At All-Star break, Diamondbacks’ collection of prospects among MLB’s best

The Arizona Diamondbacks currently have one of the most intriguing and promising young cores in all of baseball.

Before the start of the season, Arizona was ranked as the fourth-best farm system in the MLB, according to MLB Pipeline.

As the D-backs’ top prospect and MLB’s No. 3 prospect Corbin Carroll prepares to play the MLB Futures All-Star Game on Saturday, let’s take a moment to catch up on the franchise’s best young stars who’ve made their big-league debuts in the past two years and those who could be debuting soon.

Big Leaguers

The Diamondbacks currently have a plethora of young talent that includes former highly-touted prospects Alek Thomas and Daulton Varsho.

The players listed below are all young and fascinating players under the age of 27 that the D-backs will look to mold into the future of their franchise.

A majority of these players have been called up this season, while others have been at the major league level for more than just one season.

Alek Thomas

Thomas has been the D-backs’ most promising rookie thus far, as he will be the team’s primary center fielder for the foreseeable future.

The 22-year-old also has superb range as an outfielder and currently ranks second on the team with four defensive runs saved.

Alek Thomas is lockdown in center. pic.twitter.com/0Aovm6r1zI

— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) July 3, 2022

In 59 games, Thomas is hitting .254 with seven home runs and 22 RBI in addition to being tied for second on the team with four stolen bases.

Daulton Varsho

Varsho plays a hybrid outfield and catcher role for the D-backs with his speed being a major plus for a catcher.

The newly-turned 26-year-old has stolen five bases thus far this season, which is tied for the team lead with Josh Rojas.

Varsho has also displayed major power this season for the Diamondbacks, as he currently ranks second on the team in home runs with 12.

Daulton Varsho took this 101.8 MPH pitch for a swim.

That’s the 4th-fastest pitch to be hit for a home run since tracking began (2008), and the fastest by a D-back. pic.twitter.com/ZSGsj1v1qY

— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) July 6, 2022

In 82 games this season, Varsho is slashing .236/.300/.416 and has driven in 45 runs.

Geraldo Perdomo

Along with Thomas and Varsho, the D-backs also have the league’s sixth-youngest player in MLB in the 22-year-old Perdomo.

Perdomo was first called into action by appearing in 11 games last season before becoming Arizona’s everyday shortstop due to injuries to usual starting SS Nick Ahmed.

The 22-year-old is still waiting to get his feet under him, as he is slashing just .203/.302/.270 during his short time in the big leagues.

His raw speed and athleticism are something D-backs’ fans will have fun watching for years to come.

And the D-Backs take the lead! ⚫️🔴

Geraldo Perdomo goes yard after an RBI double by Alek Thomas to give his team a 3-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/CDmhQ4vtrQ

— Just Baseball (@JustBBMedia) June 15, 2022

Buddy Kennedy

Kennedy is another young player that has shown promise for the D-backs this season.

The 23-year-old has appeared in just 22 games for Arizona, including hitting a grand slam for his first big-league home run in just his third career game on Father’s Day.

Buddy Kennedy – Arizona Diamondbacks (1) pic.twitter.com/F8qXWkp7Aa

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) June 19, 2022

Kennedy is slashing .222/.282/.333 to go along with 11 RBI as he looks to become an everyday player for the D-backs.

Pavin Smith

Although he has dealt with a fractured right wrist this season, Smith is another young, intriguing player that has shown the capabilities of being an everyday player for the D-backs.

Smith was taken with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft by the Diamondbacks.

Last season in 145 games, Smith slashed .267/.328/.404 to go along with 11 home runs and 49 RBI.

Marlins fans were chanting "overrated" during Pavin Smith's at bat…

Then he hit a go-ahead HR in the 9th 👏

(via @ballysportsaz)pic.twitter.com/XDNbSsNMyl

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 4, 2022

In 65 games played this season before getting optioned to Triple-A Reno and sustaining a wrist injury in the first week of July, the 26-year-old was slashing .207/.290/.362 with nine home runs and 31 RBI.

Zac Gallen

Gallen — who turns 27 in August — is the only D-backs starting pitcher under the age of 27 currently on the roster along with Humberto Castellanos, who is currently on the 60-day IL.

While Gallen had an off 2021 by his standards, he has consistently been one of the best pitchers on the D-backs’ staff since arriving in 2019 via trade.

This season, the right-hander has sported a 3.56 ERA and 1.08 WHIP while having a 4-2 record and a team-leading 89 strikeouts in 93.2 innings pitched.

Prospects

The D-backs have five highly-intriguing prospects expected to join them in the next few years, according to MLB Pipeline.

Corbin Carroll (1)

Outfielder Corbin Carroll ranks as the D-backs’ No. 1 prospect after being drafted No. 16 overall in the 2019 MLB draft.

He has spent most of 2022 in Double-A Amarillo, amassing a .313 batting average to go along with 16 home runs and 39 RBI.

Welcome to Reno, Corbin 🙌

Corbin Carroll blasts a 441-foot home run for his first hit in an Aces uniform. @Dbacks | @corbin_carroll | #Aceball pic.twitter.com/w8zJM8JlS7

— Reno Aces (@Aces) July 11, 2022

He ranks as the third-best prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.

Carroll was called up on Saturday to Triple-A Reno and has already made an immediate impact.

Jordan Lawlar (2)

Lawlar was selected No. 6 overall in the 2021 MLB draft and is the D-backs’ second-best prospect.

The shortstop has spent the past two seasons between the Diamondbacks’ two rookie ball teams and both Single-A affiliates, putting up astounding numbers.

Jordan Lawlar is picking up right where he left off.

The No. 2 @Dbacks prospect has collected five hits in his first two games back with the @VisaliaRawhide: https://t.co/BXk31FW8IS pic.twitter.com/JHEYvp8V3I

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 26, 2022

In 55 career games in the minor leagues, the 19-year-old is slashing .329/.429/.551 with eight home runs, 33 RBI and 26 stolen bases.

Blake Walston (3)

Walston comes in as the first D-backs pitching prospect on MLB Pipeline’s list.

The southpaw out of North Carolina was selected with the 26th pick in the 2019 MLB Draft.

Walston has spent a majority of the 2022 season in Double-A Amarillo, pitching to a 3-3 record in 68 innings pitched.

Ryne Nelson (4)

The No. 26 overall pick in the MLB Draft has spent the entire season in Triple-A Reno.

Nelson has pitched to a 5.98 ERA and 1.41 WHIP to go along with 92 strikeouts in 84.1 innings pitched (17 starts).

The 24-year-old is projected to join the D-backs at some point this season by MLB Pipeline.

Drey Jameson (5)

Jameson was drafted No. 34 overall by the Diamondbacks in the 2019 MLB Draft as a compensation pick after OF A.J. Pollock signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent.

The pitcher has spent a majority of the 2022 season with Triple-A Reno, pitching to a 4-8 record to go along with 93 strikeouts in 78.1 innings pitched (16 starts).

Like Nelson, Jameson is projected to make his big-league debut later this year, per MLB Pipeline.