Diamondbacks Farm System May 2023 Update: Low-A Visalia
Visalia is the lowest full-season stop in the Diamondbacks minor league system. At this level, pitchers are starting to develop control and the defense isn't particularly strong. However because it's so far from the big leagues, it's still possible for a player putting up impressive numbers to catapult onto prospect lists.
Arizona's two most notable prospects at this level are Druw Jones, last year's No. 2 overall pick, and Joe Elbis, a slender RHP who exhibits above-average control but is repeating the level after missing most of 2022 with a shoulder injury.
Hitters
Druw Jones got off to a slow start, hitting .175 at the plate before suffered a right quad strain after an awkward step on the first base bag on April 19th. He was placed on the 7-day injured list later that week and has not returned yet. Given his status as one of the organization's top prospect, they have been slow-playing his return.
Pitchers
Right-hander Joe Elbis has picked up where he left off, exhibiting solid control of a full four-pitch mix. In seven starts, Elbis has a 2.77 ERA and a 20/8 strikeout to walk ratio in 26 innings. The team will have to be mindful of his workload moving forward as he moves up the system due to missing out on a lot of time. He's still very young, as he doesn't turn 21 until September, but becomes eligible for the Rule 5 Draft after the season.
Notable Performances
Right-hander Ricardo Yan has a 3.12 ERA in six starts, yet is somehow 0-4 on the season. He has a 36/12 strikeout to walk ratio in 26 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .176 batting average against. He throws a fastball with arm-side run and a slider out of a three-quarters arm slot, so that could add some deception to his stuff as a reliever. He is 20 years old, so he's not too old for the level, but is looking like a midseason promotion candidate if he keeps this up.
Outfielder Anderson Rojas leads the team with a .322 batting average and is second behind Christian Cerda in OPS at .768. On the season he has six strikeouts and one walk with five extra base hits, four doubles and one triple. After splitting time between the infield and outfield last season, he has played exclusively in the outfield with Visalia. Rojas is 19 years old, so this is an encouraging sign.
