With more than half of the Diamondbacks’ starting position players off at the World Baseball Classic, the next week or so is an opportunity for the next wave within the organization to shine.
Through the first couple of weeks of games, several already have. Here’s a rundown of some of the top names to watch and breakdowns of what they have shown so far, based on conversations with coaches and executives.
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Ryan Waldschmidt, OF
Waldschmidt is the organization’s top prospect and has mostly lived up to the billing in camp. Looking more comfortable at the plate as the spring has progressed, he has put up good results, going 6 for 19 (.316) with three doubles and a home run. He also has shown good athleticism in the outfield.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar catches a fly ball during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar catches a fly ball during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) rounds the bases after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno (14) bats against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Alek Thomas (5) runs to second base after hitting a double against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
D. Baxter the Bobcat, the Arizona Diamondbacks mascot, signs autographs during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
The Arizona Diamondbacks take the field against the Colorado Rockies during the spring training season opener at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run over Colorado Rockies left fielder Zac Veen (13) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
The Salt River Pima – Maricopa Indian Community traditional dancers perform at the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training season opener at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
A fan and her dog cheer for the Arizona Diamondbacks during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas (5) signs autographs during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Colorado Rockies pitcher Juan Mejia (47) throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Fans watch the action on the left field lawn as the Colorado Rockies host the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Hoffmann (56) throws to the Colorado Rockies in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas (5) catches a fly ball from Colorado Rockies’ Edouard Julien (6) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Philip Abner (50) takes the mound against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
He entered camp with an outside shot of making the Opening Day roster, but with Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s surprisingly swift recovery from knee surgery — Gurriel could be back sometime in the middle of April — it likely makes a return to the minors more likely for Waldschmidt.
Tommy Troy, 2B
Troy has posted terrific results, going 11 for 21 (.524) with four doubles. His at-bat quality has been good, as well, with his first at-bat against the Athletics on March 4 serving as an example: He worked a 3-1 count, took a borderline pitch to push the count full, then shot a base hit through the right side on a fastball over the plate.
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Troy showed last year he had a chance to hit. He has shown this spring that he has made some strides in the field, as well. Granted, he is not seen as a finished product, but he has looked more like a player capable of sticking on the dirt than he did at times last year, when some evaluators saw him as a future outfielder.
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Jose Fernandez, SS/3B
Fernandez has been the talk of camp. His results at the plate have been solid — he is just 4 for 19 (.211), but all four hits are for extra bases — but beyond that, his at-bats have been pretty good and his batted ball quality has been eye-popping. Of the 13 balls he has put in play, 10 have been hit 100 mph or harder, seven of which were hit at optimum angles.
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He has perhaps looked even better defensively. He has made tough plays look routine but mostly just looks as if he belongs, whether it’s at shortstop or third base. His arm is strong and accurate, and his internal clock seems well-calibrated. That is to say, the game does not look too fast for him.
Ryan Waldschmidt #86 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with Tim Tawa #13 after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the seventh inning of a spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark on Feb. 23, 2026, in Goodyear.
Cristofer Torin, SS
Torin only just started playing in games after dealing with a minor wrist injury, but in the one game he played — the March 3 exhibition against Mexico — he quickly showed what he can bring. In his second at-bat, he hit a 103.6 mph liner up the middle that was caught by the second baseman. He also made a pair of routine plays at shortstop.
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Torin’s size might limit his ultimate impact, but team officials see similarities in his game to that of shortstop Geraldo Perdomo a few years ago. He controls the zone, makes a lot of contact and plays a solid defensive shortstop.
Other Diamondbacks prospects worth monitoring
Demetrio Crisantes, 2B: Like Torin, he just began playing in games — he was delayed as he rehabbed from last year’s season-ending shoulder surgery — but is widely viewed as the best pure hitter in the organization. Spring could provide a glimpse of where he stands defensively, given that there have been questions about his ability to play an average second base. Given the severity of his surgery and the amount of time he missed, Crisantes shouldn’t be graded too harshly this spring.
Diamondbacks infielder LuJames Groover (91) hits a double against the Rangers during a spring training game in Surprise on Feb. 24, 2026.
LuJames Groover, 3B: Groover has logged the most at-bats of anyone in camp but hasn’t had a standout spring. Known as a strong hitter, he has gone 7 for 25 (.280) with two doubles. His defense at third has been shaky, with some suggesting he is still trying to get comfortable playing in big-league games.
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Jansel Luis, 2B/3B: Luis has played in only a handful of games, going 0 for 2 and being his typically aggressive self. He has a relatively high ceiling given his frame and physical projection, but he still has areas of his game in need of refinement and consistency.
Merrill Kelly back on the mound
Right-hander Merrill Kelly threw about 25 pitches in a bullpen session, Lovullo said.
“I got a chance to speak with him directly after the bullpen and he said he feels really good,” Lovullo said. “Everything came out as good as he had hoped. What the next steps are at this point, I’m not sure.”
Kelly is building back up after dealing with back tightness last month.
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Cubs 8, Diamondbacks 1
At Sloan Park
At the plate: 1B Pavin Smith clubbed his second homer of the spring. Like the first, it was an opposite-field shot to left-center. Smith has had a handful of rough plays in the field at first base, but he has swung the bat well, going 6-for-20 (.300) with a double, a triple and two homers. The Diamondbacks had six hits and three walks and went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
On the mound: Just three batters into the game, the Cubs had scored three times off RHP Ryne Nelson. But Nelson turned it around, eventually retiring the final seven batters of his outing and departing after 2 2/3 innings. Nelson walked none, struck out three and averaged 96.3 mph with his fastball, a half-tick up from his average last season. “I probably could have executed some pitches better there (early in the game),” Nelson said. “But settled in and threw some strikes and got some outs after that. Pretty happy with how everything is coming out right now. Just got to clean a couple things up.” RHPs Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson each were scored upon in their outings. Ginkel gave up a run on two hits; Thompson allowed two runs, both coming on a homer by SS Dansby Swanson.
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Extra bases: C Gabriel Moreno had a rough time with the challenge system. With 1B Michael Busch at the plate in the bottom of the first, he challenged a Nelson cutter that was called a ball. The call was confirmed, the pitch roughly 1½ inches below the zone. Two innings later, Moreno was at the plate when he challenged a strike called against him. The fastball from Cubs RHP Colin Rea overlapped the outside corner. Again, the call was confirmed, and the Diamondbacks were out of challenges. The team made a trio of roster moves before the game, optioning right-handers Yilber Diaz and Dylan Ray to Triple-A Reno and reassigning catcher Gavin Logan to minor league camp.
Next games, Friday, March 6: Diamondbacks (ss) RHP Daniel Eagen vs. White Sox LHP Anthony Kay, 1:10 p.m., Salt River Fields; Diamondbacks (ss) LHP Mitch Bratt vs. Brewers RHP Chad Patrick, 1:10 p.m., American Family Fields.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks prospects standing out at camp; Merrill Kelly update