAYER ranked on this list! Tons of 2022 Statistics on each player as well! Some player highlights, future outlooks and more enjoy!**
| Rank | Player | Position | How Acquired |
| 1 | Corbin Carroll | OF | 1st Round 2019 Draft – 16th Overall |
| 2 | Gabriel Moreno | C | Trade With Blue Jays |
| 3 | Jordan Lawlar | SS | 1st Round 2021 Draft – 6th Overall |
| 4 | Druw Jones | OF | 1st Round 2022 Draft – 2nd Overall |
| 5 | Brandon Pfaadt | RHP | 5th Round – 2020 Draft |
| 6 | Ryne Nelson | RHP | 2nd Round 2019 Draft – 56th Overall |
| 7 | Blake Walston | LHP | 1st Round 2019 Draft – 26th Overall |
| 8 | Landon Sims | RHP | 1st Round 2022 Draft – 34th Overall |
| 9 | Ivan Melendez | 1B | 2nd Round 2022 Draft – 43rd Overall |
| 10 | Deyvison De Los Santos | 3B/1B | International Signing 2019 |
| Risers | |||
| 1 | Yu Min-Lin | LHP | International Signing 2021 |
| 2 | Anderson Rojas | 2B | International Signing 2021 |
| 3 | Wilderd Patino | OF | International Signing 2017 |
| 4 | Manuel Pena | 2B | International Signing 2021 |
| 5 | Danyer Sanabria | OF | International Signing 2018 |
1. Corbin Carroll OF | Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
22-Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: L | 5’10” | 165 lbs. | ETA: 2022
| Hit | PWR | FLD | SPD | ARM | DISC | Role |
| 60 | 45 | 50 | 70 | 50 | 50 | 6 |
| AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | HR | SB | CS | K% | BB% |
| .260 | .330 | .500 | .830 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 27.0% | 7.0% |
| ISO | wRC+ | SwStr% | GB% | LD% | FB% | Pull% | Cent% | Oppo% |
| .240 | 130 | 11.4% | 47.9% | 24.7% | 27.4% | 41.1% | 28.8% | 30.1% |
Scouting Report:
After missing the majority of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury, Corbin Carroll came back on fire in 2022 and hit his way into the Diamondbacks every day lineup. His power showed better than projected and Carroll should be the Diamondback’s leadoff hitter of the future. He’s got the speed and baserunning instincts that gives him a ton of stolen base projection. The Washington native has an exciting and electric way about him that gives Arizona fans a lot to hope for.
Written By: Austin Farmer (@AustinF0421)
2. Gabriel Moreno C | Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
22-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 5’11” | 195 lbs. | ETA: 2022
| Hit | PWR | FLD | SPD | ARM | DISC | Role |
| 60 | 50 | 70 | 40 | 60 | 60 | 6 |
| AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | HR | SB | CS | K% | BB% |
| .319 | .356 | .377 | .733 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11.0% | 5.5% |
| ISO | wRC+ | SwStr% | GB% | LD% | FB% | Pull% | Cent% | Oppo% |
| .058 | 113 | 9.1% | 57.4% | 18.0% | 24.6% | 23.0% | 36.1% | 41.0% |
Scouting Report:
The Diamondbacks acquired Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. from the Blue Jays for Daulton Varsho and Moreno looks to be the Diamondbacks starting catcher going into 2023. Moreno is solid on both sides of the ball. With his mix of elite bat speed and control, he has a plus hit tool. Moreno hits to all fields with authority and should develop average power going forward. Defensively, his 1.92 pop time is among top 10 in all of baseball and he mixes this with plus arm strength to be a plus-plus defender behind the plate.
Written By: Drake Mann (@Drakemann4)
3. Jordan Lawlar SS | Amarillo Sod Poodles (AA)
20-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’2″ | 190 lbs. | ETA: 2024
| Hit | PWR | FLD | SPD | ARM | DISC | Role |
| 60 | 50 | 55 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 6 |
| AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | HR | SB | CS | K% | BB% |
| .303 | .401 | .509 | .910 | 16 | 39 | 6 | 25.1% | 12.4% |
| ISO | wRC+ | SwStr% | GB% | LD% | FB% | Pull% | Cent% | Oppo% |
| .206 | 138 | 13.4% | 48.3% | 20.3% | 31.4% | 45.4% | 22.9% | 31.8% |
Scouting Report:
Lawlar climbed four levels in 2022 and finished the season in Double-A where he struggled to make consistent contact. Lawlar makes hard contact and projects for good extra base hit numbers with his plus speed and should steal enough bases to make him a 20-20 bat a few times throughout his career. The former first rounder has a strong chance to stick at short long term, but needs to add a little more behind his throws.
