Top Prospect
Tyler Skaggs - This one is pretty clear cut. The 20 year old southpaw already has 6 major league games under his belt and didn't fare too poorly in hi outings. His 5.83 ERA and 5.86 FIP indicate he had some clear issues during his small sample size, but he showed flashes of his plus fastball and plus curve. Skaggs needs to continue to develop his changeup with has the potential in becoming a legitimate plus pitch as he is gaining a repertoire that resembles that of a future front line starter. Skaggs needs to work on his mechanics in order to gain more consistency at the higher level. At times, he would lose command, primarily during his secondary pitches. Nevertheless, Skaggs projects as a top level starter because of the fact that he has 3 potential plus pitches.
Top Hitter
Stryker Trahan - I hate picking such raw young talent as a top hitting prospect, but I did it with the Rockies and I'm doing it with the Diamondbacks as well. It's really annoying since Trahan may not actually make the major leagues for at least another 3 seasons, but the 18 year old catcher shined in his first season in rookie ball. His bat may speed up his movement through the system entirely, but that would require him to become a first baseman which would significantly drop his value. Trahan is already an excellent contact hitter, has plus power, and most importantly has shown signs of elite plate discipline and pitch recognition by posting an OBP of .422 in 211 plate appearances. He's needs a ton of polish in regards to catching, but the Diamondbacks should be able to bring him up slowly as Miguel Montero has a stronghold on the catching position in Arizona.
Bronze Medal
Archie Bradley - Bradley has a smooth delivery, excellent mechanics, and 2 plus pitches that should make the 19 year old righty an MLB starter one day. His excellent fastball brought him notoriety in high school, but it was his curveball that provided a ton of swings and misses in high A ball. Bradley has yet to develop a viable third pitch, which may eventually lead him to becoming a high leverage reliever, but the 6-4 225 lb power pitcher still has a ton of time to develop.
-Rich Douglas
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