Setting the D-backs Draft Board Part 3: Possible Pitchers

In the third and final installment for setting up the Diamondbacks draft board, I'll be taking a look at potential pitching targets with the No. 12 pick. As mentioned in the first part, the likelihood that college arms Paul Skenes, Rhett Lowder, and Chase Dollander slide down to Arizona's pick is very low.

There's a decent chance that all the pitching talent that could interest Arizona in the first round fly off the board in the first 11 picks. However that would also mean more options for taking a high upside prep bat with that pick.

Noble Meyer will be the first high school arm selected in the draft, given his projectable 6'5" frame and already touching 98 MPH on his fastball and a quality slider. While the risk-reward profile for high school righties doesn't have a good track record over the aggregate, the type of stuff and frame should entice teams to take him in the Top 10. Should Meyer somehow make it past the Marlins at 10, he could very well be in play for Arizona at 12 despite not necessarily fitting their preferred mold for arms.

Hurston Waldrep is the biggest Wild Card on the pitching side. He had an issue with walks after transferring from Southern Miss to Florida, but the raw stuff and track record of success in the past will have him going in the Top 15. The Angels are likely his ceiling in the draft, as they're much more likely to target a college arm than a high school one. His arsenal of pitches are impressive, with the chance to develop a plus fastball, slider, and splitter. He fits the D-backs preferred mold for pitching with a vertical arm slot, vertical fastball, and a big breaking ball. However his delivery requires a lot of effort and will require some tweaking in pro ball. There is significant reliever risk in that profile although he has the stuff for a backend role should that happen.

While Chase Dollander was listed as unlikely, but if there's a run on college bats in the Top 10 and the Angels prefer Waldrep it is possible he falls to Arizona at 12. Dollander would immediately be the D-backs best pitching prospect with a full four-pitch mix although he relies mostly on a mid-90s fastball and a slider. He also features a pretty solid curveball and the changeup is a distant fourth pitch. If he is on the board when the D-backs pick at 12, it very well should be a no-brainer to take him over any of the bats in the draft. With a little bit of tweaking, he gives Arizona a chance to develop a potential frontline starter that could extend their contention window beyond the 2025 season.

A lot would have go the D-backs way in the draft in order to have a chance at landing some high ceiling arms in the draft, but if the opportunity presents itself they need to strike. The pitching depth in the system is mostly No. 4/5 starters, so adding a potential top of the rotation arm would greatly help them.