The Best Power Bats in the Diamondbacks Farm System

As continued coverage of the Diamondbacks farm, here at Inside the Diamondbacks we are going to do a tool-by-tool analysis and pick out the best prospects for each tool. Each tool is graded on the 20-80 scouting scale, where 50 is the major league average.

The next tool that will be showcased is often the trickiest tool to evaluate after the hit tool for position players. The main metrics for power often involve either the ISO stat, which is slugging percentage minus batting average, but also home runs. This is the home run projection for each grade on the scale for a batter per 162 games.

Ivan Melendez (70)

Full Scouting Report

With the departure of Deyvison De Los Santos, Melendez now becomes the most likely threat to become a 30 home run hitter. In his first full year in the system, Melendez hit 30 home runs in 426 plate appearances. With the potential for even as high as a 40-homer bat that could project in the middle of the order, the key to his development ironically is how the other tools pan out. He's very well aware of the type of contact he needs to make to be successful, with a 50% fly ball rate in Hillsboro and 42% in Amarillo. Now it's just a matter of reducing the strikeout rate in order to get his bat in the big leagues. With no one entrenched at either corner infield spot in the near future, Melendez could be making an impact with that bat sooner rather than later.

Kristian Robinson (60)

Full Scouting Report

There was a time where Kristian Robinson was viewed as one of the top prospects in the system, as a projectable teenager in pro ball. Three years lost due to legal issues threatened to derail his career, but he's back on the grind once again. Between four different levels, he smashed 18 home runs in 282 plate appearances before going off in the Texas League playoffs. He's the type of hitter who can carry a lineup when he's hot, but comes with a lot of swing-and-miss. For the first time in four years, he'll have a normal offseason and the hope is now that he can focus on baseball that he'll improve that aspect of his game. He's the type of player that can swing the fortunes of this franchise should he successfully pan out and become a capable starter in the outfield.

Adriel Radney (60)

Full Scouting Report

Radney is the top prospect of the Diamondbacks 2024 international class, easily able to generate a lot of power from a simplistic setup in the box. His power is mostly projection, as it should improve as he adds more muscle to a 6'1" 176-lb. frame. Having just signed last week, there isn't a track record yet but that should change once he makes his debut in the Dominican Summer League.

Gian Zapata (60)

Full Scouting Report

Zapata is a classic power over hit prospect with a long and lanky build, which serves as both his biggest strength and weakness. In his Age 17 season, he hit an impressive nine home runs in 163 plate appearances in the DSL. At the same time there are notable holes in his swing, as it tends to get long due to his build. He is the lone left-handed hitter with plus power in the organization, although it will be considerable time before that bat has a chance of making an impact at the major league level. If the approach continues to improve, we may see more of that home run power show up.

Druw Jones (60)

Full Scouting Report

Jones was once the second overall pick due to his loud tools, which includes the power tool. However his first season in the system was defined by injuries and an underwhelming performance. Jones had six extra base hits, including two home runs in 111 plate appearances with Class A Visalia, a level he's likely to repeat in 2024. He has the ability to drive the ball to all fields, which in an exhibition game he was able to drive two balls that narrowly missed going out at Chase Field. Once he gets his swing in order, he's a potential 30 home run and 30 stolen base threat.

Keep an eye on...

Prospects who may see their power grade improve with a longer track record to work with:

3B/1B Gino Groover (55) - Groover has the chance to develop into a rare prospect with 60-hit and 60-power thanks to a rare combination of solid exit velocities and contact rate. The question will be his ability to maximize the impact of that loud contact.
3B Ruben Santana (50) - Santana has a lot of room to grow offensively as a prospect who will be entering full season ball at Age 18. Defensively he has as good a chance as any prospect to stick at third, but the bat will decide if he will.