Four Diamondbacks prospects crack ESPN’s top 100 for 2022 season

The Arizona Diamondbacks had four prospects in their farm system crack ESPN MLB Insider Kiley McDaniel’s top 100 prospects in baseball for the upcoming 2022 season, headlined by center fielder Alek Thomas.

The outfielder was listed as the No. 14 prospect in baseball by McDaniel, which should be a welcomed sight for D-backs fans. Thomas possesses all the tools that could make him a daunting hitter for opposing pitchers in years to come.

McDaniel compares the 21-year-old Thomas to someone D-backs fans are very familiar with, drawing the comparison to a “lefty version of peak A.J. Pollack.”

I think there’s above-average contact, power, speed and defense here, with a chance a couple of those play as plus tools. Thomas has the making of a dynamic, modern top-of-the-order hitter for a decade, which should start in 2022.

Next for the D-backs on McDaniel’s list was another prospect who could be patrolling the outfield  in the near future in Corbin Carroll.

The No. 21 ranked prospect, Carroll, is another left-handed hitter and thrower like Thomas. More of a speed threat, McDaniel considers Carroll as an explosive spark plug that can play in the outfield.

Carroll was one of the big winners of the lost minor league season, improving behind closed doors, quickly taking the big step forward that some saw coming when the D-backs stole Carroll at the No. 16 overall pick in 2019 … Carroll hit well in 2019 after signing and showing better exit velocity than expected, then in 2020, showed improved bat and foot speed that took him to another level.

Up next is the No. 29 prospect, who happens to be one of Arizona’s newest in 2021 first round pick Jordan Lawler. The shortstop was regarded as one of the top prep players who were eligible for the draft and was in the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick.

The 19-year-old, who throws and bats with his right hand, projects as a five-tool infielder with above-average tools according to McDaniel.

After signing his rookie deal with the D-backs, Lawler suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder after diving for a ball but is expected to be healthy for the 2022 season.

The last D-back to crack the top 100 was shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, ranking as the No. 90 prospect in 2022.

Perdomo was the only D-backs prospect to make McDaniel’s list that spent time with the big league club in the 2021 season. In 31 at bats, Perdomo had eight hits, four of which were for extra bases.

In the National League West, the Los Angeles Dodgers lead the way with five prospects on the list. The San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres tie the D-backs with four prospects each on the list, while the Colorado Rockies had two.

Follow @AZSports