Top 50 graphic design by Michael Packard, @CollectingPack on Twitter
Arizona Diamondbacks
NL West
2025 record: 80-82 (4th)
MiLB affiliates
Triple-A: Reno Aces
Double-A: Amarillo Sod Poodles
High-A: Hillsboro Hops
Single-A: Visalia Rawhide
2025 End-Of-Season farm system rank: #17
Jeremy Mahy’s organization take from our 2025 End-Of-Season Farm System Rankings:
The strength of the D-Backs system can be attributed to a strong 2024 draft class with the likes of Slade Caldwell, Ryan Waldschmidt, JD Dix and Daniel Eagen all coming out of that class. There have been rumors that Arizona could look to move KetelMarte in the offseason. If they do look for Tommy Troy to slide in at 2B. Kohl Drake, who was acquired from Texas at the deadline, could also see the majors in 2026.
2026 International Signing: Ruben Gallego, SS (Cuba) – $1.75M-$1.8M. Not included in the Top 50 rankings below. Would likely be slotted lower Tier 4/upper Tier 5. He’ll likely show up in our next Diamondbacks prospects update.
Prospects1500 writers who contributed to this column and rankings: Greg Bracken (@gregbracken07), Scott Greene (@Scotty_Ballgame), Shaun Kernahan (@ShaunKernahan), Tony Bps (@tonybps1), and Jeremy Mahy (@JMahyfam). The writer’s Twitter handle follows each player write-up or paragraph.
Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above-average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential to make the majors; possible sleeper candidates for sustained MLB success
Tier 5: Players of interest, worth keeping an eye on, who may make (or have made) the majors but provide minimal impact
Levels listed for each player are the highest levels player reached in 2025
Tier 1
None
Tier 2
1. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, 23, Double-A
Waldschmidt was the team’s 1st round pick in the 2024 Draft (31st overall) out of college. He immediately impressed, slashing .289/.419/.473 over two levels (A+ and AA) for the Diamondbacks in 2025. In 484 at bats he hit 18 home runs and stole 29 bases. Waldschmidt has a great eye at the plate, having almost as many walks as strikeouts, and has developing power to go with an above-average hit tool. He should move up to the majors soon, perhaps as quickly as late 2026. (@tonybps1)
2. Slade Caldwell, OF, 19, High-A
Caldwell turned heads early in his professional debut last season. He excelled in Single-A with a .294 average and .914 OPS, but his production dipped at High-A where he hit .238 with a .681 OPS over 300 plate appearances. Caldwell stands out for his elite speed and on-base skills (.408 OBP), however, his power is very limited and his approach at the plate is quite passive. His high BABIP (.381) and ground ball rate (51.5%) raise questions about how sustainable his success will be. Plus, there’s no room for added physical growth. He’s 5’9″ and already a muscular 182 pounds. Defensively, he’s a standout center fielder with great range and an adequate arm. Dynasty owners should temper expectations; think Sal Frelick or possibly Steven Kwan as a best-case outcome. (@CLEBoxscoreBeat)
Tier 3
3. Demetrio Crisantes, 2B/3B, 21, High-A
4. Kayson Cunningham, SS, 19, Single-A
The top prep hit tool in the 2025 MLB draft, Cunningham’s profile is built around elite bat-to-ball skills and a clean, efficient swing that’s simple, repeatable, and consistently on time. The bat is quick through the zone, allowing him to turn on pitches for hard line drives while also controlling the barrel well enough to use the whole field and draw his share of walks. He’s a good athlete with instincts and energy, showing exceptional range, soft hands, and a high defensive IQ that give him a chance to remain at shortstop, with a potential plus profile if he ultimately slides to second base. The power is more emerging than loud, but the contact quality and occasional pull-side pop suggest it can play to a fringe average. With the hit tool clearly leading the way, the overall profile points to a high-floor everyday infielder whose value is driven by consistent offensive production and reliable defense. (@ShaunKernahan)
5. Tommy Troy, 2B, 24, Triple-A
6. LuJames Groover, 3B, 23, Double-A
7. JD Dix, 2B, 20, Single-A
Dix was the team’s 1st round pick in 2024, going 35th overall after a successful high school career. He was assigned to Rookie ball and then promoted to Single-A after 39 games. Overall, he slashed .297/.404/.406 with 2 home runs and 28 stolen bases. He has a good approach at the plate and could develop power as he matures. Dix has been praised for his intangibles which could help in moving quickly through Arizona’s system. (@tonybps1)
8. Jansel Luis, 2B/3B, 20, High-A
9. Patrick Forbes, RHP, 21, College
10. David Hagaman, RHP, 22, High-A
Others of note in this tier: Crisantes sustained a left shoulder injury last May and missed the rest of the season. He should be back and healthy this spring, likely to be reassigned to High-A where he left off. Groover, formerly Gino, now LuJames, had a great year in Double-A, coming off a successful campaign in the 2024 Arizona Fall League. The 23-year-old infielder is ready for Triple-A and it’s not out of the question to see him get a late-2026 big league promotion. Forbes, the former two-way player out of the University of Louisville, is focused on pitching for Arizona. The 2025 first rounder will be making his pro debut this spring. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
Tier 4
11. Kohl Drake, LHP, 25, Triple-A
12. Daniel Eagen, RHP, 23, Double-A
13. Mitch Bratt, LHP, 22, Double-A
