Format = Position Player | Age on 4/1/2024 | Highest Level Played | Estimated Time of Arrival
1. SS Jordan Lawlar | 21 | MLB | 2023
The snakes slithered into the World Series on the strength of Corbin Carrol’s fantastic rookie season and some dynamite outings from the starting rotation. Lawlar’s on the books with a chance to repeat Carroll’s rookie of the year feat and establish himself as an everyday player in the top half of a contending lineup. At 6’2” 190 lbs, Lawlar plays plus defense at shortstop and brings plus power and speed on offense. The hit tool was his only question mark, but Lawlar answered that with a midseason surge that landed him in Triple-A, where he slashed .358/.438/.612 with five home runs, three stolen bases and 12 strikeouts in 16 games. He joined the big league club in September but couldn’t keep the hits coming and batted (and slugged) .129 with a 32.4 percent strikeout rate in 14 games. Would’ve been nice to see him help enough to have an obvious job entering 2024, but a couple weeks of 0-fers is no big deal for a guy his age debuting during a pennant race.
2. OF Druw Jones | 20 | A | 2026
A shoulder injury has limited Jones to just 41 games since he was drafted 2nd overall in 2022, but he started making good late in the summer, slashing .339/.438/.500 with two home runs and six steals over his final 16 games. Don’t let him fall too far down your lists this winter, particularly if you’re in a startup draft. Feels like he’ll be a real value in those this year.
3. SS Tommy Troy | 22 | A+ | 2025
In his junior season at Stanford, Troy hit .394 with 17 homers, 17 steals, 42 strikeouts and 35 walks in 58 games, prompting Arizona to select him 12th overall in the 2023 amateur draft. He spent just four games on the complex before heading out to High-A Hillsboro–a challenge he met with four home runs, eight steals and a .343 on base percentage. A versatile defender at 5’10” 197 lbs, Troy figures to move quickly through the system
4. OF Kristian Robinson | 23 | AA | 2024
If I’m being honest with my bedroom mirror, Robinson is my favorite prospect right now. I liked him a lot the first time I saw him swing and run, but my allegiance now is mostly due to the road he’s walked to get here. Legal and mental troubles cost him three full seasons of work, but he returned to the field this year looking much like his former self, flashing impressive power (14 HR in 65 G) and speed (23 SB) across four levels, peaking with a deep Double-A playoff push that saw him homering on an almost daily basis. There’s extreme upside here as he’s finally got the runway to focus on his game all winter so he can start fast in spring.
5. 3B Deyvison De Los Santos | 20 | AA | 2024
In a full season against much older players (5.6 years on average), De Los Santos hit 20 home runs and got better throughout the year, even if his patience didn’t improve. Over his final 27 games, he slashed .321/.339/.661 with a 1.7 percent-to-27.8 percent walk-to-strikeout rate. The ten home runs he popped in those 27 games are astounding, but it’s hard to imagine how that kind of approach will handle the next two levels. Not that it has to. DDLS has plenty of time to find a balance that works for him.
6. 3B Gino Groover | 21 | A+ | 2025
A 2nd round pick out of NC State, Groover headed to High-A along with Troy and held his own, striking out just nine percent of the time in 23 games and posting a .340 on base percentage. A hit-over-power approach helped the 6’2” 212 lb righty dominate for two seasons in the ACC and hints at some hidden topside if he can maintain the plate skills while actualizing his plus raw power in the pros.
7. 3B AJ Vukovich | 22 | AA | 2024
The best thing about Vukovich for our game is that he likes to run. He swiped 36 bases across two levels in 2022 and 20 bases at Double-A in 2023. 36-for-40 last year, he got caught nine times this season and might lose the green light as he gains levels but should still contribute assuming his 6’2” 210 lb frame doesn’t fill out much further. In 115 games, he hit 24 home runs and struck out at a 28.4 percent clip. For a 20/20 third baseman, he doesn’t get much publicity partly because he’s not a dreamy topside type and might be more at home on a second-division or rebuilding team. There’s going to be a lot of competition around here for a long time, and Vukovich doesn’t feature the sort of elite tools that could guarantee him some playing time.
8. 2B Jansel Luis | 19 | A | 2026
A six-foot switch-hitter, Luis enjoyed a dynamic opening month in the complex league and was promoted to Low-A, where he picked up three hits in his debut. In total, he played 62 games and slashed .269/.335/.441 with seven home runs and 16 steals. His 95 wRC+ in 36 Low-A games doesn’t scream “promote me” but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him open in High-A anyway. Arizona tends toward aggression in general but especially with kids who can make things happen even when they’re not in rhythm.
9. LHP Yu-Min Lin | 20 | AA | 2024
He’s just 5’11” and 160 lbs, but he makes up for the size and velocity questions by changing speeds and commanding his changeup all over the zone. In 11 Double-A starts against players 5.6 years older than him on average, Lin went 5-and-2 with 64 strikeouts and 26 walks in 61 innings. His 1.23 WHIP and 4.28 ERA look pretty solid in context, and if he can add a little velocity, his plus changeup should look even better.
10. OF Jorge Barrosa | 23 | AAA | 2024
I have to include 3B Ruben Santana and OF Dominic Fletcher here as honorable mentions for different reasons: Santana because he’s probably available in your leagues and should be monitored or just drafted and followed in First Year Player Drafts this winter; Fletcher because he’s a bit like Barrosa and has already held his own for a month at the major league level.
At 5’5” 165 lbs, Barrosa is a pesky player who only struck out 82 times (against 80 walks) in 120 Triple-A games. I thought he’d get a chance last year to see if his just-enough power profile would translate at the highest level. He slugged .456 with a .394 on base percentage in Reno, but that’s one of the game’s coziest offensive environments. Mostly a high-floor player for deep leaguers, he’s a solid defender and could settle into a platoon outfielder role this season.
Thanks for reading!
