Since their surprise run to the World Series in 2023, the Arizona Diamondbacks have hovered closer to mediocrity the past two seasons. The encouraging part for both real-life fans and dynasty managers is that the team has a handful of prospects ready to contribute in 2026. From their top 20 below, Tommy Troy and Ivan Melendez both project to contribute to the big-league club next season. On the mound, Mitch Bratt, Daniel Eagen, and Kohl Drake could also make an impact. Keep reading for the full list of the Top 20 dynasty prospects from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This article is part of a series focusing on each MLB team’s Top 20 prospects for fantasy baseball heading into the 2026 season. Stay tuned for prospect breakdowns for all 30 teams throughout January here at Pitcher List, and be sure to check out all our published pieces in the series here.

 

Top Diamondbacks Prospects

 

The Top Tier

 

1) Ryan Waldschmidt – OF, 23 YO

2025 Stats (A+/AA): .289 AVG | .419 OBP | .473 SLG | 18 HR | 29 SB | 17.6 K% | 16.0 BB%

Leaving the 2024 draft, many in the industry loved what the Diamondbacks were able to do. They grabbed Slade Caldwell at 29th overall (more on him to come) and grabbed Ryan Waldschmidt at 31st overall. In his second season at Kentucky, Waldschmidt turned into one of the premier college bats in the sport. He hit 14 homers and stole 25 bases with the Wildcats and took little time to adjust to professional pitching. Waldschmidt’s success in his first full season has him leading the way for Arizona’s farm system heading into 2026.

For dynasty managers, Waldschmidt does a little bit of everything. His 6’2″, 205-pound frame gives him plenty of raw power, and he gets to it well. He projects to be a 20+ homer bat at the major league level. On top of power, Waldschmidt is a great athlete with good speed. In addition to being a future 20/20 player, Waldschmidt is as polished as they come. His swing and stance are simple. He makes contact at a high rate and hits a ton of line drives. Waldschmidt is going to walk a ton and should hit for high batting averages in the future. Waldschmidt projects as a five-category contributor and has quickly turned into a premier dynasty prospect.

 

2) LuJames Groover -3B, 23 YO

2025 Stats (AA): .309 AVG | .399 OBP | .434 SLG | 12 HR | 3 SB | 14.4 K% | 11.5 BB%

LuJames (previously referred to as Gino) Groover was Arizona’s second-round pick in the 2023 draft. Groover attended NC State for his final two collegiate seasons before Arizona selected him. While not as flashy as some other prospects, Groover’s blend of polish and floor make him an underrated dynasty asset. He has done nothing but hit in his first two professional seasons and is poised to continue finding success in the future. Do not be surprised if Groover is contributing at the major league level before the end of 2026.

Floor, floor, floor. This is not what dynasty managers typically chase, but that is what you get with Groover. Groover won the batting title last season and projects to be a consistent above-average hitter. He controls the zone and barrel extremely well. He works plenty of walks, and even when he is fooled, he still manages to make contact. While batting average is a near guarantee, Groover also has substantial raw power. He stands at 6’2″ and posted strong exit velocities through his time in college. Groover prioritizes contact over power, but if Arizona can get him to tap into his pull side more, there is 20+ homer upside here.

 

3) JD Dix – 2B, 20 YO

2025 Stats (CPX/A): .297 AVG | .404 OBP | .406 SLG | 2 HR | 28 SB | 20.8 K% | 14.2 BB%

With three picks in the top 35 of the 2024 draft, Arizona had an opportunity to swing for the fences and transform their farm system. Ryan Waldschmidt already ranked at number one on this list, and now their third pick JD Dix, comes in at number three. Standing at 6’2″, Dix is a projectable second base prospect. Taken out of high school, Dix is far from a finished product. From the left side, his stance is loud with a lot of hand movement, a leg kick, and a back foot that has trouble staying still. Things are a bit more quiet from the right side, where his contact skills are a bit better. The one thing that is obvious from both sides? Dix is a ball-player and could be poised to break out in 2026.

Dix’s size and bat speed stand out instantly when watching him. Although he only hit two home runs, Dix’s has substantial power from the left side. Calming down his stance could go a long way to unlocking more game power. Dix is also an excellent athlete. His speed could slow down as his frame fills out, but he 25+ steal upside where things stand currently. Also, Dix showed off great contact skills and plate discipline in his first season. Dix will be 20 years old for the entirety of 2026 and could turn into a premier dynasty prospect.

 

4) Demetrio Crisantes – 2B/3B, 21 YO

2025 Stats (A+): .252 AVG | .358 OBP | .415 SLG | 4 HR | 6 SB | 12.6 K% | 13.9 BB%

A dominant 2024 season put Demetrio Crisantes‘ name firmly in Top-100 consideration entering 2025. The seventh-round pick from 2022 showed off an impressive blend of power and contact skills in his first full professional season. Crisantes is not the most athletic, but his offensive success was undeniable. Unfortunately, as expectations rose to an all-time high, Crisantes suffered a labrum injury that limited him to only 20 games in 2025. How much will this shoulder injury impact his power output and performance moving forward? That is the primary thing that dynasty managers should pay attention to in 2026.