Written By: Austin Farmer (@AustinF0421)
4. Druw Jones OF | ACL Diamondbacks (Rk)
19-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’4″ | 180 lbs. | ETA: 2025
| Hit | PWR | FLD | SPD | ARM | DISC | Role |
| 50 | 55 | 60 | 70 | 60 | 50 | 6 |
*No Stats for 2022 Season*
Scouting Report:
Druw Jones had some of the biggest hype coming out of the 2022 draft and for good reason, he is already a plus-plus defender in the outfield and his bat will definitely play when he is called up to the Diamondbacks. The ball jumps off his bat and there’s definite power potential as he matures. While he does have some swing and miss, he’ll hit enough to be an all star caliber player. It’ll be interesting to see how aggressive the Diamondbacks are with Jones after hurting his shoulder last season but in the end Jones will be an all star talent for years to come.
Written By: Drake Mann (@Drakemann4)
5. Brandon Pfaadt RHP | Reno Aces (AAA)
24-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’4″ | 220 lbs. | ETA: 2023
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Control | Role |
| 60 | 50 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 5 |
| IP | G | GS | ERA | WHIP | K% | BB% | HR/9 |
| 167.0 | 29 | 29 | 3.83 | 1.16 | 31.6% | 4.8% | 1.51 |
| SwStr% | xFIP | GB% | LD% | FB% | Pull% | Cent% | Oppo% |
| 16.5% | 3.92 | 33.2% | 26.0% | 40.8% | 44.0% | 24.3% | 31.7% |
Scouting Report:
One of the rising pitching prospects in all of baseball, Pfaadt is easily the Diamondbacks top pitching prospect and he’s been an out of nowhere talent for the Diamondbacks. Pfaadt led all of minor league baseball in strikeouts in 2022 and was 17th in all of minor league baseball with a 31.6% strikeout rate. Pfaadt has a good repeatable delivery with some deceptiveness. His four-seam fastball sits 93-95 mph while touching 97 mph, while he also throws a sinker in the low-90’s. He has impressive secondaries that include a plus slider, a good fading changeup and a curveball. There’s a good chance that Pfaadt debuts in 2023 and Diamondbacks fans get to see their future stud rotation piece.
Written By: Drake Mann (@Drakemann4)
6. Ryne Nelson RHP | Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
25-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’3″ | 185 lbs. | ETA: 2022
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Control | Role |
| 60 | 55 | 55 | 45 | 50 | 5 |
| IP | G | GS | ERA | WHIP | K% | BB% | HR/9 |
| 18.1 | 3 | 3 | 1.47 | 0.82 | 23.2% | 8.7% | 0.98 |
| SwStr% | xFIP | GB% | LD% | FB% | Pull% | Cent% | Oppo% |
| 8.2% | 4.69 | 23.4% | 14.9% | 61.7% | 31.9% | 38.3% | 29.8% |
Scouting Report:
Nelson debuted in 2022 and killed it over his first 18.1 innings in the bigs. He had a 23.2% strikeout rate in those innings with a 2.24 xERA and a 3.77 FIP. Nelson will be a solid rotation piece for the Diamondbacks as his stuff is some of the best in the system. His fastball has good ride and gets up to 98 mph. His best secondaries include his curveball and slider both rate as above-average pitches. His changeup will be a decent offering but is just another look for hitters. 2023 looks to be a big year for Nelson as he’s already had a taste of the bigs, but if everything goes right he’ll be a mid-rotation starter. However, his stuff would play up massively out of the bullpen, where he could become a solid relief weapon.
Written By: Drake Mann (@Drakemann4)
7. Blake Walston LHP | Amarillo Sod Poodles (AA)
21-Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: L | 6’5″ | 175 lbs. | ETA: 2024
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Control | Role |
| 50 | 55 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 5 |
| IP | G | GS | ERA | WHIP | K% | BB% | HR/9 |
| 124.0 | 25 | 25 | 4.79 | 1.40 | 25.8% | 8.6% | 1.16 |
| SwStr% | xFIP | GB% | LD% | FB% | Pull% | Cent% | Oppo% |
| 12.9% | 4.43 | 35.4% | 28.3% | 36.3% | 47.5% | 21.9% | 30.6% |
Scouting Report:
Blake Walston has an interesting left-handed profile. He’s on the leaner side and his velo is only below-average, but the life on his fastball plays his grade up giving it a 50. He does a good job of throwing hitters off balance with his deceptive delivery and mixing in an above-average curve and plus slider. There is risk with Walston due to his velocity, but he still projects to be a starter in the Dbacks rotation and eat some innings.
