Diamondbacks set to showcase top prospects at spring training vs. Royals

Major League Baseball announced the schedule for 2025 Spring Breakout. The Diamondbacks take on the Royals on March 14 at Salt River Fields.

BY BRANDON CADIZ

Jan 19, 2025, 10:08 AM

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Jordan Lawlar #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts after the sixth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 07, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

(Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

Major League Baseball announced the schedule for 2025 Spring Breakout on Thursday. Just like last season’s inaugural event, the spring training games will showcase top prospects from all 30 organizations in Arizona and Florida.

The Arizona Diamondbacks take on the Kansas City Royals on March 14 at 5:10 p.m. from Salt River Fields. The game could feature the Diamondbacks’ top prospect in shortstop Jordan Lawlar, who missed most of last season with thumb and hamstring injuries. Lawlar in Triple-A Reno last season batted .367 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 12 games with 58 plate appearances.

Other top-ranked Diamondbacks prospects to watch include outfielder Druw Jones, infielder Tommy Troy and 2024 first-round pick, Slade Caldwell. The 18-year-old outfielder led his Arkansas high school team to the 5A state championship in 2024 and also went back-to-back in securing high school player of the year.

The fourth ranked prospect in the D-backs’ system, outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt, who was the 31st overall pick in 2024, played 14 games for Single-A Visalia. He slashed .273/.485/.318 with seven RBIs.

Right-handed pitcher Yilber Diaz, who saw a fast rise from Double-A to the major leagues in 2024, will try to show he deserves a spot in Arizona’s starting rotation in the future this season. The 24-year-old pitched in seven MLB games last season, starting in four of those contests. Diaz went 1-1 with a 3.81 ERA, allowing 13 runs while striking out 19. He posted a 1.37 WHIP in 28.1 innings.

The Royals will feature their top prospect and 17th rated prospect by MLB Pipeline, first baseman Jac Caglianone.

Caglianone played 29 games in High-A for the Quad Cities River Bandits and batted .241 with two home runs and 14 RBIs. Caglianone was a two-way star for the Florida Gators in 2024 and won the John Olerud Award, given to college baseball’s best hitter/pitcher.

Fans will get to see future Diamondbacks in a setting they usually would not experience during a normal spring training game.

Spring Breakout kicks off with the first game taking place on March 13 between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park in Florida.