Being an expansion team, the Diamondbacks have been dependent on the expansion
draft and free agent signings to compete in the NL West. It also takes some
time to fill up the farm system especially for all 6 teams. The last few drafts
however have begun to produce and the system is now filled with younger players
and less and less veteran free agents. Due to the organization’s philosophy
of drafting more advanced college players, the lower teams are older than the
league average in age but they also aggressively push players who are ready up
the chain, resulting in young teams in Triple A and Double A. The D’Backs may
not draft many high school players but they do not shy from signing teenagers
from Latin America. Among this group are current D’Backs Jose Valverde (signed
at 18) and Greg Aquino (17), as well as the 2 Gonzalezes, Edgar (17) and
Enrique (16). The movement towards a younger team looks to continue especially
at the Major League level. Edgar and Enrique Gonzalez have joined the rotation
and the D’Backs have recently cut ties with veterans Jason Grimsley, Terry
Mulholland and Russ Ortiz. With Luis Gonzalez and Craig Counsell most likely
leaving as well, the team will soon dip into the minor league system for the
next generation of D’Backs.
Triple A Tucson Sidewinders
Average Age : 25.52 years
Oldest players : Donnie Sadler (31), Matt Erickson (30), Mike Koplove (29),
Robby Hammock (29)
Youngest : Chris Young (22), Stephen Drew (23), Alberto Callaspo (23)
Rotation :
Dustin Nippert (25 years old) (2002 draft-15th round)
Adam Bass (24) (2003-10)
Micah Owings (23) (2005-3)
* Enrique Gonzalez (23)
* Edgar Gonzalez (23)
* free agent
Closer :
Tony Pena (24), Mike Schultz (26) (2000-2)
Starters :
C Hammock (29) (1998-23), Juan Brito (26)
1B Chris Carter (23) (2004-17)
2B Callaspo (23)
SS Drew (23) (2004-1)
3B Brian Barden (25) (2002-6)
LF Erickson (31), Kenny Perez (24) (2000-6)
CF Young (22) (2001-16)
RF Quentin (23) (2003-1)
As mentioned above, the Sidewinders have one of the youngest teams in Triple A.
With the exception of catcher Robby Hammock, the oldest players are bench
players Sadler and Erickson, and reliever Mike Koplove. Trades also brought in
2 young prospects, Chris Young and Alberto Callaspo. They have 3 everyday
players born in 1983 and with the exception of catcher, none of the other
position players have major league experience. The rotation is a bit murky at
the moment but the remaining 3 starters are all below 25 including Micah Owings
who was only drafted last year.
Double A Tennesee Smokies
Average : 23.84
Oldest : Matt Wilkinson (28) (2001-45), Bill White (27) (2000-3), Doug Slaten
(26) (2000-17)
Youngest : Greg Smith (22), Miguel Montero (23)
Rotation :
Ross Ohlendorf (23) (2004-4)
Steven Jackson (24) (2004-10)
Garrett Mock (23) (2004-3)
Matt Chico (23) (2003-3)
Greg Smith (22) (2005-6)
Closer :
Slaten (26), Wilkinson (28)
Starters :
C Montero (22), Phil Avlas (23) (2001-24)
1B Jesus Cota (24) (2000-14)
2B Danny Richar (23)
SS Alberto Gonzales (23)
3B Augie Murillo (24), Jamie D’Antona (24) (2003-2)
LF Alex Frazier (25) (2001-30)
CF Jerry Gil (23)
RF Jon Zeringue (23) (2004-2)
The oldest players are all relievers. The 2 youngest Smokies are catching
prospect Miguel Montero (signed at 19) as well as LHP Greg Smith. The
rotation got even younger when they lost Bass and Owings and got Smith and
Matt Chico (23) from Lancaster.
High A Lancaster JetHawks
Average : 22.68
Oldest : Jared Doyle (25), Dan Pohlman (24), Kellen Raab (24), Matt Green (24),
Cesar Nicolas (24)
Youngest : Carlos Gonzalez (20), Mark Rosen (21), Eddie Baeza (21), Emilio
Bonifacio (21)
Rotation :
AJ Shappi (23) (2004-9)
Raab (24) (2003-25)
Green (24) (2005-2)
Esmerling Vasquez (22)
Baeza (21)
Closer :
Matt Elliott (22)
Starters :
C Josh Ford (23) (2005-9), Wilkin Castillo (22), Richard Mercado (23) (2004-12)
1B Nicolas (24) (2004-5)
2B Bonifacio (21)
SS Mark Reynolds (22) (2004-16)
3B Rusty Ryal (23) (2005-14)
LF Jereme Milons (23)
CF Chris Rahl (22) (2005-5)
RF Gonzalez (20)
More Latin American signings including top prospect Carlos Gonzalez and the
speedy Emilio Bonifacio. Rotation is a bit older but this is mainly due to so
many college pitchers picked recently in the drafts that there will be
competition for spots in Double A and above. Top closer prospect Matt Elliott
is just 22 years old.
Low A South Bend Silver Hawks
Average : 21.69
Oldest : Frank Curreri, Trey Hendricks, Will Crouch (23 - born in 1982)
Youngest : Justin Upton (18), Pedro Ciriaco (20), Leyson Septimo (20)
Rotation :
Adam Howard (22) (2004-44)
Anthony Cupps (23) (2005-7)
Cody Evans (22) (2005-10)
Ryan Schreppel (22) (2005-8)
Kyle Wright (23) (2005-19)
Closer :
Kyler Newby (21) (2004-50), Ryan Doherty (22) (2005-free agent)
Starters :
C Orlando Mercado (21) (2003-6), Curreri (23) (2004-41)
1B Bryan Byrne (22) (2005-12)
2B Manuel Ferrer (21)
SS Ciriaco (20)
3B Ricardo Sosa (22)
LF Hendricks (23) (2004-24)
CF Upton (18) (2005-1)
RF Septimo (20), Greg Thomson (22) (2005-15)
DH Crouch (23) (2005-free agent), Steve Mena (21)
Upton is obviously the youngest here in a team filled with draftees from 2004
and 2005 as most of the previous year’s championship team have graduated to
High A Lancaster and above.
Short Season A Yakima Bears
Average : 21.29
Oldest : Mike Decarlo (24), Scott Souther (23)
Youngest : Lorenzo Church (19), Edward Romero (20), Julio Parra (20), Joel
Melendez (20)
Short Season Rookie Missoula Osprey
Average : 20.75
Oldest : Jake Elder (23), Sean Smith (23)
Youngest : Andrew Beshenich (18), Andrew Fie (18), Houston Summers (18),
Jordan Norberto (19), Gerardo Parra (19)
The Short Season leagues have just started so the rosters are still unsettled
and with pitch limits, there can be more than 5 starters in each team’s
rotation. Yakima seems to have gotten most of the returning 2005 picks from
Extended Spring Training while Missoula has the bulk of the 2006 picks
(especially the high-schoolers like Fie and Beshenich) as well as prospects
from Latin America.
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