Written By: Austin Farmer (@AustinF0421)
8. Landon Sims RHP | ACL Diamondbacks
22-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’2″ | 225 lbs. | ETA: 2025
| FB | SL | CH | Control | Role |
| 60 | 60 | 40 | 55 | 5 |
*No Stats for the 2022 Season*
Scouting Report:
Sims was one of the best college pitchers in the 2022 draft but had Tommy John Surgery in March, and 2023 will be the debut year of Landon Sims. Sims might have the biggest upside but the most amount of risk on any pitcher on this list. The Diamondbacks will give him every chance to start but the end result could be a dominant reliever with the stuff he possesses. His fastball sits mid 90’s while touching high 90’s and he posses a solid slider with good late bit. He also displays a changeup but it’s more of a different look for hitters. In the end, Sims has the potential of being a solid pitcher, especially with his command of the strike zone and bulldog presence on the mound but the development of another pitch could make him skyrocket up lists.
Written By: Drake Mann (@Drakemann4)
9. Ivan Melendez 1B | Visalia Rawhide (A)
22-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’3″ | 225 lbs. | ETA: 2025
| Hit | PWR | FLD | SPD | ARM | DISC | Role |
| 50 | 60 | 45 | 40 | 45 | 45 | 5 |
| AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | HR | SB | CS | K% | BB% |
| .206 | .358 | .351 | .709 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20.8% | 10.8% |
| ISO | wRC+ | SwStr% | GB% | LD% | FB% | Pull% | Cent% | Oppo% |
| .144 | 96 | 12.1% | 47.2% | 25.0% | 27.8% | 41.7% | 22.2% | 36.1% |
Scouting Report:
Melendez chose to return for another season at the University of Texas instead of signing with the Miami Marlins when they took him in the 16th round of the 2021 draft. His decision was a great one and he hit his way into the second round of the 2022 draft. Melendez’s power is electric and where most of his value comes from. He’s going to come with swing-and-miss, but his bat will keep up enough that 30+ HR projection is more than capable.
Written By: Austin Farmer (@AustinF0421)
10. Deyvison De Los Santos 1B | Amarillo Sod Poodles (AA)
19-Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’1″ | 185 lbs. | ETA: 2024
| Hit | PWR | FLD | SPD | ARM | DISC | Role |
| 40 | 60 | 40 | 45 | 45 | 40 | 4 |
| AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | HR | SB | CS | K% | BB% |
| .306 | .348 | .499 | .847 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 26.3% | 6.1% |
| ISO | wRC+ | SwStr% | GB% | LD% | FB% | Pull% | Cent% | Oppo% |
| .193 | 118 | 17.8% | 54.8% | 18.0% | 27.2% | 41.6% | 23.9% | 34.5% |
Scouting Report:
Much like Ivan Melendez, Deyvison De Los Santos’ value on the diamond will come from the juice in his bat. He hits loud homers and has enough pop in his bat for 30+ homers, and the projection will get better if he can improve his hit tool. De Los Santos has some of the best raw power in the minors.
Written By: Austin Farmer (@AustinF0421)
Risers:
1. Anderson Rojas 2B | ACL Dbacks Red (ROK)
18 Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: R | 5’8″ | 150 lbs. | ETA: 2026
2. Yu Min-Lin LHP | Visalia Rawhide (A)
19 Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: L | 5’11” | 160 lbs. | ETA: 2025
3. Wilderd Patino OF | Hillsboro Hops (A+)
21 Years-Old | Bats: R | Throws: R | 6’1″ | 175 lbs. | ETA: 2024
4. Manuel Pena INF | Visalia Rawhide (A)
19 Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: R | 6’1″ | 170 lbs. | ETA: 2026
5. Danyer Sanabria OF | Visalia Rawhide (A)
20 Years-Old | Bats: L | Throws: L | 6’1″ | 150 lbs. | ETA: 2025
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