Diamondbacks Release 2015 Uniform Design

PHOENIX - After bizarrely unveiling new uniforms for 2014 in May the Diamondbacks seem to have decided to be more organized going forward. They did release the design after Christmas, so they probably can't count on people rushing out to buy them just yet.

The basics of the design have remained the same, the only real change is the logo font. The snake themed font from the previous rebranding is gone in favor of something more playful. The team announced that the new design was intended to invoke "Diamondback fangs" while avoiding the cartoon snake. Bringing back black was explored, but in the end the team decided to stick with red and metallic gold.

2015 Home Uniform

2015 Road Uniform

2015 Third Uniform

Revisions to minor league affiliates were also on the table, but management decided that the existing designs were fine as is. The Reno Aces home uniform is a favorite, but their road jerseys may get a redesign for the 2016 season.

Diamondbacks 2014-2015 Offseason

PHOENIX - The Diamondbacks 2014-2015 off-season had one extremely apparent theme; change. The changes started before last season was even over, with ownership moving on from the two GM model by firing one and keeping the other. The removal of Mr. Schroeer was just the start, not long after the front office was altered they showed manager Kirk Gibson and a number of his assistants the door. Arizona then hired Athletics bench coach Chip Hale, formerly a minor league coach with the Diamondbacks organization, to be manager. Turner Ward was promoted to Hitting Coach from Assistant Hitting Coach, and Mike Harkey takes over as Pitching Coach after six years as the Yankees' Bullpen Coach.

Hopefully Hale can bring more than 'grit' to this roster.

Once the front office and coaching staff was in order the team started rapidly tearing down the 2014 Diamondbacks to build towards a (hopefully) better future, more on that later.

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST OUTLOOK

The NL West, oddly enough, probably won't be much different in 2015. The San Francisco Giants, defending World Champions, are probably going to walk away with the division and look like a favorite to repeat as World Champions. The Giants continue to have great hitters and pitchers, it's just going to be a matter of putting things together like last year and making their roster stronger through free agency.

The only thing up in the air is who will be the worst team in the division, and it's going to be a solid four team competition. Outside of San Francisco, this could be the worst division in baseball. There are teams engineering serious rebuilds (Arizona and San Diego), a team in flux (Colorado), and an outright bad team that appears to be rudderless at the moment (Los Angeles). Of the four the Dodgers have the most potential, but it doesn't seem likely any of these teams are going to be competing for much aside from a Top 5 draft slot.

WINTER TRADE WINDS

If it wasn't nailed down, the Diamondbacks tried to trade it this year. They probably would have traded things that were nailed down if someone offered a prospect for it, but sadly they were only able to move players. Arizona effectively burned down their roster and stocked their minor league system for the future, the trades ranged from minor blockbuster to forgettable, but each one is an important move forward.

Can Winker become the future of Arizona's outfield?

The biggest trade was one with the Chicago Cubs that saw Carlos Santana, Lonnie Chisenhall, Dayan Viciedo, Ian Kennedy, and Pat Neshek leave town. The centerpiece of the deal was OF Jesse Winker, a Top 100 prospects by many scouting services, but the addition of LHP Enny Romero and OF Billy McKinney made it hard to pass up. The deal also included C/3B Victor Caratini, C John Baker, RP Alex Torres, and RHP Mason Melotakis.

Jake Arrieta also hit the road, heading west to the Giants in exchange for prospects RHP Nick Travieso and RHP Michael Lorenzen. With Arrieta heading for free agency after the season the team opted to cash in on his 2014 season instead of risking free agency next winter.

Will management be sorry they traded for Rosario?

The most satisfying trade for management was one that swapped OF Domonic Brown for OF/2B Eddie Rosario. The Twins and Diamondbacks entertained a similar trade before the 2014 season, but ultimately could not come to an agreement. Arizona has been enamored with Rosario's upside, despite his off-field issues, and hopes to see him in Phoenix soon.

The final trades before 2015 were big ones in terms of potential return. The Diamondbacks sent R.A. Dickey, Henderson Alvarez, and Didi Gregorious to the Indians in exchange for OF Austin Meadows, 2B Taylor Lindsey, and SS Yeltsin Gudino. Arizona also took on quite a bit of salary with this deal by agreeing to take on Matt Cain ($10.8 million), Ubaldo Jimenez ($3.4 million), Kevin Slowey ($2.1 million), and Omar Infante ($4.5 million). All of these contracts expire after the 2015 season, but the wasted cap space will be well worth it if Meadows, a Top 100 prospect, can develop into a star. This deal yielded even more prospects as Jimenez was immediately flipped to Toronto for two pitching prospects. He didn't even have time to hold up a Diamondbacks jersey.

Matt Adams was sent to Seattle in exchange for prospects, OF Michael Taylor and 3B Mitch Nay, and Josh Johnson's bloated contract ($8.2 million) that expires after 2015. Sources note that the Diamondbacks were after OF Raimel Tapia, but the Mariners wouldn't budge on the talented OF prospect.



ARIZONA FREE AGENCY PREVIEW

With free agency already open, the team doesn't look like it will do all that much aside from the signing of Yasmany Tomas. Tomas, a Cuban defector, was landed after a heated battle between a number of interested teams. He went into free agency as an outfielder but reports are that Arizona will give him a shot at third. Tomas agreed to a team friendly 6-year deal, 4-years followed by a 2-year mutual option, so he should be in Arizona for some time.

Will the Cuban slugger be a stud or a dud?

Ownership has openly stated that they only have one hard target during free agency; Gio Gonzalez. The team is content to let a number of 2014 regulars walk, mainly SS J.J. Hardy and Trevor Cahill, but the team is committed to bringing back their ace. Despite not having a good season in 2014 due to injuries, the team feels that Gonzalez is part of their rebuilding process. The shedding of contracts through trades has left quite a bit of cap room for the Diamondbacks, it would be surprising if they failed to ink Gonzalez to a new deal.

Some sources feel that Arizona would be willing to bring Cahill back, but it's unlikely they will want to pay the 26-year old much considering his steep decline. There are also rumors that the Diamondbacks might be interested in RP David Hernandez, who missed all of 2014 after undergoing Tommy John Surgery, but with the bullpen arms available it seems unlikely that Arizona will invest any more in relievers.

The team is also laying low for the next few years as a whopping $38 million is scheduled to come off the books after the 2015 season, and none of those players appear to be of interest. If Matt Cain returns to form it's possible they would bring him back, but it's more likely they would flip him at the trade deadline to someone interested in a starter.

PROJECTED 2015 ROSTER (WINTER)

Pending the completion of Free Agency the Diamondbacks roster looks rather spartan. A number of projected starters are just guys who happen to be around (John Baker, Tony Campana) and 2014 contributors thrust into full-season roles (Ender Inciarte, Chase Anderson, Michael Bolsinger.) Paul Goldschmidt continues to be the cornerstone of this roster, but with the way things are going he could be gone before spring training.