Crisantes remains an exciting prospect even if his game power does not develop further. His contact skills are excellent. He posted an 82.3% contact rate in 2024 and upped that to 87.1% in 2025 before the injury. Unlike some other high-contact bats, Crisantes is extremely patient. He walks a bunch and projects to post excellent on-base numbers in the future. Although he is not an elite athlete, Crisantes has solid speed and great baseball instincts. This should result in 20+ stolen bases at the major league level. On-base skills and stolen bases create a solid dynasty asset. How his game power develops will ultimately determine how dynamic of a fantasy asset he becomes.

 

5) Tommy Troy– SS, 23 YO

2025 Stats (AA/AAA): .289 AVG | .382 OBP | .451 SLG | 15 HR | 24 SB | 16.9 K% | 11.5 BB%

The expectations for Tommy Troy were high after being selected 12th overall in the 2023 draft. Unfortunately, Troy’s first full professional season was a disaster. In 2024, Troy hit just .234 and looked completely overmatched by professional pitching. During the AFL and off-season, Troy adjusted his approach at the dish. He became more selective in his aggression and worked hard to lay off of pitches out of the zone. He also worked to use the entire field more, reducing his pull percentage and instead focusing on driving balls into the gaps. The result was a significant improvement to his hit tool, which has him knocking on the door of the major leagues.

Troy’s hit tool showed dramatic improvements in 2025. More line drives, more contact, and more opportunities to steal bases. Troy is an excellent athlete and plus runner. With regular playing time, he projects as a 25-30 stolen base player. Troy’s adjustments also resulted in a career-high home run total. While the power uptick is nice to see, Troy’s size, exit velocities, and batted ball profile suggest that he projects as a 10-13 homer bat at the next level. Troy transformed his prospect profile in 2025 and will look to continue his success in 2026. He is a solid, albeit not elite, dynasty prospect.

 

6) Patrick Forbes – SP, 21 YO

2025 Stats: DNP

Going through Arizona’s farm system, Patrick Forbes instantly caught my attention. Forbes was selected 29th overall by Arizona in the 2025 draft out of Louisville. Forbes spent his first two seasons pitching out of the pen while focusing primarily on hitting before transitioning to Louisville’s rotation full-time in 2025. Although the command was inconsistent, Forbes finished the season with a 36.7% stirkeout rate and a 3.09 FIP. Dynasty managers were not given the opportunity to see Forbes pitch on a professional mound last season, but that should not dampen any of the excitement. Forbes has the combination of stuff and athleticism that could turn him into a fast-rising pitching prospect.

What makes Forbes stand out amongst other pitching prospects is the belief he is still learning how to pitch. Forbes has only spent one season of his life focusing solely on pitching. Equipped with a high-90s, high-spin fastball, a tightly wound slider, and a changeup that has flashed plus two-plane movement, the sky is the limit now that Forbes is working with a professional pitching staff. Forbes’ delivery is smooth, consistent, and easily repeated. Harnessing his stuff while continuing the development of his secondaries will be the focus for Arizona in 2026. Do not be surprised if Forbes breaks out in 2026.

 

7) Druw Jones– OF, 22 YO

2025 Stats (A+): .255 AVG | .335 OBP | .360 SLG | 5 HR | 28 SB | 23.3 K% | 10.3 BB%

Yes, Druw Jones is still hanging around the Diamondbacks’ top seven prospects. Jones was heralded as one of the game’s next great prospects. The son of Andruw Jones was taken second overall by Arizona in 2022, but has largely failed to live up to the hype. After dealing with injuries in 2023, Jones has struggled with consistent production the past two seasons. Now 22 years old, dynasty managers have largely written Jones off as prospect fatigue has set in.

While there is plenty of reason for skepticism, there is also still reason for optimism. Jones is a great athlete. He stands at 6’4″, he moves well, has great speed on the bases, and great instincts defensively. He projects to steal 25+ bases at the major league level and has the twitchy athleticism that is unteachable. In addition, Jones underwent a major swing overhaul in the middle of last season that resulted in more power and consistency offensively. The raw power is there, the speed is there, and the contact skills have improved dramatically since the start of Jones’ career. Jones needs to prove he can hit more advanced competition, with 2026 likely signalling a make-or-break season for his dynasty value.

 

Prospects Dynasty Managers Should Know

 

8) Kayson Cunningham – OF, 19 YO

2025 Stats (A): .255 AVG | .308 OBP | .277 SLG | 0 HR | 1 SB | 28.8 K% | 5.8 BB%

Kasyon Cunningham was Arizona’s first-round pick in last year’s draft. The 5’10” shortstop is interesting for dynasty managers. He has the twitchy athleticism that makes for impactful fantasy assets. However, he lacks much of any physical projection, and his hands and body are not in sync throughout his swing. He prioritizes contact at the expense of driving the ball with any real power. He should post decent contact rates and stolen base totals, but he lacks much power projection, and his approach at the plate needs improvement.

