Archie Bradley enters the 2014 season as baseball's top-ranked pitching prospect.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
For the third consecutive season, the Arizona Diamondbacks prospect pool is headlined by a host of promising young pitchers.
Archie Bradley, the 21-year-old phenom, will enter the 2014 season ranked not only as the team’s top prospect, but also as baseball’s top pitching prospect. After dominating at Double-A Mobile for a majority of last season, Bradley will audition for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, though he’s more likely to arrive in the major leagues around midseason.
Beyond Bradley, the Diamondbacks' first- and second-round picks from 2013 rank high on this year’s list, with college right-handers Braden Shipley and Aaron Blair both ranking within the team’s top five prospects and poised for their first full professional campaigns. Rounding out their crop of impressive young arms is Jose Martinez, a 19-year-old who boasts some of the best arm speed in the minor leagues.
In terms of positional talent, middle infielder Chris Owings enters 2014 ready to make an impact in the major leagues. Last year, the 22-year-old was named the Rookie of the Year and MVP of the Pacific Coast League before holding his own over 20 games with Arizona as a September call-up.
After Owings the organization is thin on projectable hitters, though catcher Stryker Trahan as well as third baseman Jake Lamb and Brandon Drury are all names to follow closely next season.
Here’s a look at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ top 10 prospects for 2014.
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