C - John Baker
1B - Paul Goldschmidt
2B - Omar Infante
SS - Chris Owings
3B - Yasmany Tomas (Rumored)
LF - Tony Campana
CF - David Peralta
RF - Ender Inciarte
DH - Aaron Hill

SP - Patrick Corbin
SP - Matt Cain
SP - Kevin Slowey
SP - Michael Bolsinger
SP - Chase Anderson
RP - Joakim Soria
RP - Jim Johnson
RP - Matt Reynolds
RP - Alex Torres

2014 Season - Down On The Farm (September)

The season has come to a close, with the exception of the Arizona Fall League, but for the most part the Diamondbacks system is quiet. It was a disappointing season for the Diamondbacks, but there is some hope brewing the minors. Thanks to some players taking some serious steps forward, and some promising draft picks, it looks like the strength of the system is pitching.

RHP, Braden Shipley (Grade : B+, Double-A Mobile)

Made his way through three levels (Class-A, Class-A Advanced, and Double-A) and looked good everywhere. Slowed down a bit in Double-A and finished the year with a 7-8 record, but his stock is holding steady going into 2015.

RHP Aaron Blair (Grade : B, Double-A Mobile)

Basically shadowed Shipley through three levels, but had better results and pitched well enough that his stock is on the way up. Should enter 2015 as a B+, but there is some chatter that Blair (not Shipley) is the best pitching prospect in Arizona.

RHP Matt Barnes (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno / Diamondbacks)

Barnes finished 2014 well and probably improved his stock going forward, but at age 24 he probably doesn't have much left to prove in the minors. Came up to the Diamondbacks during roster expansion, threw a few innings out of the bullpen, might get a shot at the rotation in 2015.

RHP Jake Barrett (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)

Solid season through two levels (Double-A, Triple-A) and probably holds steady with a B- grade, which is high praise for a reliever. Looks like he has nothing left to prove in the minors and should be ready for a major league trial in 2015 similar to fellow reliever Matt Stites.

RHP Alex Colome (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)

Had a decent suspension shortened season in Triple-A posting a 3.77ERA in 86IP, pitched sparsely for the Diamondbacks (17IP). Continues to be promising but health and command are a concern.

LHP David Holmberg (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno / Diamondbacks)

Really bad season, just did not look like his usual self. Was hammered in multiple call-ups, which wasn't a surprise considering his MiLB numbers. Hopefully just an aberration, 2015 should be better.

3B Jake Lamb (Grade : B-, Arizona Diamondbacks)

Lamb just shot right through Reno to the majors after a surprising season in Double-A. Didn't look like the next Mike Trout, especially after missing some time due to injury, but he looks like a viable replacement for Lonnie Chisenhall at 3B.

SS Luis Sardinas (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno / Diamondbacks)

Spent most of his year between Mobile and Reno with a few stints on the Diamondbacks. Still relies on defense to get himself in the lineup, but he hit .271 in 96AB while in the majors which is better than expected. Could benefit from the potential turnover at 2B with Gregorious and Hill figuring to be potential trade targets this off season.

SS Sergio Alcantara (Grade : C+, Rookie PL)

Mostly shined on defense and didn't have much power to speak of. Drew walks, but struck out at an unpleasant pace. He is still just 18 so there is time for the power and plate discipline to develop.

RHP Jimmy Sherfy (Grade : C+, Double-A Mobile)

Sherfy flew into the season under the radar but went on a tear and turned some heads. He couldn't keep things together and regressed, especially once promoted to Double-A, but his 68K in 49IP stands out. Could see time in the majors out of the bullpen in 2015, or he could spend more time in the minors.

RHP Matt Stites (Grade : C+, Triple-A Reno / Diamondbacks)

Pitched very well in Triple-A and moved up to the majors for 33 innings of work, but he was hit pretty hard during that stretch. Doesn't seem to have much left to prove in the minors so he should be back in the Diamondbacks pen for 2015, if he can get his command back he could be a valuable reliever with potential-closer upside.

OF Justin Williams (Grade : C+, Rookie PL)

Excelled in rookie ball and played well when promoted to Class-A South Bend. Still only 19, and figures to move up prospect lists for 2015.

2014 Season Report (End of Season)

The season has finally come to an end, and the Super Karate Monkey Death Car has parked in Kirk Gibson's spot. Despite a healthy 88-74 record (9th overall) the Goldschmidt-less Diamondbacks failed to make the playoffs and ownership decided to move in a different direction. In another front office shakeup ownership opted to terminate it's dual-GM experiment by firing Mr. Schroeer and retaining Mr. Ayers. The team is already hunting for a new coach and fielding trade offers for basically everyone on the roster.

The biggest surprise of the closing days was the status of Chris Owings' shoulder. The team had him rehab and let him come back at the end of the season only to post a sad slash line (.208/.256/.236), but it turns out that his injury was worse than originally thought. Owings is scheduled to undergo surgery on his left shoulder, hopefully Dr. James Andrews can work his magic in a non-Tommy John procedure.

The Diamondbacks' MVP was... Paul Goldschmidt! Even after missing most of the 2nd half he finished with one of the best stat lines on the team. Carlos Santana made it hard on voters with 27HR and 85RBI, but the .231BA wasn't working in his favor. David Peralta and Ender Inciarte also looked good, finishing the season with better-than-expected numbers, but ultimately it was the loss of Goldschmidt that doomed their season.

On the mound things get even muddier in terms of who was the 'best' pitcher. Ian Kennedy is the front runner with a full season under his belt and a career mark in K's (207), but a 13-13 record and a 1.29WHIP makes his 3.63ERA look much worse. Gio Gonzalez, the staff ace, missed a number of starts and didn't look sharp during a long stretch after returning. Gonzalez finished the season strong, but at that point it was too little too late in the face of a late season charge by the Braves. It actually looks like the best pitcher in Arizona was Pat Neshek, an early season free agent, who only tossed 67.1 inning but did more with them than just about anyone not named Jake Arrieta. Arrieta started the season late himself, but posted low win and K totals, and his 0.99WHIP and 2.53ERA were just what the team needed.

With so many people getting fired, and management looking to rebuild, it's hard to believe everyone will be back for the 2015 season. Most expect the GM to gut this team and look toward the future by stockpiling prospects.

2014 Season Report (150 Games)

Ok, now it's really over. The dark clouds that have been gathering since Paul Goldschmidt's season ended have finally descended on Chase Field, now nothing but reality is raining down on the Diamondbacks. Once in a close fight with Atlanta for that 5th playoff spot, the Diamondbacks are now looking up at the Braves and the Marlins are right behind. They also probably need to start worrying about the Cubs. Still the 9th best team in baseball (82-68) they are suffering from the extreme depth in the NL, with a whopping 7 teams in the Top 10 and the Cubs just about ready to kick Arizona out. Rough year in a rough division, it's all over now.

