Updated Top-10 Prospect Lists: NL West

Below are the updated summer top-10 prospect lists for the orgs in the National League West. I have notes beneath the top 10s explaining why some of these prospects have moved up or down. For detailed scouting information on individual players, check out the player’s profile page which may include tool grades and/or links to Daily Prospect Notes posts in which they’ve appeared this season. For detailed info on players drafted or signed this year, check out our sortable boards.

Arizona Diamondbacks (Preseason List)

1. Anthony Banda, LHP
2. Jazz Chisholm, SS
3. Jon Duplantier, RHP
4. Pavin Smith, 1B
5. Marcus Wilson, OF
6. Taylor Clarke, RHP
7. Socrates Brito, OF
8. Domingo Leyba. INF
9. Kristian Robinson, OF
10. Drew Ellis, 1B/3B

Anthony Banda’s fastball was averaging 94 mph in his big-league appearances, and he’s missed bats in three starts with the Diamondbacks. He continues to project as a league-average starter. Chisholm looked like the team’s best prospect during spring training, then scuffled (at age 19, mind you) in the Midwest League to start the year, and then tore his meniscus. He hasn’t played since May. Duplantier has continued to pitch well after promotion to High-A, touching 96 and flashing a plus breaking ball. Some scouts think Clarke is an inning-eating No. 4/5 starter, others prefer him as a bullpen arm. Brito still hasn’t quite graduated and has hit well with Reno, projecting as either a low-end regular or fourth outfielder. Leyba can hit but some clubs have him evaluated as an org player due to size.

Colorado Rockies (Preseason List)

1. Brendan Rodgers, SS
2. Riley Pint, RHP
3. Ryan McMahon, 1B
4. Pedro Gonzalez, CF
5. Colton Welker, 3B
6. Peter Lambert, RHP
7. Ryan Vilade, 3B
8. Tom Murphy, C
9. Ryan Castellani, RHP
10. Garrett Hampson, UTIL

After a dominant 50-game stint with Lancaster, Rodgers moved up to Double-A and has had muted but continued success. Pint has struggled to throw strikes and doesn’t miss as many bats as you might expect given his stuff, but he still throws really hard and flashes nasty secondary stuff. McMahon looks much more comfortable at the plate this year than last, though scouts still consider him a first baseman despite this year’s tryst with second. David Laurila talked to him about his bounce-back season. Gonzalez has immense upside and is performing despite issues with strikeouts. Welker and Vilade are power bats with a decent chance to stay at third base. Lambert is a pitchability righty, Castellani throws hard and is deceptive but also violent and has fringey secondaries.

Los Angeles Dodgers (Preseason List)

1. Walker Buehler, RHP
2. Alex Verdugo, OF
3. Yadier Alvarez, RHP
4. Yusniel Diaz, OF
5. Jeren Kendall, OF
6. Mitch White, RHP
7. Starling Heredia, OF
8. Will Smith, C
9. Keibert Ruiz, C
10. Dustin May, RHP

Buehler might have an impact on the big club yet this season and, assuming he can stay healthy, has front-end upside as a full-time starter next year. He sits in the upper 90s with a plus curveball and cutter. Verdugo — verdugo is Spanish for “executioner,” by the way — profiles in right field but should do more than enough damage with the bat to profile there. He’s a potential plus-plus hitter and doubles machine. Yadier Alvarez hasn’t gotten any better but still generates easy upper-90s heat and flashes a plus slider. Heredia is too physical for the Pioneer League. He’s pulling everything and looks clumsy at times but has plus power and speed, the latter being quite incredible given his size.

San Diego Padres (Preseason List)

1. Fernando Tatis, Jr., SS/3B
2. MacKenzie Gore, LHP
3. Anderson Espinoza, RHP
4. Michel Baez, RHP
5. Cal Quantrill, RHP
6. Adrian Morejon, LHP
7. Jacob Nix, RHP
8. Logan Allen, LHP
9. Luis Urias, 2B
10. Eric Lauer, LHP

Tatis’s tools are all playing in games and he’s also walking. He’s a potential star, even if he doesn’t stick at shortstop long term. Gore has had blister issues in Arizona but still looks great. Espinoza was 94-97 with plus secondaries in his last Extended start before going down for the year, and he’ll miss much of next year recovering from Tommy John. When healthy, Morejon has been 93-96 with feel for locating an above-average slider and changeup. The six-man Double-A rotation is loaded and generates some disagreement about who is best. I think Nix has the best stuff of that group, Lauer the best combination of command and pitchability.

San Francisco Giants (Preseason List)

1. Christian Arroyo, 3B
2. Tyler Beede, RHP
3. Bryan Reynolds, OF
4. Heliot Ramos, CF
5. Chris Shaw, 1B
6. Andrew Suarez, LHP
7. Sandro Fabian, OF
8. Steven Duggar, OF
9. C.J. Hinjosa, SS
10. Joan Gregorio, RHP

I think Arroyo, who debuted this year, will hit enough to overcome a lack of power and profile every day at third base. Beede has a well-rounded repertoire and has improved his strike-throwing just enough since college to project as a No. 4 starter. Reynolds’ profile depends on him staying in center field. If he can, he’s an average regular; if not, he’s a second-division starter in left. Shaw has spent time in left field, but scouts prefer him at first base. Duggar has hit since returning from multiple injuries.