Top 11 Prospects Recap: Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks Top 11 Prospects List
First on the list is Jarrod Parker, the 2007 1st-rounder. The once booming Arizona farm system has had its’ talent either graduated or traded away in packaged deals (Dan Haren). The soon to be 20-year old RHP Parker had his first minor league season and began with South Bend (Low-A). He spent the entire season there and recorded a 3.44 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP and 117 Ks in 117.2 IP, almost an exact 1 K/IP. Things are looking up for Parker and he should be able to test AA by mid-season 2009.
2) Daniel Schlereth (LHP)
Another first rounder, Schlereth was picked 26th overall in this year’s draft. In limited time, he posted a 1.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with a 6:20 BB:K ratio in only 12 innings. He split time between Rookie and Low-A and should begin the season at High-A. He could reach AAA by year’s end, as the Diamondbacks are expected to be aggressive with the 22-year old.
This 21-year old was signed out of Venezuela in 2004 and has completed 3 full minor league seasons with the organization. Parra continues to show his ability to hit for contact, going .301/.381/.413 with a 23:31 BB:K ratio in High-A ball. After being promoted to AA, he hit .275/.341/.419 with a 24:34 BB:K ratio. Parra also likes to steal bases, but needs to work on his baserunning ability, as he went 28 for 41 (68%). Parra also needs to work on his reads as he committed 11 errors and ultimately may be pushed into RF despite his strong arm (13 assists). Injuries permitting, Parra should be able to see limited time with the Diamondbacks in 2009.
Wade Miley was another 1st rounder from 2008. He is a strong, powerful lefty who has the stuff to be a starter but may only have the control to be a reliever. Miley started his career in short-season ball and made 7 relief appearances, posting a 4.91 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with a 5:11 BB:K ratio in 11 innings. It’s hard to judge him until we see what he does in his first full season, but he has the stuff to be a big leaguer.
Cesar Valdez will be 24 at opening day and if he continues to put up his career minor league lines, he will get a chance to start for Arizona later in the season. This year, Valdez started in High-A and posted a 2.53 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 16:80 BB:K ratio in 96 innings. After showing outstanding control, he was promoted to AA where he finished the year putting up a 4.06 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with a 23:60 BB:K ratio in 64.1 IP.
The 18-year old Eichhorn was dominating in high school and was widely expected to go to Santa Clara. However, the Diamondbacks took a shot and offered $500,000 to Eichhorn in hopes of changing his mind, and they were successful. The 18-year old could start in Low-A ball next year and is expected to move slowly.
The speedy left-handed center fielder continued where he left off in 2007 by hitting .327/.401/.417 with 39:38 BB:K in Low-A and .297/.399/.402 and a 37:46 BB:K rate after his promotion to High-A. He went 37 for 48 in SB attempts (77%). In 784 career minor league at bats, Frey has hit only 3 HR, solidifying his future role as a lead-off hitter. He is solid defensively, and as a former 10th round draft pick he is still completely underrated.
Just like Frey, Barnette was a 10th round draft pick, from the year prior. Barnette made a two level jump in 2008, going from Low-A to AA, a move brought on by his age (25). He posted a 3.87 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with a 42:133 BB:K in 153.2 IP. Barnette continues to post solid but unspectacular numbers in the minor leagues. Barnette at best could make it as a #3 starter and should get a shot to prove himself in some capacity for Arizona this year.
Cowgill, drafted in the 5th round this year, had a short dominating stint in short-season ball before being promoted to Low-A. He posted 11 HRs in only 79 ABs in short-season ball with a .304/.415/.785 line. In 201 at bats in Low-A, the power-sapping Midwest League dropped him to only 1 HR, leaving him with a .358 SLG at that level. Cowgill is strong, but at 5′9″ he doesn’t project to hit more than 20 HR.
10) Bryan Shaw (RHP)
This year’s 2nd rounder, Shaw pitched in 21 relief appearances this year splitting time between Rookie and Low-A. On the year, he posted a 5.22 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 13:33 BB:K in 39.2 IP. It was not an impressive debut for the 2nd rounder.
Last year’s 2nd rounder, Enright had 15 scoreless innings in 2007 but did not fair as well in his first full-season. Enright pitched the year at High-A, posting a 4.44 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 35:143 BB:K in 164.1 IP. An improvement is expected next year, but it was far from what was expected of him by the organization.
Recap:
While I agree with the rankings of the first three prospects, I would put Cesar Valdez ahead of Wade Miley and Frey ahead of Eichhorn. Enright should also be ahead of Shaw. Valdez has put up strong numbers year after year and continues to be underrated by scouts despite the statistical evidence that supports his case. Miley and Eichhorn have yet to prove anything, and neither looked impressive in their extremely short debut stints. Frey is also under-rated, and while he doesn’t project as an everyday player, he has the tools to be a lead-off hitter on most clubs if he continues to post the numbers he has thus far in his career. It is clearly evident where Arizona’s scouting has been, and there is an overwhelming number of pitchers in the pipeline but only one (Parker) has a high ceiling. With four compensation-eligible free agents (Dunn, Cruz, Hudson, Johnson), the Diamondbacks are hoping to restock their system in the 2009 draft to usher in the next generation of young Diamondbacks.