Injuries. Who doesn't like injuries? The Diamondbacks have been ravaged by injuries recently, and it doesn't look like they will be able to recover before the end of the season. David Peralta, Domonic Brown, Jake Lamb, and JJ Hardy are all missing significant time with various bumps and bruises. It's so bad that Didi Gregorious is the DH at the moment, if Diamondbacks fans weren't already avoiding home games the sight of Gregorious getting regular playing time might send them running.

The rotation is a little better off, but at this point Gibson just seems to be throwing warm bodies out there until the game is over. The staff is good, but if they had any chance of getting back into the Wild Card they would all have to be Clayton Kershaw for the rest of the month. The probability of that happening is low at best. Joakim Soria seems to be fully healthy, but it's doubtful that he will contribute all that much through the end of the season.

2014 Season Report (140 Games)

It's been a wild month leading up to September, and it might not get much better. The loss of Paul Goldschmidt left fans feeling hopeless, but the team has yet to fall off a cliff. At one point they suffered a losing streak that left them well behind the Braves for the final Wild Card spot, but they managed to jump a little ahead only to fall a little behind. The Diamondbacks are still running on fumes but continue to be 9th in the majors (76-64) and a solid 2nd in the NL West which is faint praise considering that the Dodgers (20th), Rockies (23rd), and Padres (27th) are all rebuilding and some of the worst teams in baseball.

The loss of Goldschmidt seemed fatal, but it just happened to coincide with a little boost from some of Arizona's lesser known players. David Peralta continues to be a good OF option, and Ender Inciarte has exploded recently to give the team a real boost of speed. Inciarte, who rarely got the nod over Dom Brown for most of the season, now has 14SB and a respectable BA (.268) after starting the season very slowly. The return of Chris Owings has also helped boost the offense, knocking Didi Gregorious back to the bench, and Carlos Santana continues to mash (24HR) and do little else (.228BA).

Is Lamb the future at 3B?

Fans are getting to see a glimpse of the future with 3B Jake Lamb rushing through AAA Reno and getting some at-bats when Lonnie Chisenhall sits. Lamb isn't doing much to impress at the moment (.185, 2HR, 9RBI, and a brutal 26:6 SO:BB ratio), but the fact he is playing at all is a testament to his ability. Lamb, a University of Washington product, is still just 23 so he has time to improve.


The pitching staff, surprisingly, has really come around and the starting rotation is doing quite well. Most expected the staff to be a serious weak spot, but some trades and call ups have really filled out this rotation that is on pace to finish with the 6th most strikeouts in the majors. September roster expansion has brought up David Holmberg and Kyle Lobstein, once dangled as trade bait, but neither has done much so far. The starters are rolling, but injuries are devastating a once promising bullpen. Jim Johnson has practically been run out of Phoenix, and Joakim Soria is just now starting to throw again, while Henderson Alvarez is constantly bothered by an oblique injury. Pat Neshek has taken over closing duties for now while future-closer-in-waiting Matt Stites looks more like Jim Johnson than a future closer.

2014 Season Report (120 Games)

A very very dark cloud has settled over Chase Field in the past week, and it will most likely remain there until the end of the season. While the team has not fallen off the map just yet, still sitting at 8th, it's starting to look like the fall will come soon. The Diamondbacks and Braves are basically neck and neck for the final Wild Card spot with Cincinnati firmly in 4th, this could come down to the performance of backups and the pitching staff.

Paul Goldschmidt, leading the team in just about every offensive stat, was diagnosed with a broken hand and will miss 8-10 weeks of the season. The injury occurred during a game against the Indians when Ernesto Frieri hit Goldschmidt on the hand. The length of recovery time essentially ends Goldschmidt's season. The Diamondbacks will move Matt Adams from DH to 1B and look to a number of players, mostly Didi Gregorious, to fill in at DH until Chris Owings comes back from injury. The loss of Goldschmidt is devastating, and no doubt prompted the Diamondbacks to start putting important pieced of their team on waivers.

The only good news is that stud 3B Jake Lamb has been called up to the majors. Lamb shot through AA and barely had time to play in AAA before management sent him up. The team isn't expecting him to replace Goldschmidt, but with Didi Gregorious hitting like... Didi Gregorious he might get a chance to play more often at DH or 3B.

The waiver period opened and closed with little action. The Diamondbacks did manage to win a claim on Oakland's Francisco Rodriguez, but the A's declined to negotiate a trade or pull him back. Everyone the Diamondbacks placed on waivers (Jim Johnson, Joakim Soria, and R.A. Dickey) cleared them, but no trades came about.

The pitching staff is starting to look like a mess, and Gio Gonzalez is right at the center of it. Gonzalez has gone 0-5 in his last 7 games and has failed to pitch 5 innings or more in three of them. Arrieta, the new ace of the staff, has been 1-3 in his last 7 games with all of them very good starts aside from a 5 inning 9R drubbing at Colorado. The bullpen isn't much better with Pat Neshek the only pitcher doing well, and Joakim Soria is now on the DL with Neshek assuming his role as closer.

MLB.com Updated Top 100 Features Four Diamondbacks

More good news from the farm as the MLB squad struggles to stay within reach of the playoffs. Four Diamondbacks, including the just drafted Touki Toussaint, have made their way on to MLB.com's updated Top 100 list.

Braden Shipley (47) - Not a shock as Shipley started the year in the Top 100, but he's moved up into the top half of the list and is now Arizona's #1 prospect. Numerous teams asked about the RHP with the trade deadline looming, but Arizona is very dedicated to their 2013 1st rounder.

Touki Toussiant (85) - The ink on his contract is still wet and he's making a Top 100 list already. Toussaint has only tossed 12 innings this year and scouts are already buzzing about his potential, but the organization isn't ready to anoint him their future ace just yet. Coaches need to see how he fares outside of the AZL Diamondbacks rookie level.

Aaron Blair (87) - Another subject of trade discussions that Arizona refused to part with, Blair has been on the edges of the rankings until this season. Blair has moved through three levels of the farm system (A, A-Advanced, and AA Mobile) this season, and along with Shipley looks to be the future of Arizona's rotation.

Jake Lamb (98) - This is also an expected ranking after Lamb made Baseball America's Midseason Top 50 list. He has managed to turn heads by hitting .318 with 14HR and 79RBI this year at AA Mobile, and if he keeps it up he could be in the majors before you know it. Lamb was also ranked as the #9 3B prospect by MLB.com.

2014 Season Report (100-110 Games)

The Trade Deadline has come and gone, but nothing happened in Arizona. The Diamondbacks, refusing to give up high-end prospects, found themselves stuck between trying to make the playoffs and building for the future. Some reports, hopefully false rumors, actually had the Diamondbacks discussing a trade to bring Jayson Werth back after trading him to the Cubs. It's starting to look like the failure to bolster the team has cost them a shot at the playoffs. The team is just outside the cutoff (6th in the NL, 58-52), but the offense has struggled just as their rotation appears to be improving.

