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Arizona Diamondbacks REVISED Top Ten 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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Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Alex Young, LHP

Birthdate: 9/9/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: low A, high A
Stats in 2016: 118 2/3 IP, 3.56 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 7.4 BB%, 18.6 K%

After two years in the Texas Christian bullpen, Young moved to the rotation in 2015, and he got plenty of love as a possible back-end of the first round selection that could move quickly as a #4/5 type of starter in a rotation or a very solid lefty reliever due to his excellent slider.

His first exposure to pro ball went very well, and he jumped up Diamondbacks prospect rankings last offseason after he threw just 7 innings, but only allowed a single run while walking only one and striking out 6 over that time. His fastball played up a couple of ticks in his pro time, and many dreamed on it playing up further as he developed as a professional.

At his best, his fastball plays with sink that is hard to square up and his slider misses bats

The 2016 season just didn’t work out that way. Young’s fastball considered to sit in the upper-80s/low-90s with some sink, but from his 6’2 frame, he doesn’t quite get the plane of a taller pitcher.

His first part of the year, he had a solid start in the Midwest League, but his slider didn’t snap the way it did in college, and his change played fringe average. Sequencing hitters worked in the Midwest League, but Cal League conditions and hitters caught up to him.

At his best, his fastball plays with sink that is hard to square up and his slider misses bats in a way that makes you dream on Young as an inning eater back-end starter or a very good lefty reliever, but so far, neither pitch has played to that level as a professional.

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