Prospects for the Arizona Diamondbacks have been showing up and showing out as part of the Arizona Fall League. With less than two weeks left on their schedule, the D-backs’ youngsters on the Salt River Rafters are making a final push to leave their best impression on coaches and staff.
One of Arizona’s top pitching prospects, Slade Cecconi, has already been removed from the league. This was due to reaching his predesignated innings limit set by the team. He is currently seventh in the D-backs’ top prospects rankings. He ended the season with a 2.40 ERA, 14 strikeouts, and seven walks in 15 innings pitched.
Cecconi credited his improved curveball for his recent success, something he worked on during the pandemic.” I was able to get on a Trackman pretty consistently and start learning the shape of it, learning the spin of it, being able to control it at that speed and that break,” he told MLB.com in a recent interview.
“I really like it for the movement and that speed difference. I’ve got that slider and that changeup in the mid-80s, the fastball in the mid-90s and now I have the curveball in the mid-70s.”
Other D-backs pitching prospects have faired well in Arizona Fall League play. For instance, Mitchell Stumpo has a 2.25 ERA in eight innings pitched. Shumpei Yoshikawa has 11 strikeouts, 9 walks, and a 3.55 ERA in five appearances. Righty Keegan Curtis has seven Ks and two walks allowed in 5.1 innings pitched.
Meanwhile, outfielder Dominic Canzone has been consistently getting it done at the plate. He is currently hitting .325 with a .835 OPS, eight RBI, and eight walks in 40 at bats.
Also, he’s made some outstanding plays in the field.
Dominic Canzone makes an amazing grab to keep us tied here at Mesa!🤩@Dbacks pic.twitter.com/lOJ61LpAIm
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) November 5, 2021
Infielder Buddy Kennedy had a big day at the dish as a designated hitter against the Surprise Saguaros on Monday. He went yard for the first time and scored a run on a Canzone double. He is 5-for-33 with three RBI, and three walks. Unfortunately, he also has 13 strikeouts.
It didn’t take long for @KennedyBuddy! One pitch, one swing, one dinger for Rafters DH. pic.twitter.com/JVPZnemhJ7
— PHNX Diamondbacks (@PHNX_Dbacks) November 8, 2021
Catcher/outfielder Cooper Hummel is also doing well in a limited sample size. The 5’10” switch hitter went 5-for-23 with eight RBI and 11 walks. However, much like Kennedy, his 12 strikeouts are far too many in what most consider to be a hitter’s league.
Opportunities are born during the AFL despite most of these players being over a year away from making the big leagues. Next to spring training, this is the best chance for minor league players to make an impression on the decision makers for this franchise.
With the D-backs turning to their farm system for positional needs more than free agency, the door is open for all of their prospects to shine.
