Yu-Min Lin Ranks as D-backs Top Pitching Prospect
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: Yu-Min Lin was signed out of Taiwan for $525K in December 2021. Since then he's had a meteoric rise through the D-backs system. After a successful 2022 between the complex and Class A Visalia, Lin continued the pace in 2023 and got to Double-A to end the season. The combination of youth and "pitchability" already has him on the doorstep of the major leagues, but more as a bottom of the rotation starter than anything else due to a small frame and a fastball that sits around 90 MPH.
Rank: 5
Age: 20
Height/Weight: 5'11" 160 lbs.
Throws: Left
Tools: Fastball 40, Slider 55, Changeup 60, Command 55, Overall 45
ETA: 2024
2023 Recap: Despite only throwing 56 innings between the complex and Visalia, the team decided to give him the aggressive assignment of High-A Hillsboro to start the year. There he made 13 starts and pitched to a 3.43 ERA with a 32% strikeout rate, as his secondary stuff proved to be too advanced for the level. The organization bumped him to Double-A in July to give him a tougher test. Lin handled the assignment fairly well, with the ERA bumping up to 4.28. While the 4.28 ERA doesn't seem impressive on the surface, given the environment he pitched in at Amarillo it was still above average. While the strikeout rate dipped a fair amount, the walk rate held pretty close as it only increased from 9.3% to 10.1% despite the environment nerfing the movement on his pitches. There was no doubt that he had the best season of any pitching prospect in the system in 2023, which culminated in a championship run with Amarillo.
2024 Expectations: With 11 starts already under his belt in Double-A, it would not be too surprising to see the young left-hander be in Reno before the All-Star Break. Should he continue to shine in the system, a 2024 major league debut would not be out of the question. Lin will likely make the majority of his 2024 starts in Triple-A and wait for an opportunity behind Tommy Henry, Ryne Nelson, Slade Cecconi, Bryce Jarvis, and Blake Walston, all of whom are currently on the D-backs 40-man roster. The D-backs will be looking to see him continue to work on spotting his fastball while continually showing that feel for adjusting speeds and locations on the hitters in Triple-A.
Projection: Lin projects more as a bottom of the rotation starter, most likely a No. 5 starter, who optimistically can offer 150-160 innings on the season due to his small and slender frame. His strengths are pitching with deception and an advanced feel for changing speeds and locations for his age, with three unique pitch types he can hit to three different areas of the strike zone. The advanced feel for his slider and changeup also lends himself as a potential swing man or a reliever who can bridge the gap between the starter and the back end of the bullpen. When deciding what potential role that yields the best long term value, a back of the rotation starter is more likely for Lin.