The big news at the plate is Carlos Santana, who seems to have remembered that he has some power. Santana managed to hit 14HR in June and July after hitting 6HR in the two previous months, he has also spent the last two months hitting .300+ after hitting well under .200. His 20HR now knock Paul Goldschmidt off his statistical perch. Goldschmidt continues to power the team on offense, but the disappearance (injuries) of Aaron Hill and Chris Owings have left the Diamondbacks shuffling players around. Domonic Brown has found himself on Kirk Gibson's hate list and is now riding the pine in favor of Peter Bourjos at CF and David Peralta in LF. Arizona desperately needs Owings to come back and give the team more speed on the base paths.

On the mound it's become the Arrieta-Alvarez-Kennedy show with Gio Gonzalez looking like he isn't 100% yet, he might not even be 50% with the way he has been lit up recently. Gonzalez has sandwiched a decent ND start (7.0IP 8K ER) in between two losses where he couldn't even get out of the 4th inning. Pat Neshek continues to be excellent, but the rest of Arizona's bullpen has turned into BP machines. Nobody is getting it done, not even Joakim "The Mexicutioner" Soria, and rumor is that Jim Johnson and his horrible contract will be placed on waivers. The team is starting to circle the drain, and a rapid dismantling of this roster could start as soon as this next week.

2014 Season Report (90 Games)

A little over the half way point, and it's time to put up or shut up in Arizona. Things are looking good for a final run that will decide their playoff fates, injuries could be the difference between golf and baseball in October. Arizona, so full of promise before the season, fell on seriously hard times through the first few months. It's hard to believe they have recovered to sit in 9th overall (49-41) and 6th in the NL. The rest of the NL West fills out the bottom of the NL, and the Giants are leaving the Diamondbacks in the dust, looks like the only route to October is the Wild Card.

Who is David Peralta? No, seriously, who is David Peralta?! The 27 year old OF from Venezuela has bounced around the league since being in the Cardinals system for Rookie ball in 2006. After some time on three different teams in the independent leagues he landed at Class A-Advanced Visalia in 2013 and managed to work his way to the majors this season. With Peter Bourjos playing poorly, and Ender Inciarte not doing much better, Peralta got a shot at CF and seems to have it under wraps. Peralta is hitting a healthy .325 with 3HR and 16RBI in only 34 games, which is almost more than Bourjos and Inciarte combined. Goldschmidt continues to lead the team in basically every category; runs, HR, RBI, SB for heaven's sake, D-Bat Dogs eaten, awesomeness, you name it he leads it.

Peralta has been a valuable addition to the outfield.

Chris Owings continues to sit out a shoulder problem with JJ Hardy filling in admirably, finally finding his groove at the plate. Hardy's power isn't really there, but if Arizona had to depend on Didi Gregorious they might be out of playoff contention. Owings is currently second on the team in SB to, again... I can't stress how crazy this is, Paul Goldschmidt.

After looking like a flaming wreck the pitching staff is starting to be very respectable. A huge season from Jake Arrieta has helped paper over the absence of Gio Gonzalez, but Gonzalez is back to give the Diamondbacks a very solid rotation that goes five deep. This staff looked like Gonzalez and some guys to start the season, but some trades and a little luck have seriously changed their fortunes. R.A. Dickey looked like he was toast after coming over from the Blue Jays, but his 7-8 record and 3.86ERA / 1.32WHIP comes courtesy of a 1.20ERA in the month of July. The rotation, in it's current form, could definitely carry this team to the playoffs.

Another big difference that has gone under the radar is the re-tooling of the bullpen. Jim Johnson has basically been banished, and the Soria-Neshek-Marshall-Stites foursome has really brought things under control. Neshek, Stites, and Marshall didn't start the season in Arizona, but at this rate they may never leave. Things appear to be falling in line for Arizona, but the Baseball Gods can be fickle, so nobody is booking tickets for October just yet.

2014 Season Report (All-Star Game)

The Mid-summer classic is here, and it's a lonely trip for the Arizona Diamondbacks. After starting off the season looking like one of the worst teams in baseball the team has really come together, especially the pitching, and salvaged a run at the playoffs. Despite all of the good will generated from sitting at 5th in the NL only two Diamondbacks received a call for the 2014 All-Star Game.

During Spring Training it looked like Arizona had an outside chance at sending four guys to Minnesota; Paul Goldschmidt, Carlos Santana, Gio Gonzalez, and Patrick Corbin. One for four isn't bad, especially considering what injuries have done to Gonzalez and Corbin.

Few are surprised that an MVP candidate playing like an MVP candidate would get elected. Goldschmidt makes his second straight ASG appearance and he will be the first Diamondbacks player to start since Luis Gonzalez in 2001. The second selection comes as a real surprise; Pat Neshek. Neshek, a mid-season free agent signing and notable non-closer, gets the nod with stellar numbers (0.70ERA, 0.57WHIP) that helped shore up an ailing Diamondbacks bullpen.

Arizona doesn't have all the much to complain about considering how most of the individuals have played, but that won't stop some fans from calling 'foul' on the voting process. The Diamondbacks biggest snub is someone who is currently being wronged by the "one inning pitched per team game" rule, and falls just a few starts short of qualification. Jake Arrieta, holder of a 7-5 record, is right up there with Clayton Kershaw in ERA (1.78), WHIP (1.02), and a K/9 (10.06) that would make anyone jealous. Arrieta is joined by Ian Kennedy, who isn't having quite the season Arrieta is, but he is 5th in strike outs (125) just behind Kershaw.

Perhaps having most of the team stay away from the ASG festivities will be good, they definitely need the time to recover from injuries. Getting Chris Owings back healthy will be huge, hopefully he can round the bases on his ROY campaign.

Shipley & Blair Make BA Midseason Top 50

Braden Shipley and Aaron Blair, both recently promoted to Advanced-A Visalia, have been elected to Baseball America's Midseason Top 50 list. The two RHP are Arizona's only prospects to make the list with current major leaguer Chris Owings making the Pre-Season Top 100. Shipley has jumped up to 36th from 62nd, and Blair has flown up the ranks by going from outside the Top 100 to 44th.

Perhaps the questionable trades that sent away Archie Bradley, Trevor Bauer, and Tyler Skaggs are not going to be the end of the world after all.

In somewhat related news Mobile 3B Jake Lamb was named to Baseball America's MiLB All-Surprise Team on the back of an impressive season.

