A Minor Review of 2015: Arizona Diamondbacks

Welcome to the annual series: ‘A Minor (League) Review of 2015.” This series is a great way to receive a quick recap of the ’15 minor league season for your favorite club(s), while also receiving a brief look toward the 2016 season and beyond. It can also be a handy feature for fantasy baseball players in keeper and Dynasty leagues.

A Minor Review of 2015: Diamondbacks

The Graduate: Jake Lamb, 3B: Taken in the sixth round of the 2012 draft, I spoke to a front office member of the Diamondbacks that winter and he identified Lamb as someone they thought would turn into a steal. Fast forward a few years and that prediction was right on the money. Injuries have held back Lamb a bit but he’ll likely open 2016 as the club’s starting third baseman. He has some home run pop but isn’t a prototypical slugger. Still, he has an excellent all-around game and should hit for a solid average.

The Riser: Brandon Drury, 3B: The Diamondbacks have enviable depth at third base with Drury not far behind Jake Lamb. A smart addition from the Braves in a deal for Justin Upton back in 2013, this young third baseman has found his stroke and reached the majors last year. Drury mostly hits for gap power right now but he’s shown the potential to turn those doubles into homers and he’s hit for a strong batting average each of the past three years. Arizona will face an interesting challenge in trying to fit both players into the lineup.

The Tumbler: Jose Martinez, RHP: Martinez was on the verge of a breakout when he suffered an elbow injury that set his timetable back about a year. A former starter, he was shifted to the bullpen in 2015 while working back into shape but it remains to be seen what his role will be in 2016. The combination of a mid-90s fastball and a promising breaking ball gives him a chance to develop into a high-leverage reliever but his control will need work before he can realize his full potential.

The ’15 Draft Pick: Dansby Swanson, SS: The first overall pick in the 2015 draft, Swanson’s stay with the Diamondbacks organization was a short one. He was sent to the Atlanta Braves in trade for young big league hurler Shelby Miller. Swanson, 21, is a strong all-around player on both sides of the ball with power being his weakest tool at this point. But his value should come as a top-of-the-order guy that hits for gap power, controls the strike zone well, and can also steal a base. Ozhaino Albies and Swanson will battle for the title of ‘shortstop of the future’ in Atlanta but both of them could be playing in the middle of the diamond for the Braves as soon as late 2017.

The Lottery Ticket: Yoan Lopez, RHP: Signed out of Cuba last January, Lopez could have the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the organization. He can dial his heater up into the mid-90s and backs it up with a strong changeup. The development of his breaking ball — as well as his control — will help determine if he’s a long-term starter or reliever. Lopez, 23, should open 2016 back in Double-A but he has an outside shot at reaching the Majors in the second half of the year.