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Arizona Diamondbacks Top 10 Prospects for 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Apr 4, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Famous cat Grumpy Cat wears an Arizona Diamondbacks hat prior to the game against the Colorado Rockies during Opening Day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Famous cat Grumpy Cat wears an Arizona Diamondbacks hat prior to the game against the Colorado Rockies during Opening Day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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9. Victor Reyes, OF

Birthdate: 10/5/94 (22 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: high-A
Stats in 2016: .303/.349/.416, 6 HR, 20 SB

The Braves signed Reyes from Venezuela and he flashed brilliant athleticism for three years in their system without refining those tools before the Braves traded him to the Diamondbacks in exchange for a competitive balance pick.

Reyes has tremendous bat speed, which until he got into the Arizona system had not generated the power that his solid frame would suggest. At 6’3, he’s listed at 170 pounds, but he looks more like 190ish, and he’s fairly cut as well, generating significant jump off the bat.

Reyes has hit .300+ in both seasons with Arizona’s system, but his power took a step forward this year as he took a step forward physically as well.

he stood out like a sore thumb due to his ridiculous athleticism on the field

He’s undersold by many in the industry, but in watching Reyes’s teams this year, he stood out like a sore thumb due to his ridiculous athleticism on the field, whether it was running the bases, swinging the bat, or in the field.

He’s not got an elite arm, but he can handle all three defensive positions in the outfield passably, likely profiling best as a borderline-elite left fielder whereas he’d be league average or even below-average in center or right.

His speed on gap hits and ability to run the bases is quite a bit more than what has been advertised. If you’d look to MLB.com’s rankings, for instance, you’d see his run tool rated as a 45, and that’s not knocking MLB.com because that is pretty much industry consensus, but I think a lot of that has to do with seeing Reyes as he gained muscle strength in a growth spurt throughout last season and hadn’t yet figured out how to use his body yet.

Reyes’s time to put all the tools to the point of success in the Cal League this year does mean he’ll be 22 before seeing upper levels of the minors, and the normal Cal League caveat does apply, but he is one to watch in the Diamondbacks system who could change a lot of minds in 2017.

Next: #8

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