2014 Season Report (80 Games)

With the half-way point just behind us the Diamondbacks' season is looking very different. A year that had started out so poorly is suddenly full of promise and the Wild Card is in reach. A hot streak has landed Arizona in 9th (44-36), 5th in the NL and just barely above the Marlins and Braves for the final Wild Card slot. 2nd in the NL West is basically a lock with the rest of the division owning the bottom of the NL (13th through 15th) and ranking as some of the worst in baseball (25th, 26th, and 28th). Colorado, Los Angeles, and San Diego are gearing up for the future, but Arizona is still trying to hang on for one last shot.


The offense has remained steady overall, but the big story is the explosion of power from Carlos Santana. Still hitting a shameful .204, Santana went to town on pitchers by hitting as many HR in June (6) as the first two months combined. Santana also hit a healthy .308 in June after hitting around .160 from March to May.

Santana might be turning his season around.

Santana's burst in production has helped cover for Aaron Hill slowing down and the recent injury to Chris Owings. Owings will be out until mid-July, but JJ Hardy has (finally) started hitting HRs to go with his healthy batting average (.294), so Arizona should have some cover until Owings returns. The other big story was Matt Adams clubbing the ball like crazy, also hitting 6HR in the moth of June. Adams has been dealing with defensive shifts all season by hitting weak singles to the opposite field, which explains his toothless .324 average, hopefully he can keep the power coming. Peter Bourjos has basically been excommunicated, now being left out of the lineup in favor of Ender Inciarte who's feeble BA (.238) is slightly higher than Bourjos' (.204) but comes with the same SB upside. The outfield continues to be a mess, but winning can make those kind of issues seem smaller.

The pitching staff continues to be the Diamondbacks' weakest point, but at the very least the starters are picking things up. Once an afterthought behind Gonzalez, Kennedy, and Corbin, Jake Arrieta is having an incredible breakout season. The 28-year-old Arrieta is 5-1 with a 1.81ERA / 1.01WHIP and 74K in 11 starts. He has flirted with no-hitters deep into games twice, and has struck out 9 or more in his last four starts. Arrieta is helping management get over trading away Phil Hughes, but they are going to need him to keep it up if the Wild Card is a reality.

Jake Arrieta has been amazing.

Gio Gonzalez is back from the DL, and the Alvarez-Kennedy duo continue to exceed expectations. RA Dickey is still struggling, but his ERA/WHIP have becomes a bit more respectable and his continued presence will be vital in making it to October.

2014 Season - Down On The Farm (May - June)

Not much news from the minors, but we are starting to get some early season promotions for some of the more promising prospects. Still doesn't look like anyone here is going to have any real impact at the major league level, but we are starting to see guys come up for a cup of coffee here and there.

RHP, Braden Shipley (Grade : B+, Class-A Advanced Visalia)

Braden Shipley has pitched his way into a promotion to Class-A Advanced Visalia after having a very good start of the season in South Bend. The California League, notoriously hitter friendly, will be quite a test for Shipley. He has struggled through 29IP so far, posting a 4.97ERA / 1.38WHIP, but striking out batters at a slightly higher tick. Nobody expects Shipley to match his numbers from South Bend, but as long as he doesn't get blown up a trip to Double-A Mobile should be in his near future.

RHP Aaron Blair (Grade : B, Class-A Advanced Visalia)

Blair, much like Shipley, has been given a shot at the California League. Blair, unlike Shipley, has actually improved his numbers since promotion.

RHP Matt Barnes (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)

Started 11 games so far for Triple-A Reno, results have not been spectacular but Barnes is basically major league ready. He's 24 and this is his second season in Reno, if he doesn't get promoted soon he could risk being seen as a Quadruple-A type player.

RHP Jake Barrett (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)

Recently promoted to Reno after recording 12 saves for Double-A Mobile, appeared in 25 games. Numbers continue to look good, whip is a little higher than you would like (1.36), but with Matt Stites getting a shot at the major league bullpen he's next in line for the "future closer" title.

RHP Alex Colome (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)

Alex Colome's 50-game ban for PED use has passed, and he pitched like he was worth trading Phil Hughes for... in the minors at least. Colome has split his season over Class A-Advanced Visalia and AAA Reno, totaling 39IP and 37K with a 3.00ERA and 1.23WHIP. It's only 8 total starts, but a good sign that he isn't going to be slowed by his suspension. Came up for a cup of coffee in June, going 1-0 with one start and one other appearance over 9.2 innings.

LHP David Holmberg (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)

Holmberg has been off so far this season, which isn't good news for anyone involved. Nobody expects him to strike everyone out, but his BB/9 have jumped (4.9) compared to previous seasons (2.9 in 2013, 1.9 in 2012) and his K:BB ratio has shrunk to 1.24. He's 0-4 in 9 starts, and a 5.75ERA isn't a ticket to the majors. Really needs to figure out what's wrong and fix it fast.

3B Jake Lamb (Grade : B-, Double-A Mobile)

Lamb has been crushing the ball for the Bay Bears. He has nearly repeated his number from 2013 in Class A-Advanced and 2012 in rookie ball. Hitting .315 and cutting your strike out rate (and walk rate too) is always a good sign, he has been a real star for Mobile this year. Hopefully he can continue to be a star in Reno and beyond. Wouldn't be surprised if he received a mid-season upgrade or started 2015 with a B/B+ grade.

SS Luis Sardinas (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)


Not having a great year at the plate at all, currently logging 26 games in the majors as a fill in, but he hasn't look like a major leaguer with a bat in his hands despite hitting .288. Only 9RBI and a single SB in the minors so far, hitting .253, not performing to expectations.

SS Sergio Alcantara (Grade : C+, Rookie PL)

Playing rookie ball in Missoula, not lighting the world on fire at the plate with a .274 average and 6RBI. Definitely needs to tighten things up defensively, 8 errors in 15 games isn't helping.

RHP Jimmy Sherfy (Grade : C+, Double-A Mobile)

Sherfy basically eviscerated Class-A Advanced hitters and earned a promotion to Double-A, has come down to earth since. ERA and WHIP jumped up, and his once eye-watering K/9 of 18.8 is now just amazing at 12.0.

RHP Matt Stites (Grade : C+, Triple-A Reno / MLB)


Saved 15 games through Double-A and Triple-A with solid numbers (2.89ERA / 1.14WHIP) before being promoted to the majors. Small sample size (5.1IP), but he hasn't given up a run yet and struck out just barely under a batter per inning (8.4).

OF Justin Williams (Grade : C+, Rookie PL)

Finished 2013 at Class-A after moving through two levels of rookie ball (Arizona League & Pioneer League), back at Missoula to start 2014. Not much power (1HR), but he's back to hitting .300+ after doing nothing (.111) in only 11PA at Class-A. Has played every game but one at LF.

2014 Season Report (70 Games)

Almost to the mid-point of the season, and things are looking a little better for the Diamondbacks. Thanks to some offensive explosions and better pitching, the Diamondbacks have crept up to 12th (35-35) overall and 10th in the NL. The only comfort is that if they were in the AL they would be in a Wild Card slot, but the NL is deep so they are three spots out and looking up at the Marlins, Braves, and Cardinals.

