Trades, graduations shuffle D-backs' Top 30 prospect rankings

Look around the field for the Diamondbacks and you see a lot of the organization’s former Top 30 prospects scattered about. There’s of course outfielders Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy, as well as shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and infielder Blaze Alexander.

On the mound, right-handers Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson have been arguably their two best starters this year.

All those graduations took a toll on the system, but the Diamondbacks keep reloading with such recent Draft picks as Ryan Waldschmidt and Slade Caldwell. And over the last couple of weeks, Arizona has boosted the group by trading veterans Randal Grichuk, Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suárez and Merrill Kelly.

Those trades and the emergence of some under-the-radar players have changed the Diamondbacks’ preseason Top 30 quite a bit.

Here’s a look at the D-backs’ top prospects:
1. Jordan Lawlar, INF
2. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF
3. Slade Caldwell, OF
4. Kayson Cunningham, SS
5. Demetrio Crisantes, INF
Complete Top 30 list >>

Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list

Jump: Carlos Virahonda, C (Preseason: NR | Midseason: 27)
In his first stateside season at the age of 19, Virahonda jumped onto the Diamondbacks’ prospect radar with an impressive debut in the Arizona Complex League before moving up to Single-A Visalia. He has a good arm, and he’s hitting a lot more line drives this season. Although he wasn’t on anybody’s Top 30 list in the spring, he now is in the conversation for best catching prospect in the system.

Fall: Yilber Díaz, RHP (Preseason: 5 | Midseason: NR)
It’s been a year to forget for Diaz. Last season he impressed the Diamondbacks in his four games in the big leagues (and three in relief), and the club loved his poise on the mound. Aside from one start against the Royals in which he gave up seven earned runs in three innings, he allowed just five runs in 25 1/3 innings. This year he made one relief appearance for Arizona and allowed three runs and walked three over three innings. Control has been a huge issue with him, and the team sent him back to the Arizona Complex League in hopes of getting him right.

New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization

4. Kayson Cunningham, SS (Pick No. 18 in 2025 Draft)
7. Tyler Locklear, 1B (Trade with Mariners)
8. Kohl Drake, LHP (Trade with Rangers)
10. Patrick Forbes, RHP (Pick No. 29 in 2025 Draft)
11. Mitch Bratt, LHP (Trade with Rangers)
17. David Hagaman, RHP (Trade with Rangers)
18. Dean Livingston, RHP (Pick No. 123 in 2025 Draft)
19. Brian Curley, RHP (Pick No. 92 in 2025 Draft
20. Ashton Izzi, RHP (Trade with Mariners)
24. Brandyn Garcia, LHP (Trade with Mariners)
30. Hunter Cranton, RHP (Trade with Mariners)

Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 60 – Demetrio Crisantes (Kayson Cunningham)
Power: 55 – Tyler Locklear (Ryan Waldschmidt)
Run: 70 – Jordan Lawlar (Slade Caldwell, Druw Jones)
Arm: 60 – Jones (Gavin Conticello, Carlos Virahonda)
Defense: 70 – Jones
Fastball: 70 – Yordin Chalas (Hunter Cranton)
Curveball: 60 – Cristian Mena (Daniel Eagen, Yu-Min Lin)
Slider: 60 – Brandyn Garcia (Brian Curley)
Changeup: 60 – Yu-Min Lin
Control: 60 -- Mitch Bratt