With spring training rapidly approaching, MLB Pipeline released its top-100 prospect list for the 2024 season. To no surprise, the Orioles’ Jackson Holliday remained in the #1 spot. Holliday was drafted #1 overall by Baltimore out of high school in the 2022 draft.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!But where do the Diamondbacks stand in these rankings?
The first D-backs prospect to pop up on the list is Jordan Lawlar in the #11 spot, down one spot from last year. Lawlar is considered the #3 prospect out of the 2021 draft class after being drafted #6 overall by the Diamondbacks.
In triple-A last season, he boasted a .358 batting average and an .874 OPS through 16 games. Lawlar even got a taste of the major leagues as he made his debut in September to help the Diamondbacks on the base paths during the final stretch of their season.
Unfortunately, Lawlar was not quite ready, recording just four hits in 31 at-bats while striking out 11 times. It is expected that Lawlar will see some more time this season, as the D-backs really only have Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop. However, the 21-year-old has plenty to prove during spring training.
The next Diamondbacks prospect on this list is Tommy Troy, who was ranked 74th. Troy, also a shortstop, was drafted in the 1st round of the 2023 draft by Arizona. In the 27 games he played in the minor leagues last season, Troy posted a .271 batting average.
Then, ranked 78th, is outfielder Druw Jones, son of former Atlanta Braves star Andrew Jones. Since being ranked 33rd last year, Jones has faced a handful of setbacks, including a shoulder injury that required surgery just days after signing with the Diamondbacks.
While Jones began to heat up towards the end of the 2023 season, posting a .482 batting average in September, considering he has yet to reach AA, he likely still has one or two more full season to go before he is ready for the majors.