Injuries are still a concern, with Matt Adams currently rehabbing at AAA Reno, but at least Carlos Santana has returned to the lineup. The biggest story of the last 10 games was the tremendous offensive explosion of Lonnie Chisenhall. Chisenhall has an incredible month 10 game stretch packed into a single game, with 3HR and 9RBI on a 5/5 performance that put him tied for 2nd on the team in HR and 2nd in RBI. Chris Owings continues to be an everyday player, and the demotion of Grant Green to AAA Reno makes it even more important that he continue doing so. Goldschmidt continues to prop up the offense, and if the rest of the team can get hot they could make a mid-season run for that Wild Card spot.

Chisenhall's career day was big for Arizona

Now the pitching staff, they continue to play musical chairs with the DL and the minors. Trevor Cahill, who has been more than terrible, was DFA'd and will be sent to AAA Reno to try and save his season and possibly his career. Cahill is a free agent after the season, and he could find himself out of a job if he doesn't pull it together. Word out of Reno is that Dave Duncan will personally work with Cahill, he will also be seeing mental performance coach Peter Crone. If Cahill fails it won't be for lack of effort on Arizona's part.

Henderson Alvarez, coming off an amazing streak, has been slowed by injuries and missed a start. Gio Gonzalez is still on the DL, and the Diamondbacks desperately need him to come back strong. Jim Johnson's season is developing into a lost year, he is pitching like a below-average reliever instead of the guy who saved 101 games in two seasons. Many expect the Diamondbacks to trade Johnson as soon as possible.

2014 MLB Draft

The 2014 MLB has come and gone, and the Diamondbacks have added some fresh faces to their farm system. Arizona wasn't good enough to actually accomplish much in 2013, but they were just good enough to put them out of position to draft high. The good news is that Arizona had five picks in the Top 100, including two picks in Competitive Balance Round B (#69 & 79), so they had a good shot at grabbing some talented players.

The Diamondbacks have drafted well in recent years, but the previous manager promptly traded that talent away. Guys like Stryker Trahan, Trevor Bauer, Tyler Skaggs, and Archie Bradley are all gone. Hard to say if any of this years' draftees will match those traded away, but there is always hope.

Round (Overall Selection) : Player (School)

1 (16) : RHP Touki Toussaint (Coral Springs Christian Academy, FLA)

A solid first pick, Arizona doesn't really have a gaping hole in their organization, but this could lessen the sting of watching Bradley/Bauer/Skaggs pitching elsewhere. Toussaint, a Vanderbilt commit, could have easily gone much higher in the draft if it had taken place a few months ago. He fell to Arizona, and the upside is undeniable with a good fastball and above-average curveball coming out of highschool. Some feel has has more upside than any pitcher in this draft class, let's hope they are right.

2 (54) : LHP Cody Reed (Ardmore Highschool, AL)

Reed, another Vanderbilt commit, is a very odd prospect. He throws in the 92-96 range and shows the foundation for three pitches. The odd part is his figure, at 6'-3" 250 he isn't your average pitcher. Hopefully his physique doesn't cause any long term problems, but he has the kind of skills that profile as a higher pick.

Comp B (69) : OF Marcus Wilson (Junipero Serra Highschool, CA)

Speedy. Check. Outfielder. Check. Wilson is what the Diamondbacks system needs, he was even receiving some first-round buzz not that long ago. Bat speed and a projectable body make him an exciting pick to pair with 2013 pick Justin Williams. Very raw and toolsy, he could be a star or flame out in the low minors.

Comp B (70) : SS Isan Diaz (Springfield Central Highschool, MA)

Yet another Vanderbilt commit, Diaz is a polished midfielder with a high baseball IQ and a feel for hitting. Scouts seem to think he will move to 2B, which is perfect for the Diamondbacks since the last thing they need is another SS.

3 (89) : OF Matt Railey (North Florida Christian Highschool, FL)

Natural hitting ability with a loose, easy swing and quick hands. Shows natural strength which could develop into power, drives the ball well. Only average speed, so he probably won't play CF at the next level, but he is naturally athletic and a solid defender.

4 (120) : RHP Brent Jones (Cornell University)

The Diamondbacks first selection out of college, probably a reliever in the long run but has room to improve and stick as a starter. Can hit the mid-90's but will probably work in the 92-93 range, has plus action of a curve but struggles with command. Throws a few other secondary pitches (cutter, changeup) but they are currently below average.

5 (150) : RHP Mason McCullough (Lander University)

Very intriguing pick, could be a serious bargain or blow up in out faces. Was dismissed from North Carolina last year after multiple team rules violations, transferred to Lander, possible character risk. Very hard throwing prospect, but command is an issue. Has been clocked at 100, but normally works in the mid-90's. Has basically gotten by muscling his way through at-bats with that fastball, no finesse, and he rarely uses a slider. Arm strength makes him very dreamy, but could end up a reliever or a career MiLB guy.

6 (180) : LHP Zac Curtis (Middle Tennessee State)


7 (210) : 3B Tyler Humphreys (St. Johns River State College)

College player with considerable upside, showed some power potential early this season. Good defender with the arm strength and instincts to stick at the hot corner.

8 (240) : OF Grant Heyman (College of Southern Nevada)

Similar to Humphreys, could have considerable upside for an 8th round selection.

Analysis

Arizona did a very good job with the draft this year, especially for a team drafting in the middle of the round. They made excellent use of their additional picks in Comp B by adding some exciting high-upside players. Overall they went with upside-oriented picks early on and then focused on college players through the 40th round. The Diamondbacks didn't do anything to grab headlines, like draft Johnny Manziel, but they made smart choices that should pan out well over the next few years.

2014 Season Report (60 Games)

Things are looking (slightly) better for Arizona. They are still behind in the standings (16th, 32-28) but they can still claim to be 2nd in the NL West. Faint praise has never pushed a team into the playoffs, and Arizona is currently looking up at a few teams nobody thought would be any good (Cubs & Mets) and some that will be hard to pass (Cardinals & Marlins).

The injury bug has continued to ravage this roster. The deepest cuts are coming on offense with Carlos Santana still suffering concussion-like symptoms, and now Matt Adams has suffered a calf injury that will keep him out until Mid-June. Luckily JJ Hardy has started hitting well enough to split the SS/DH duties with Chris Owings, who is exceeding expectations. Paul Goldschmidt continues to be Paul Goldschmidt and lead the team in runs, HR, and RBI. If it wasn't for Hardy's amazing .303 (It's amazing because he was barely hitting .200 almost two months in) Goldschmidt would lead the team there as well. There is room for improvement, but hitting isn't where this team is struggling right now.

