The Diamondbacks will have three of the top 35 selections in the 2024 MLB Draft. Their earliest pick is the No. 29 selection after a run to the World Series last season, the No. 31 selection for Corbin Carroll winning the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year Award as part of the Prospect Promotion Incentive, and the No. 35 selection for their Competitive Balance Lottery Pick. Those three picks have a combined slot value of $8.5 million out of their total bonus pool of $12.662 million.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Given how closely stacked the three picks are, the team will likely pick three players in the same tier of talent. They likely won’t be getting a superstar player but could walk away with three to four guys who could make a significant long-term impact with the right development.
These five prospects should be on the Diamondbacks’ radar for Sunday night.
1. Elk City HS (OK) LHP Kash Mayfield
Mayfield has the lowest chance of making it to the Diamondbacks’ top selection, but he would be a no-brainer selection if he does. A left-handed pitcher who sits 92-95 MPH with a top speed of 97 on his fastball with solid curveball and changeup, he would instantly become one of the team’s top pitching prospects. However, that makes him an attractive target for teams like the Padres and Dodgers to take ahead of Arizona in the mid 20s.
Comparing to other left-handers, the Diamondbacks have Blake Walston, Grayson Hitt, Yu-Min Lin, and Caden Grice but there are concerns about all three being able to stick in the rotation long term. Walston is on the injured list with elbow inflammation, Hitt is nearing the end of his rehab from April 2023 Tommy John surgery, Lin missed two months after getting struck in the face with a batted ball, and Grice will be out until 2026 with his own Tommy John surgery. Mayfield would place ahead of all four.
2. Westlake HS (TX) 2B Theo Gillen
The Diamondbacks have done a strong job of developing toolsy, athletic, up-the-middle defenders in their system under general manager Mike Hazen, and Gillen fits that mold. His arm, given a 40 grade by MLB Pipeline, may cause him to have to move over to second base long-term. However, the approach and his left-handed bat plays at virtually any position, which could also put left and center field as a possibility.
There is a bit of injury history with a torn labrum in his right shoulder that required surgery as a sophomore and a right knee injury his junior year. That could cause him to fall right into the Diamondbacks’ lap with the No. 29 pick.
Arizona has a lot of tweener middle-infielders, but only Jansel Luis has comparable upside with the bat as Gillen. Tommy Troy and Cristofer Torin are also notable middle infield prospects in the system, but profile as a starting third baseman and a utility infielder.
3. Sam Houston State C Walker Janek
Walker Janek feels like a reach pick for Arizona at No. 29, but it could be a case where the team would rather take a guy early than risk him going to the Texas Rangers with the next pick. Janek is pretty much a surefire catcher defensively, with all the physical tools necessary to be a starting backstop, but the bat isn’t consistent.
It could be a case where the team takes a sure thing at an important position they lack depth, then uses the savings on a fallen high school bat or arm at 31. Arizona has some interesting catchers in their system, but none of them project to be starters. Janek at the minimum makes sense as Moreno’s future replacement as a potential plus defender who can control the running game. His bat will likely have him hit towards the bottom of the order where the occasional extra-base hit could set up innings.
4. Duke LHP Jonathan Santucci
Santucci comes as a decent alternative to Mayfield in the draft, with comparable upside but a lower price tag. He sits in the 92-96 MPH range with his fastball, with good carry, giving him the potential for three above-average to plus offerings in his repertoire between his fastball, slider, and changeup.
A weak platform season, that included surgery to remove bone spurs in his throwing elbow and a rib injury that cost him his last three starts of the season, could have him fall out of the initial 30 picks. He’d be a strong option for Arizona with their other two selections for a below-slot deal, depending on the high school player they’d take with those savings.
5. Stanford C Malcolm Moore
Malcolm Moore has been a recent popular mock pick for the Diamondbacks for the writers at MLB Pipeline, along with Walker Janek. The Stanford catcher has a lot of work to get his defense to major league quality, but the bat could play as an offense-first backstop to get him on the field while the coaches try to improve his defense with more reps.
Throw in the fact that Arizona lacks any impactful left-handed bats that could be an everyday regular at the big league level in their system, it could be a somewhat reasonable pick. If that is the case, this pick has savings in mind and the team will splurge with their other picks.
As mentioned before under Janek, the Diamondbacks don’t have a starting caliber backstop in their system. Adrian Del Castillo, Christian Cerda, J.J. D’Orazio, and Caleb Roberts all profile as end of the bench players, or third catchers on the 40-man roster. While Moore is a better bat than all of those guys, he has a below-average arm that can be run on if his footwork and exchange are anything less than clean.
Other names in consideration
- Hardee HS (FL) SS Kellon Lindsey
- Kansas State SS Kaelen Culpepper
- Mississippi State OF Dakota Jordan
- Chaparral HS (CA) RHP Braylon Doughty
- California C Caleb Lomavita
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Michael McDermott covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @MichaelMcDMLB