14. Cristian Mena, RHP, 23, MLB
15. Cristofer Torin, SS, 20, Double-A
16. Druw Jones, OF, 22, High-A
17. Yilber DÃaz, RHP, 25, MLB
18. Ashton Izzi, RHP, 22, High-A
If Drake can improve his control/command he could settle into a nice number four starter with strikeout upside. Eagen currently operates primarily with a fastball-slider combo (and the slider is filthy) but will need a viable third pitch to stick as a rotation candidate. Bratt finished last season in Double-A, posting a 3.98 ERA, striking out 12 per nine innings while only walking 1.4 per nine. Injuries the last two seasons have limited Mena’s innings which is a real bummer because he looked ready to contribute prior to the setbacks. Torin has great approach at the plate giving him a chance to hit for average and get on base at a high clip, just don’t expect much power. Jones has yet to produce up to his tools but did show some signs of progress last year as he lowered his strikeout rate from 28% to 23% while stealing 28 bases. 2026 will be a pivotal year for his development. There are doubts as to if Diaz can stick in the rotation due to control issues and the lack of a solid off-speed pitch. Izzi showed improvement in his command and pitch mix last season which could really accelerate his development this season if those gains stick. (@JMahyfam)
Tier 5
19. Adriel Radney, OF, 18, Rookie (DSL)
20. Yu-Min Lin, LHP, 22, Triple-A
21. Brian Curley, RHP, 22, College
22. Brandyn Garcia, LHP, 25, MLB
23. Yassel Soler, 3B, 20, Single-A
24. Dean Livingston, RHP, 19, High school
25. Carlos Virahonda, C, 20, Single-A
26. Kristian Robinson, OF, 25, Triple-A
27. Gavin Conticello, OF, 22, Double-A
28. Chung-Hsiang Huang, RHP, 20, Single-A
29. Dylan Ray, RHP, 24, Triple-A
30. Hunter Cranton, RHP, 25, High-A
31. Christian Cerda, C, 23, Double-A
32. Ivan Melendez, 1B, 26, Triple-A
33. Ivan Luciano, C, 19, Single-A
34. Yordin Chalas, RHP, 21, Double-A
35. A.J. Vukovich, OF, 24, Triple-A
36. Spencer Giesting, LHP, 24, Triple-A
37. Avery Owusu-Asiedu, OF, 22, High-A
38. Caden Grice, LHP, 23, Injured (Single-A in 2024)
39. Daury Vasquez, RHP, 19, Single-A
40. Elian De La Cruz, OF, 18, Rookie (DSL)
41. Albert Barriga, C, 21, Single-A
42. Abdias De La Cruz, OF, 21, Single-A
43. Manuel Pena, 1B, 22, Double-A
44. Mason Marriott, RHP, 23, High-A
45. Jaitoine Kelly, RHP, 18, Single-A
46. Junior Ciprian, RHP, 20, Single-A
47. Jose Fernandez, SS, 22, Double-A
48. Tytus Cissell, SS, 19, Rookie (ACL)
49. Hayden Durke, RHP, 23, Triple-A
50. Erick De La Cruz, OF, 19, Rookie (DSL)
A few deep dynasty nuggets you might want to grab before anyone else in your league does – Chalas, Marriott, Vasquez, De La Cruz (Elian) and De La Cruz (Erick). Melendez and Vukovich have now been around for a few years, but it’s not time to give up on them yet. The Hispanic Titanic (Melendez) is coming off a solid season across AA/AAA, and the same can be said for Vukovich, who spent all of 2025 at Triple-A Reno. Robinson still has tools to dream on, and 2026 could be the year for him. It’s been good to see the Bahamian’s comeback after not playing for three seasons (2020-2022). Pena put up 14 HR and 52 RBI in Amarillo last season as a 21-year-old. Durke is positioned to get some high-leverage MLB bullpen looks, coming off last year where he put up a dazzling 13.6 K/9 across three levels. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
Author
Prospects1500 is your comprehensive dynasty league resource, featuring deep MLB/MiLB top prospect lists, news and rankings.
Tony Bps Spina is a lifelong baseball fan hailing from the City of Brotherly Love – Philadelphia! Tony has loved baseball since 1980 and has followed the Phillies through good and bad times. Tony is married with 3 kids and works for a financial institution but has enough free time to play in 20 fantasy baseball leagues with 75% of them being Dynasty Leagues. He lives a few blocks away from Citizens Bank Park and attends many Phillies games per year in addition to their minor league teams in Lehigh Valley and Reading. He can be reached on Twitter at @TonyBps1.
President of Prospects1500. Founder of Diamond Duos dynasty fantasy baseball leagues and the MLB Fantasy Playoffs Parlay. Participant and champion in several dynasty/fantasy baseball and football leagues. Sales Manager for Reminder Publishing by day. Huge Bruce Springsteen and pro wrestling fan. Along with his wife and two boys, lives in Longmeadow, MA. Follow on Twitter at @Scotty_Ballgame.
J.W. resides in Northeast Ohio and is a lifelong Cleveland sports fan. His favorite baseball player of all-time is 2018 Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Thome. He enjoys playing Fantasy Baseball, especially dynasty leagues. He has been a contributor to Prospects1500 since January 2025. You can follow J.W. on X at @CLEBoxscoreBeat.
Shaun Kernahan is the MLB Draft correspondent for Prospects1500. When not at a game, chances are the TV and/or tablet has a game on and he has a notepad out taking notes. When not scouting draft prospects, he is the Director of Baseball Operations for the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate wood bat league in Colorado. Shaun can be found on Twitter at @ShaunKernahan.
Jeremy covers the St Louis organization and contributes on Prospects of the Week for Prospects1500. Born and raised in the Midwest, he is a lifelong fan of the Birds on the Bat. You can follow him on Twitter @JMahyfam for more baseball content.
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