The pitching staff was bad, but recently they have been below average, which is a huge boost. The wins are starting to come, even with Gio Gonzalez still on the DL. Ian Kennedy has taken over as the staff ace, but recently Henderson Alvarez has given him a run for his money. It did come against the light-hitting Rays, but Alvarez tossed a complete game shutout to bring his season ERA and WHIP down to 2.62 and 1.28. Chase Anderson has also recovered from his early season troubles, after getting rocked for 5ER against the Dodgers he has only allowed 2ER in two starts. His 14K's aren't going to blow anyone away, but he's pitching well enough to give Diamondback fans some hope.

Outside of the starting rotation things are rather steady, outside of Jim Johnson and his nightmare season of course, and the recent addition of Pat Neshek should shore up any leaks. Call-up Evan Marshall has only allowed 2ER in 8.2IP and Joakim Soria is back to looking like the "Mexicutioner" with 11 saves and a tidy 0.70 WHIP.

Arizona Signs Pat Neshek

The Diamondbacks announced the signing of hard-throwing RP Pat Neshek today. Neshek agreed to a $800,000 two-year contract that will keep the 33-year-old in Arizona through the 2015 season.

Neshek, somewhat of a journeyman career RP, spent the last two season in Oakland after being drafted by the Twins in 2002.

2014 Season Report (50 Games)

It shouldn't surprise anyone following the Diamondbacks this season, but things continue to get worse. The injury bug has come back, this time biting the offense and pitching. The RA Dickey trade is probably going to soften the blow, but it's still going to sting. The Diamondbacks have come up a bit in the standing (17th, 22-28), but they now sit just ahead of the Colorado Rockies for 2nd in the NL West. The Rockies have used a MONSTER season from SS Troy Tulowitzki to push the Diamondbacks, but they should lose some steam in the coming months.

Offensively the Diamondbacks seem to be coming alive, especially with Paul Goldschmidt continuing to be an MVP candidate. Goldschmidt smashed two HRs on May 16th to bring his season total to 9, but his BB total has lagged so far. Things should balance out, but Goldschmidt will have to keep things going while the rest of the team comes around. RF Domonic Brown finally hit his 2nd HR, but he continues to hit under .250, much like Carlos Santana (.159) and Peter Bourjos (.218). Aaron Hill has (finally) found himself on the trainers table with shoulder issues, it is unknown if this is a long term issue or just a short term nuisance. Santana is also suffering from something, possibly concussion symptoms, either way it isn't helping.

Goldschmidt continues to be excellent

The problems on the mound got much worse when Gio Gonzalez was placed on the 15-Day DL with shoulder inflammation, not good news. AA call-up Chase Anderson managed to win his second start, but not without difficulty, giving up 5ER in 5.1IP with only 2K. A win is a win, but performances like that are going to get him sent back to Mobile. Ian Kennedy has taken over as the best starter (72K, 3.59ERA, 1.14WHIP) but still only has three wins on the season

Diamondbacks Hire Tony LaRussa

The Arizona Diamondbacks confused everyone this week by announcing that they have hired Tony La Russa as Chief Baseball Officer. The legendary 69-year-old former manager and three time World Series champion (1989 Oakland, 2006 & 2011 St. Louis) joins a team desperately in need of some guidance.

Can La Russa help build a winning organization?

The title of "Chief Baseball Officer" sounds made up, but what it might signify is a major shake-up in management. Perhaps the dual GM experiment isn't working, as rumors fly surrounding one of the GM's level of involvement in team decisions. If the team were to remove one of the acting General Managers, likely Mr. Schroeer, La Russa could take on a bigger role in the organization.


Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall has made it clear that La Russa will report directly to him, placing him above the beleaguered GMs, and control the entire Baseball Operations department. Hall spoke to the media regarding La Russa's involvement :

“The entire organization is obviously frustrated with the results on the field and we are looking to improve… Tony brings us a wealth of knowledge, experience and success, and will work closely with Bert, Andrew and Kirk in evaluating our current state to determine the future of our baseball operations. He is excited and enthusiastic about the challenge, and we are fortunate to have this Hall of Famer on board and a part of the team.”

Few, if any, believe that La Russa has been brought in to take over for Manager Kirk Gibson, but things could be looking bad for him as well if the team continues to struggle. The 50 years of baseball experience La Russa brings to Arizona will be valuable, but it isn't clear if that experience is going to help engineer a total rebuild or just an executive clean out.

Diamondbacks Unviel New Uniforms For 2014... In May?

Better late than never, the Arizona Diamondbacks released new uniform designs for the rest of the 2014 season today. The team had initially planned to release them for the start of the season, but decided to hold off until 2015. Perhaps their slow start changed things, maybe some new uniforms will help fans forget about their record.


Ownership decided to keep the bones of their current design, the font and two of their base colors. Their primary color is now a truer red instead of the darker / rust red. The black jerseys and highlights are now gone, and they switch from a lighter 'Old Gold' to a brighter metallic gold for a secondary color.

 

 2014 Home Uniform

 

2014 Road Uniform

2014 Third Uniform

Most importantly the cartoonish snake 'D' logo is gone. Ownership explored revising the previous 'D' logo, but ultimately decided against reusing it. There are also rumors, via leaked images, that they had experimented with a new script 'Arizona' and 'Diamondbacks' logo. Based on the leaked images it appears they were unable to fit 'Diamondbacks' and opted to stick with something similar to their most recent wordmarks.

Leaked 2014 Design Concept

The retention of the 'DBacks' wordmark is unfortunate as it has spawned 'DBags' jokes, but the previous wordmarks do manage to capture a snake / southwestern feel that the team was eager to keep. Overall it's an improvement, hardly the best uniforms in baseball, but it's hard to beat established classics like the Cardinals and Dodgers. At least they didn't go back to the purple and teal uniforms circa 2001, that would have driven fans away faster than losing.

Recent Design Concepts

2014 Season Report (40 Games)

The roster churn continues in Phoenix, but the wins just aren't coming ad Arizona plummets in the standings. Poor hitting performances and even worse pitching is slowly sinking the Diamondbacks as they risk becoming one of the worst teams in baseball. A brutal 2-8 stretch leaves the Diamondbacks 21st (17-23) and closer to the #1 pick in the draft than the playoffs.

The only highlight of the stretch was Henderson Alvarez tossing a complete game shutout that was backed up by Aaron Hill, Chris Owings, and Paul Goldschmidt slamming HRs to win the game. Paul Goldschmidt continues to be gold, hitting .321 with 7HR, and Dayan Viciedo has surprised everyone with a hitting streak. Viciedo now boasts 18R 2HR 13RB and a healthy .297BA after looking like he might be riding the pine. Another surprise is Chris Owings supplanting JJ Hardy as the starting SS as Hardy is off to a horrible start (.265, no HR and only 9RBI) and barely playing. This team has gone from hopeful to hopeless is only 10 games.

