Diamondbacks re-assign top prospect Alek Thomas, 4 others
Mar 31, 2022, 9:59 AM
Alek Thomas #92 of the Arizona Diamondbacks poses for a photo during the Arizona Diamondbacks Photo Day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Monday, March 21, 2022 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
(Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks chopped their roster down by five players on Thursday, including re-assigning the team’s top-ranked prospect, Alek Thomas.
Arizona sent the outfielder and right-handed pitcher Keynan Middleton to minor-league camp. Additionally, righty Luis Frias, left-hander Caleb Baragar and infielder Drew Ellis were optioned to Triple-A Reno.
The team has six more days of games before beginning the season next Thursday at home against the San Diego Padres.
Thomas, who turns 22 in April, has played 10 games so far this spring and is batting .222 with two doubles, four RBIs, a walk and nine strikeouts.
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Thomas is ranked as the No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Last season with Triple-A Reno, he slashed .369/.434/.658 line.
Baragar was acquired by the D-backs this offseason off waiver claims after playing for the San Francisco Giants last year. He finished 2021 with a 1.57 ERA over 23 innings in 25 games. He struck out 16 and walked 12.
Middleton signed on a minor-league deal and has 136 games of MLB experience, mostly with the Los Angeles Angels. He appeared in 32 games for the Seattle Mariners last season and posted a 4.94 ERA and 1.58 WHIP.
Ellis and Frias are ranked Nos. 18 and 19 in the Diamondbacks’ farm system, according to MLB Pipeline.
