Arizona Diamondbacks: Breaking Down the Top 5 Prospects in Diamondbacks' System

The biggest surprise of the 2011 Major League Baseball season was the rebirth of the Arizona Diamondbacks. It came a lot faster than anyone was expecting, but considering the young talent on the big league roster and high-impact players in the system it will not be a one-year fluke. 

Thanks to an impressive haul in last June's draft—that included two of the Top Seven picks—and strong classes over the last five years, this team is flush with young talent that will make this team even better in 2012. 

They were able to trade Jarrod Parker who had been the system's top prospect since he was drafted in 2007, to Oakland for Trevor Cahill in December thanks to their incredible wealth of high-end pitching. 

Here are the top-five players that will have a profound impact on the Diamondbacks' quest for the franchise's second World Series title. 

1. Trevor Bauer, RHP, 20

Considering the success that he had in college and his natural ability on the mound, there were some analysts who thought that Bauer should have been taken ahead of his UCLA teammate Gerrit Cole with the No. 1 pick in last year's draft. The Diamondbacks were more than happy to see him "fall" all the way to them with the third pick, and they signed him to a deal early so he could get work in at the end of last year.

Strengths

If we were just talking about Bauer's stuff, he would be the top player in the system. He has a mid-90's fastball, a hard-breaking curveball and a swing-and-miss changeup. When you add in his incredible work ethic and vast pitching knowledge, you are talking about one of the best prospects in all of baseball.

Weaknesses

There is some trepidation about just how many pitches he has left in him after his college career. He routinely finished games while throwing over 130 pitches each time. He also uses an all-out delivery, but does not appear to put a lot of stress on his shoulder. His biggest problem is being efficient with his pitches. He wants to strike everyone out, which runs his pitch count up in a hurry. 

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Bauer is as polished as any college pitcher who came out last year and should move through the system in a hurry. He is a true No. 1 starter in the making, with just a few small adjustments to make in the minors. 

ETA: Late-2012

2. Archie Bradley, RHP, 19

While the Diamondbacks suffered a setback in 2010 when first round pick Barret Loux failed a physical and did not sign a contract, the team was given the seventh pick in last year's draft as compensation. It is safe to say that they aren't shedding tears anymore, as Bradley has infinitely more potential and upside.

Strengths

Bradley is one of the rare high school pitchers that already has an advanced feel for pitching. His fastball is going to miss a ton of bats because it already sits in the mid-90's and has great movement. His curveball breaks hard and fast, making it almost impossible to touch when he is on top of it. He has a clean delivery that utilizes his lower half and tremendous arm speed to get velocity.

Weaknesses

He does not have a lot that he has to work on. If there is one thing he needs to improve, it is his changeup. He is still learning to throw the pitch, which means he could be vulnerable against left-handed hitters in the advanced levels of the minors if it doesn't come around. With that being his biggest flaw right now, it is safe to say he is probably going to be fine. 

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Bradley still has to pitch against professional hitters, but the sky is the limit for him. Like Bauer, he has ace potential. His advanced feel should allow him to move through the system faster than a normal high school pitcher.

ETA: Late-2014

3. Tyler Skaggs, LHP, 20

There is a common theory that you must have balance in a rotation to keep opponents honest and force them to make adjustments. Skaggs will give the Diamondbacks a formidable lefty to plug in behind Bauer and eventually Bradley. But just because he is No. 3 on this list does not mean that he is just a mid-rotation starter.

Strengths

Unlike Bauer and Bradley, Skaggs is not going to blow you away with velocity on his fastball. He usually pitches in the low-90's with his fastball, but he has great movement on the pitch. That allows him to miss bats and induce a lot of weak contact. His best pitch is a curveball that falls off a table. His delivery is very smooth and easy with a clean follow-through that allows him to finish.

Weaknesses

He is still refining his changeup. There are moments where it looks like a plus pitch for him, but he has not figured out how to throw it for strikes consistently.

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Skaggs misses a ton of bats because of the movement on his pitches, and his command has gotten better each year. He has the ceiling of a No. 2 starter in a good rotation, but could end up being the third-best pitcher on this team in five years. 

4. David Holmberg, LHP, 20

Have you noticed a trend with the top-four prospects? The Diamondbacks are stacked with quality arms throughout their system. There are positives and negatives to that. The obvious positive is that the team can afford to dip into the pitching well to fill another needs via trade. The negative is it shows the lack of elite bats in the system.

Strengths

Holmberg's stock really soared following the 2011 season. He always had good command of his pitches, but his velocity was always below-average. He added about two miles per hour to his fastball, and his future looks brighter.

Weaknesses

He gets by with average stuff in the minors because his command is so good. If he can keep the velocity that he showed last year, it will help him keep his current ceiling. He will have to adjust to pitching in higher levels, as he only pitched at high Class A for a half season in 2011.

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The improved velocity has the Diamondbacks thinking that he can be a No. 3 starter in the big leagues. As long as his command remains plus, he should be able to find a role with this team in the not-too-distant future. 

5. Matt Davidson, 3B, 20

We close out the list with Davidson, who is the best hitter in the system. He played the 2011 season in high Class A, posting solid numbers across the board. He is a flawed prospect, but there are specific areas he can improve to keep his stock rising.

Strengths

While he does not have a great overall swing, he does have a good uppercut that will allow him to hit for power. He did start to take more pitches last season, which is a sign that his plate discipline is improving.

Weaknesses

Davidson has average bat speed, which will leave him vulnerable to good velocity. He also strikes out a lot—147 times in 535 at-bats last year—which is going to hold down his average. Defense is not his strong suit, though he does have enough arm strength to handle the position. He doesn't have good lateral movement, which limits his range at third base.

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While his glove will never be a weapon, he can be good enough to get by if his bat improves. His power swing will make him a good No. 5 hitter, but he has to improve his batting eye and contact rate to get there. 

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