Kennedy continues to pitch well, but the wins aren't coming.

Nothing new on the mound in Phoenix; the pitching is bad. RP are racking up more wins than starters, with the floundering Jim Johnson tied for 1st (3) with Gio Gonzalez. Ian Kennedy has been excellent lately, highlighted by a 12K performance that brings his total to 56 and a team best. Mid-level AAA prospect Chase Anderson was called up to start last weekend and he performed admirably, allowing a single run and striking out 6, but he may not stick in the rotation. Hopefully he will do better than Michael Bolsinger, who did well at first but was sent down after getting hammered for 4 runs or more in three of his five starts. RA Dickey cannot take the mound soon enough, and that is faint praise at his current pace.

Diamondbacks Acquire R.A. Dickey

In a move to shore up their faltering pitching staff the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired SP R.A. Dickey from the Toronto Blue Jays. With Michael Bolsinger pitching poorly, and being optioned back to AAA Reno, and Trevor Cahill still out of the rotation the Diamondbacks were desperate for pitching help.

Dickey has not pitched particularly well this season (2-3, 5.08ERA), but Arizona is in need of an experienced pitcher with some upside. Dickey probably won't return to the heights of his 2012 AL Cy Young season, but the knuckleballer's durability over the past three seasons will be very welcomed.

Dickey doesn't have to be great to save Arizona's staff

Arizona sent 2B Brian Roberts, OF Marc Krauss, OF Jaff Decker, LHP T.J. House, and RHP Jose Campos (currently recovering from Tommy John surgery) in exchange for the 39 year old starter. Dickey is due $24 million over the remainder of his contract which expires after the 2016 season. Financially the trade represents a slight reduction in overall salary for 2014, thanks to Brian Roberts $8 million contract, but Dickey is going to be on the books for a while. If Arizona continues to be well out of playoff contention around the trade deadline, look for the Diamondbacks to put Dickey on the block.

2014 Season - Down On The Farm (April)

It's that time of year, time to head on down to the farm and take a look at how the Arizona farm system is doing. More specifically, we will be looking at the progress of the Diamondbacks most promising prospects. With the way the season has started for the MLB club, we may see alot of these guys in the bigs sooner than expected.

RHP, Braden Shipley (Grade : B+, A South Bend)

Braden has become the crown jewel of the Diamondbacks farm system pitching with Archie Bradley getting shipped off to the Yankees in 2013. Shipley isn't nearly as major league ready as Bradley, starting his second season in A ball, but the former SS pitched well enough in two levels of A ball to get the attention of scouts. Shipley utilizes three quality pitches (90's fastball, change, curve) to throw strikes, if he continues to improve he should see some time in AA or AAA. Many expect Shipley to make his MLB debut in 2015 which means they need to see what he can do in Reno.

RHP Aaron Blair (Grade : B, Class A South Bend)

A teammate of Shipley, and fellow 1st rounder out of college, Blair is a few steps behind and figures to make the majors in 2016. Blair's secondary offerings aren't as polished as some, but he has pitched well to start the season (1-2, 4.04ERA, 1.09WHIP) by striking out more than a batter per inning (35.2IP : 44K) in six starts.

RHP Matt Barnes (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)

Shoulder tenderness, which shut him down during Spring Training, has prevented Barnes from pitching yet much in 2014. 

RHP Jake Barrett (Grade : B-, Double-A Mobile)

Originally drafted in the 3rd round by Arizona in 2012, Barrett returned to the Diamondbacks in the Werth trade. He has been his usual self to start the season; throwing hard for strikes. Why Arizona hasn't called him up or given him a shot to close is a mystery, but he could very well be up in 2015 if Jim Johnson and Joakim Soria don't pan out. Barrett has 7K in 9.0IP so far.

RHP Alex Colome (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)

Alex Colome is currently serving a 50-game ban for PEDs.

LHP David Holmberg (Grade : B-, Triple-A Reno)

He isn't seen as a front end starter due to his average stuff, be he throws strikes and projects as a durable pitching option. Unfortunately the jump from Double-Mobile to Triple-A Reno has not been kind, starting the season with an 0-3 mark in only 9.1IP (14.46ERA, 2.57WHIP). Fans shouldn't sleep on Holmberg, if he can right the ship and get back to throwing strikes he might be a valuable call-up toward the end of the season or in 2015.

3B Jake Lamb (Grade : B-, Double-A Mobile)

Lamb has been a pleasant surprise for Diamondbacks fans. Over the last two seasons, through rookie ball and Class-A Advance, Lamb has shown he can hit for power, average, and has good plate discipline. He has also shown he can stick at the hot corner as a good defender. Yes, he looked good at the plate in the hitter friendly California league, but his power has stayed with him through the start of the season in Double-A Mobile. His slash line has taken a hit against more advanced pitching, but at 23 he still has room for growth. With Lonnie Chisenhall looking vulnerable, Lamb could be the 3B of the future for Arizona.

SS Luis Sardinas (Grade : B-, Double-A Mobile)

Sardinas, who came over from the Cubs in the Jayson Werth trade, has not hit very well to start 2014. His hitting isn't turning heads, but his defense has been solid enough to earn a call-up to the bigs. Injuries to Brian Roberts and JJ Hardy forced the Diamondbacks to call him up as a utility man, passing over the more seasoned Grant Green, but with his bat needing development they sent him back down soon after. Sardinas' speed (32SB in 2012 and 2013) and glove are very dependable, his hitting will help determine if he is a future All-Star or a career utility man.

SS Sergio Alcantara (Grade : C+, Rookie AZL)

High potential rookie showed excellent plate discipline in 2013 (44BB in 48GP), but did not hit particularly well. Still 17, projects to be a good defender, has yet to play this season.

RHP Jimmy Sherfy (Grade : C+, Class-A Advanced Visalia)

Sherfy started off the season a little under the radar, but he has absolutely torched hitters to start the season. Sherfy is 2-0 (3.27ERA, 1.00WHIP) with an eye watering 23K in 11.0IP, which continues his trend of striking out nearly two batters per inning (52K in 28.1IP).

RHP Matt Stites (Grade : C+, Double-A Mobile)

Stites is in competition with Jake Barrett to take over the closer / set-up man role for the Diamondbacks.  Through 12.0IP he has looked good, striking out just under a batter per inning and posting a 1.08WHIP. If Stites can keep it up for the remainder of the season he should see a call-up to Triple-A Reno and possibly a trip to Phoenix.


OF Justin Williams (Grade : C+, Class A South Bend)

Williams has a similar profile to Alcantara, but they are almost total opposites at the plate and on defense. Williams, 17 at the time, struggled on defense often showing his age. At the plate, Williams showed a lack of plate discipline but flat-out raked when he wasn't striking out. He has considerable flaws to overcome, but he also has considerable potential. Williams has yet to play in 2014.