MLB.com: D-backs had 6th-best farm system of the decade

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ production at the minor league level was good enough to earn them some props as the 2010s decade comes to a close.

A list from MLB.com that ranked the top 10 farm systems of the decade put Arizona’s at No. 6 overall.

Paul Goldschmidt went from eighth-round choice to face of the franchise in Arizona. The Diamondbacks cranked out a steady stream of solid performers, including A.J. Pollock, Ender Inciarte, Adam Eaton, Patrick Corbin, Trevor Bauer, David Peralta and Mitch Haniger.

Goldschmidt indeed was the best player the D-backs’ farm produced in the decade. Now with the St. Louis Cardinals, the former Diamondback was selected by the Dodgers in the 49th round in 2006 out of high school. He didn’t sign, and he was taken again in the eighth round in 2009 by Arizona out of Texas State University.

That choice panned out well. Goldschmidt went from Rookie ball to Single-A to Double-A for three years before eventually making his major league debut in 2011. He’s gone on to finish top-5 in the MVP voting three times and appear in six All-Star games, and counting. He also has three Glove Glove Awards and three Silver Slugger Awards.

Peralta’s story is a bit different. Originally a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, Peralta eventually wound up playing independent ball and eventually made the transition to the outfield. He advanced from Single-A to Double-A with the Diamondbacks organization in 2013 and 2014, and made his MLB debut in 2014. He’s since won a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove and smashed 30 home runs in 2018 with 87 RBIs and an .868 OPS.

Today, the D-backs’ farm system looks different than it did at the start of the decade. For example, Goldschmidt played for Double-A Mobile, while the team’s affiliate in Double-A is now the Jackson Generals. Similarly, the Hillsboro Hops have replaced the Yakima Bears (short season Single-A) and the Kane County Cougars have replaced the South Bend Silver Hawks (Single-A).

Either way, though, today’s D-backs top prospects include Alek Thomas, Kristian Robinson, Corbin Carroll, Seth Beer and Daulton Varsho, which are the team’s top five prospects according to MLB Pipeline.

The D-backs just hope those players pan out like Goldschmidt, Pollock and Corbin have.

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