Jansel Luis' Youth and Upside Makes for Bright Future
This article is part of a series counting down the Diamondbacks' Top 30 prospects entering the 2024 season. These rankings are determined by Michael McDermott, in conjunction with the Inside the Diamondbacks staff.
Summary: Jansel Luis is the highest-ranked of three high-upside teenagers from the D-backs 2022 international amateur signing class. Luis took in a $525K bonus and has had two solid years, starting with the Dominican Summer League in 2022 and then the Complex and Class A Visalia in 2023. A switch-hitting infielder with a projectable body, he has a chance to be a five-tool infielder. He still is more than three years away from making a substantial impact on a major league field, but the upside and relatively easy position fit long term has him ranked as high as he is.
Rank: 6
Age: 19
Height/Weight: 6'0" 170 lbs.
Bats/Throws: Switch/Right
Tools: Hit 55, Power 50, Defense 55, Run 55, Arm 50, Overall 45
ETA: 2027
2023 Recap: Following a successful year in the Dominican Summer League, Luis spent the 2023 season between the Complex League and Class A Visalia. At the complex, he showed more power as the ISO improved to .198 with a 14% strikeout rate and a 8% walk rate. After 25 games the D-backs promoted him to Class A Visalia, where he held his own with a .257/.310/.417 slash line in his Age 18 season. Between the two levels, Luis finished with seven home runs and 16 stolen bases in 260 plate appearances.
2024 Expectations: Luis will repeat Visalia to begin the 2024 season, where the organization will gauge his progress compared to the 155 PA sample he had at the end of the 2023 season. Watching his strikeout and walk rates, which were 22% and 5% last season, will be an indication of how well his approach and plate discipline will develop. He's still one of the youngest prospects at that level, turning 19 in March. If he has a good year with Visalia, he could be playing in Hillsboro after the All-Star break.
Projection: Luis is less likely to stick at short, more due to the presence of Jordan Lawlar and Tommy Troy in the organization, and move to second. There is more than enough potential with the bat to handle a position change, with the potential for an above-average hit and average power long term. The D-backs could very well boast an infield of Troy, Lawlar, Luis, and Groover within four years.