 

9) Daniel Eagen– SP, 23 YO

2025 Stats (A+/AA): 117.1 IP | 2.99 ERA | 32.4 K% | 11.0 BB%

Daniel Eagen was one of the more pleasant surprises down on Arizona’s Farm System in 2025. The third round pick from 2024 dominated High-A before earning a late-season promotion to Double-A. The strikeouts went down, and the walks increased following his promotion, but there is still an intriguing profile for dynasty managers. The righty gets huge vertical break on his fastball and mixes in a wipeout sweeper in addition to a plus curveball. If Eagen’s command improves in 2026, he could move quickly up this list.

 

10) Mitch Bratt – SP, 22 YO

2025 Stats (AA): 122.1 IP | 3.38 ERA | 29.3 K% | 4.2 BB%

This is now the third article of mine that has included Mitch Bratt this off-season. I am brat for Bratt (okay, that was bad). I digress, Bratt is a solid pitching prospect. His fastball sits in the low to mid-90s. What sets Bratt apart from other pitching prospects is his impeccable command. Bratt commands the zone well, works on the corners, and has a bright future as a back-of-the-rotation arm. His lack of strikeouts will limit his fantasy value, but he is still a solid dynasty prospect to target.

 

11) Slade Caldwell – OF, 19 YO

2025 Stats (A/A+): .260 AVG | .408 OBP | .369 SLG | 3 HR | 25 SB | 26.7 K% | 17.6 BB%

Major list publications tend to list Slade Caldwell extremely high. That is due to his fielding and real-life value, but for fantasy, I just do not see it. Caldwell lacks much of any game power and does not have the projectability to add that. He is an undersized prospect with excellent plate discipline and good speed. Caldwell can be overly aggressive at times and is an extreme ground ball hitter. He is only 19 and has time to improve areas of his game, but he lacks the ceiling that many dynasty managers are targeting. Caldwell is a better real-life prospect than a dynasty asset.

 

12) Ivan Melendez 1B, 25 YO

2025 Stats (AA/AAA): .267 AVG | .347 OBP | .480 SLG | 19 HR | 2 SB | 24.5 K% | 9.2 BB%

Very quietly, Ivan Melendez has started to show off subtle improvements to his hit tool. He is making more contact, but the tool is still below average, which is why he ranks down at 12th. That being said, Melendez has the kind of power to grab fantasy managers’ attention. The big stocky first baseman has effortless power. He is on the verge of his major league debut, and if he can manage to continue improving his contact rates, he could turn into a significant dynasty asset.

 

13) David Hagaman– SP, 22 YO

2025 Stats (A/A+): 42.1 IP | 2.98 ERA | 33.7 K% | 6.1 BB%

David Hagaman is another pitching prospect who came over from the Texas Rangers at last year’s trade deadline. The 2024 fourth-round pick put up a dazzling 30.3 K-BB% in his five starts with Arizona, piquing interest across the dynasty community. Hagaman pitches exclusively from the stretch and only pitched 42.1 innings last season, which points to obvious relief risk. However, he has a high-velocity fastball and a plus slider, which he commands well. There is significant upside here for dynasty managers to be aware of.

 

14) Kohl Drake – SP, 25 YO

2025 MiLB Stats (AA/AAA): 89.1 IP | 4.23 ERA | 28.2 K% | 9.6 BB%

Kohl Drake is a no-funk left-handed pitching prospect for Arizona. He was acquired from Texas last season and has a smooth and easily repeated delivery. He throws over the top and features a four-pitch mix. All of his pitches are solid, but nothing stands out as a dominant offering. His sinker and four-seamer sit in the low to mid-90s. He lacks consistent control of both and can be susceptible to the long ball at times. Drake profiles as a back-of-the-rotation arm for Arizona. It is unlikely his minor league strikeout rate sustains at the major league level, which will limit his dynasty value.

 

15) Christian Cerda – C, 22 YO

2025 Stats (AA): .237 AVG | .340 OBP | .449 SLG | 18 HR | 1 SB | 17.5 K% | 13.3 BB%

Christian Cerda quietly put together a breakout 2025 season. He posted a career-high pull rate, which fueled a power breakout leading to 18 home runs. The 22-year-old catching prospect has posted strong power numbers, along with an always strong walk rate, thanks to plus plate discipline. His patience at the plate and improved contact numbers improved his game power, turning him into an underrated catching prospect. He holds sneaky value in deep dynasty leagues.

 

The Next Five

 

Although these prospects do not crack the Top 15, dynasty managers should keep their eyes on these five players:

Yassel Soler – 19 YO – A third base prospect with a violent and aggressive swing who gets to his pull side well but lacks much speed and has a suspect hit tool.

Gavin Conticello – 22 YO – Low ceiling corner outfield/infield prospect who is more likely to be a platoon bat in the future with limited upside.

Erick De La Cruz – 19 YO – A projectable outfield prospect who showed major improvements to his hit tool in his second DSL stint.

Kristian Robinson – 25 YO -Former top prospect who has flashed significant power and speed upside if he can ever improve his hit tool.

Jansel Luis– 20 YO – A free-swinging second base prospect with good speed but little to no power projection and an approach that Major League pitchers will expose.