Five Draft Prospects Who Make the Most Sense For the D-backs

Identifying which prospects in the 2023 MLB Draft could make the most sense for the Diamondbacks at No. 12 overall.

The 2023 MLB Draft begins in a little more than two months, so we're going to start ramping up coverage here on Inside the Diamondbacks. The Arizona Diamondbacks have the 12th overall selection, which carries a bonus value of $5.04 million. Under Mike Hazen, the organization's approach in the first round has been taking the best player available regardless of signing bonus ask.

These are five prospects who really appeal to the D-backs with the No. 12 selection.

Kyle Teel, C, Virginia

The D-backs have a type when it comes to hitters: advanced approach at the plate, underlying power, high baseball IQ and makeup, very athletic, and plays an up-the-middle defensive position. No player who is likely to be available for the organization in the draft fits that description like Teel. Arizona's system is bereft of catchers, despite having an already young, controllable backstop on the big league roster in Gabriel Moreno.

As a freshman, Teel hit .335 with nine home runs to help the University of Virginia reach the 2021 College World Series. His sophomore season wasn't as consistent, as his average dropped to .276 and his OPS dropped 100 points from .942 to .841 as he tried to hit for more power. His struggles continued into the following summer with both Team USA and in the Cape Cod League, hitting .125 in just eight games at the Cape.

Teel's bat rebounded his junior season, hitting .416 with a 1.135 OPS in his first 49 games. Couple the bat with a strong chance to stick at catcher due to his athleticism and leadership skills, he has the potential to be a starting caliber catcher in the big leagues for a long time. As a left-handed bat, he can share time behind the plate with Moreno in the long term. In the event he doesn't stick behind the plate, he has the tools and athleticism that profiles well for center field, although the organization already has a lot of left-handed hitting outfield depth with Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy, Alek Thomas, and Dominic Fletcher already controllable for the long haul.

Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida

Waldrep has the highest ceiling, but the lowest floor of the pitchers the D-backs have a realistic shot of drafting this year. He has the stuff to be a top of the rotation arm with an upper-90s fastball, a slider, and a split-change that can generate a lot of whiffs, but has trouble getting it in the strike zone.

Waldrep originally started out at Southern Miss, spending his freshman and sophomore seasons there. In 2022, he pitched to a 3.30 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 90 innings. That caught the attention of the University of Florida, and resulted in his transfer to one of the top collegiate programs. In the fall, his stuff ticked up and put him in consideration as a Top 10 prospect entering the spring. Waldrep hasn't had the junior year he hoped for, pitching to a 5.07 ERA in 12 starts with the Gators thanks to a spike in walk rate from 3.3 to 5.5 per nine innings, but the strikeout rate of 14.0 remains the same.

With many of the prospects in Arizona's system profiling more as middle and bottom of the rotation arms, it makes sense for them to target a pitcher with that type of upside. There is significant reliever risk in his profile if he's unable to consistently throw strikes, although his stuff lends to a backend of the bullpen arm. The D-backs will need to work on cleaning up the delivery, but the risk is worth the potential long term upside. They will likely take a long look at him as both a pitcher and as a person to determine if he has the makeup to reach his lofty ceiling.

Aidan Miller, 3B, JW Mitchell HS (FL)

Miller is likely the best high school bat that could be available for the D-backs at the No. 12 pick. The organization has drafted a prep bat with their first round pick in three of the past four drafts between Corbin Carroll, Jordan Lawlar, and Druw Jones. His carrying tool is plus power and has shown an ability to regularly tap into it, even against high velocity. He also possesses a plus arm, which is a requisite to play the hot corner at a high level.

Arizona has three right-handed bats with experience at third base, between Deyvison De Los Santos, A.J. Vukovich, and Ivan Melendez although none of them project to stick long term. Miller doesn't have that issue, although he missed much of his senior season due to a broken hamate bone. He's committed to play at the University of Arkansas, although he's very unlikely to end up there as a Top 15 selection.

Matt Shaw, INF, Maryland

Shaw is a player who could make a lot of sense if the organization is looking to get some savings with the pick. A three-year starter at Maryland, he's hit well at every stop he's been at. In both his sophomore and junior seasons, he's hit 20 home runs. In the Cape Cod League, he impressed by hitting .360 with five home runs and 21 stolen bases. It carried over to his junior year, where he's batting .363 with 20 home runs and more walks (40) than strikeouts (33).

While he played shortstop in college, it's more likely that he will have to move to second base or even the outfield due to a below average arm and plus speed. Given his track record to hit, he could be on an accelerated path to the big league roster where he could contribute as early as the 2026 season. Ryan Bliss has emerged as a breakout prospect with Double-A Amarillo, but middle infield is a position where you can't have enough depth at.

Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy (MA)

White is the top left-hander in the draft with a 6'5" 210-pound frame with some projectability left. His fastball already touches 96-97 MPH and has the feel for a plus curveball and the makings for a usable changeup. His stuff already profiles to be a high-leverage lefty at worse and a middle of the rotation arm if he finds a third usable pitch. There is a good chance that White may not be available for the D-backs at the 12th overall pick due to his profile if he's willing to sign under slot for a Top 10 selection.

He's committed to Vanderbilt, which will make signing him potentially an issue if he sets a lofty bonus demand. Given that White is listed as a Top 20 prospect, it should not be too cost prohibitive to sign.