ESPN writer has Diamondbacks falling in MLB farm system rankings

The Arizona Diamondbacks are firmly in the mix for the final National League Wild Card spot, and some of their young players are helping lead the charge.

Ryan Waldschmidt, Brandyn Garcia and Tim Tawa have played crucial roles in keeping the D-backs’ playoff hopes alive. But they have graduated from prospect status, leaving the farm system evaluation a little worse for wear.

In ESPN MLB analyst Kiley McDaniel’s latest farm system rankings, the Diamondbacks have fallen five spots, to 26th. Second baseman Demetrio Crisantes is the only player in the organization cracking the MLB’s top 100 prospects.

Having a depleted farm system isn’t the worst thing to have for the Diamondbacks, especially when so many of their big-league contributors are still so young.

Waldschmidt has surged as of late, and after a slow start to his rookie campaign, he’s now batting .271 with a .727 OPS — not to mention his walk-off home run vs. the Chicago Cubs.

Garcia, 26, who they acquired from the Mariners in 2025, has been one of the more reliable relievers this season as well, pitching to a 2.37 ERA with four saves and 15 holds.

Troy’s season has been injury-riddled, but he’s shown promise in 39 games played. He is currently on a rehab assignment after being on the IL with a sprained right AC joint that he suffered on July 11.

Looking at what’s left of the farm system, Crisantes has gone all the way from rookie ball to AAA this season and is currently batting .271 for the Reno Aces.

The other top prospects in the farm likely won’t debut for a few years, but Ryder Helfrick and Kayson Cunningham, the D-backs’ second- and third-ranked prospects, are both performing well in A-ball.

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