The Arizona Diamondbacks are in good hands at the second base position, both in the present and the future. Ketel Marte is set to reprise his starting role there in 2026 after being shopped in the offseason.
While the team has an All-Star bat at the position in the present, it’s never a bad idea to look ahead. MLB Pipeline released their Top 10 second base prospects, with three Diamondbacks prospects making the list. Those prospects are Tommy Troy (No. 4), Demetrio Crisantes (No. 6), and JD Dix (No. 8).
With Marte already in place and five years remaining on his contract, the question is, why do these prospects matter? The reality is Marte is 32 years old, and the Diamondbacks need to be airtight defensively to compete for a postseason spot. Hazen mentioned cleaning up their infield defense as a priority when acquiring Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals.
As he ages further, the plan would be to make him a full-time designated hitter and replace him defensively with a younger and more athletic player.
Tommy Troy Could Be the Diamondbacks’ Next Starting Second Baseman
The Diamondbacks drafted Tommy Troy with their top selection of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Stanford. Troy was expected to be a fast mover in the system and reached Triple-A in his second full season. He should debut during the 2026 season.
While he lacks a single above-average physical tool, he makes up for it with elite makeup. Troy is a grinder, consistently improving every year in Stanford and in the Diamondbacks’ system. He is currently Arizona’s No. 2-ranked prospect on FanGraphs.
After struggling in his first year in Arizona, his offense took a major step forward in his second. With Double-A Amarillo, he slashed .286/.382/.461 with 12 home runs and a 121 wRC+. He cut his strikeout rate down by 5% while simultaneously improving his walk rate by 2%. The last prospect who made a significant improvement in that area, going from High-A to Double-A, was Paul Goldschmidt in 2011.
Troy finished the year with Triple-A Reno, where he held his own. He slashed .295/.381/.429, which was only good for a 98 wRC+ in the offense-friendly Pacific Coast League.
The most encouraging things about his play were the low chase rate (26.2%) and high contact rate in the strike zone (90.4%), per FanGraphs. Both metrics are better than the major league averages of 28.4% and 82.5%.
He’ll likely get an invite to camp, but will likely open up 2026 with Reno again. However, he’s possibly one injury away from a long runway of playing time at the major league level.
Demetrio Crisantes Looks to Shake Off Tough Injury
Crisantes might have gotten Top 100 considerations had he not suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in May. That injury occurred on a swing and required surgery to repair a torn posterior labrum, but he should be a full go when minor league camp starts.
The former seventh-rounder in the 2022 draft might be the best hitter in the system, even over Ryan Waldschmidt. Both hitters bring a power and patience element to the lineup. Waldschmidt has the superior batting eye, although Crisantes might hit for a higher average and more power.
The reason Crisantes might not be ranked higher, aside from the injury, is a questionable defensive fit. While he has played mostly second base, there’s a strong chance he’ll have to move positions. First base is a possibility, depending on how the bat develops.
Based on his 2025 results, there’s a reason to be optimistic in the bat. He walked (21) more times than he struck out (19) in 151 plate appearances in High-A.
With a 40-man roster decision looming next November, it would not be a shock for the Diamondbacks to place him in Double-A to begin 2026. He’d share an infield with Jansel Luis, Cristofer Torin, and Ben McLaughlin in Amarillo. It will be interesting to see who ends up at third base, with Luis and McLaughlin playing there for stretches in 2025.
JD Dix is the Biggest Wild Card of the Group
Dix was the third of three first round picks in the Diamondbacks’ 2024 class. FanGraphs has him ranked as Arizona’s No. 4 prospect, one spot ahead of Crisantes.
He dominated at the Complex League with a .342/.421/.493 slash before a promotion to Low-A Visalia. The offense took a slight step backward at the higher level, but was still carrying a 16.5% walk rate and a 114 wRC+ at Age 19.
Dix is a switch-hitter, so his swing may take more time to develop than most prospects, especially from the right side. In terms of platoon splits in 2025, he didn’t show much difference in terms of batting average or slugging percentage. He should face stiffer competition, allowing him to continue to work on that approach.
Dix’s defensive fit is going to be interesting. A labrum tear as a high schooler rendered his arm unplayable at shortstop. He played second base in 2025, but he’ll have to change positions to accommodate Kayson Cunningham. With plus speed, the outfield seems like a safe bet. Arizona lacks depth at that spot, with only Waldschmidt, Slade Caldwell, and Druw Jones the only serious prospects there.
2026 will be a big year for Dix, and it will be interesting to see where he fits into the puzzle. If it goes well, he gives the Diamondbacks their best shot at a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick since Corbin Carroll.
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