Top 5 Prospects for 2015: Arizona Diamondbacks

This 30-part series will look at the projected Top 5 freshman contributors for each big league club for the year ahead. The rankings take into consideration a mixture of ceiling, readiness and potential playing time allocation, which is to say some players with lower ceilings may be ranked ahead of others with higher ceilings because they project to have a greater impact in the coming season.

In a Nutshell: The Diamondbacks made a lot of moves this winter in an effort to get younger and boost up their farm system. I actually prefer most of the in-house prospects they already had when compared to the near-MLB-ready talent they brought in. From a ceiling perspective, and compared to the rest of the league, Arizona could have some of the best prospects contribute at the big league level in 2015.

The Top 5 Freshman for 2015

1. Yasmany Tomas, 3B/OF: The Diamondbacks don’t usually make it rain on the free agent market but the organization ponied up a significant chunk of change to sign Cuban import Tomas, no doubt hoping he’s the next Yasiel Puig or Jose Abreu. Truth be told, though, he’s a giant wildcard at this point with a potential big payout in the power department. Most agree that Tomas has enough polish to jump right to the Majors but it’s curious that the club is going to take a long look at him as a third baseman. The organization has Jake Lamb ready to assume the gig at the hot corner and only modest options for left field.

2. Jake Lamb, 3B: Lamb isn’t a prototypical big bopper at the hot corner but, truth be told, those are becoming harder and harder to find around baseball. He projects to hit for a solid average with good pop and enough loft to hit 15+ home runs out of the park. With a higher offensive ceiling than David Peralta, Ender Inciarte, and Cody Ross, one has to hope Arizona’s front office finds a way to get both Lamb and Yasmany Tomas into the starting lineup. After a modest 37-game preview in 2014, Lamb should be ready for a full-time gig at the start of 2015.

3. Braden Shipley, RHP: The Diamondbacks have a number of young arms almost ready to contribute at the big league level and a starting rotation with a lot of question marks. Arizona has brought in quite a few arms since Dave Stewart took over the front office but I personally prefer Shipley, Aaron Blair and Archie Bradley to any of those arms. Shipley is an athletic pitcher with a chance at three average or better offerings, and until now has been a bit underrated by the industry. He has a chance to be a solid No. 2/3 starter.

4. Aaron Blair, RHP: Blair blew through the minors in 2014 and played at three levels. He topped out at Double-A where he made eight starts. He should return to that level in 2015 but could be ready for a promotion to Triple-A or the Majors by mid-season. He produced big strikeout numbers last year but will likely be less so in the Majors due to the lack of a dynamite out-pitch. I see him as a potential mid-rotation workhorse.

5. Archie Bradley, RHP: Bradley has arguably the best stuff of the three pitchers on this list then he’s healthy but command problems, concerns with his delivery and the health issues push him down the list for 2015. He probably needs at least half a season in Triple-A before getting a taste of big league action, perhaps out of the bullpen. Bradley, 22, has the stuff to be a shutdown closer if starting doesn’t pan out.

Honorable Mention: Oscar Hernandez, C: Things are likely to change between now and the end of spring training, but Hernandez currently projects as the big league backup to the more senior Tuffy Gosewisch (himself a back-up). The young catcher was recently acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays system in the Rule 5 draft and must spend the season in the Majors or be offered back to his original organization. The 22-year-old prospect hit just .249 while playing in Low-A ball in 2014 but he’s intriguing because of his raw power, strong arm and improving defence.