1. Jarrod Parker, RHP (11/24/88)
Arizona selected Parker with the 9th overall selection in the 2007 Draft and have not looked back. Though short for a pitcher (6-foot-1), Parker has drawn comparisons to undersized right-hander Roy Oswalt for his amazing arm speed – Parker controls a 93-94 mph fastball (tops out at 97) to both sides of the plate with late life and has two pitches with above average potential. The Indiana prep product signed late and did not play in 2007. He will probably start the season at Low-A South Bend and has a chance of reaching High-A by the end of the season. With a little more polish to his breaking stuff Parker could become a top-of-the-rotation starter in Arizona. We like his potential of reaching that kind of ceiling as much as any pitcher from his draft class besides Rick Porcello.
2. Max Scherzer, RHP (7/27/84)
Scherzer (pictured to the right) was expected to contend for the top overall pick in the 2006 draft, but injuries (finger, biceps tendonitis) dropped him to Arizona with the 11th overall. He signed 11 months after he was drafted and started his career at High-A, where he dominated for three starts (0.79 FIP, 50.8 K%). He was then moved up to Double-A where he struggled, comparatively. Scherzer’s strikeout rate dropped to 23.7% and his walk rate increased from 3.4% to 12.5%. There is debate about what kind of role Scherzer would fit best in the big leagues. Some think he’s a better guy for the bullpen than to the rotation. And while pitching from the pen should get Scherzer to the Majors faster, being used in that kind of limited capacity would make it very difficult for him to live up to the promise he once showed as an amateur.
3. Gerardo Parra, OF (5/6/87)
The Diamondbacks signed Parra as an international free agent in 2004 out of Venezuela. After an impressive debut in rookie ball at age 19, Parra continued to produce at Low-A South Bend (.351 wOBA) – despite the pitcher-friendly environments in the Midwest League. He slowed down considerably, however, upon being promoted to High-A in August – .288 wOBA in 110 plate appearances. Parra lacks power as his .112 isolated power (2007 combined) shows. He hits a fair amount of doubles, but evidenced by his 56% ground ball rate in Low-A, he may need to make some adjustments to get more loft and knock more balls over the fence. Parra split time between center and right field last season. A successful as a base stealer in the low minors, we have some serious doubt as to those skills translating well to the upper minors and beyond. Combine his lack of power and distance from the big leagues and Parra’s future is quite murky.
4. Wes Roemer, RHP (10/7/86)
Plucked in the supplemental first round (50th overall) after a relatively disappointing junior year at Cal State Fullerton, Roemer only threw 12.0 innings for Arizona last year. A bulldog on the mound, Roemer has a sinker/slider repertoire with almost put-in-a-cup command. He usually sits around 90-91 but I have seen him top out around 93-94 – usually when challenging a hitter up in the zone with two strikes. Unfortunately for him, his ball straightens out at that speed. He controls his slider well to both sides of the plate and already makes good use of his change up.
Roemer struck out 150 batters in 144.0 innings and only gave up seven home runs in 552 at-bats against his junior year in college. He had the highest batting average against of all of Fullerton’s starters. He only had a 29% ground ball rate in his 12.0 short-season innings – an alarming for a sinker ball pitcher. Roemer pitched out of the bullpen in short-season ball. Expect him back in the rotation next year. He’s a pretty safe bet to reach the big leagues. Just don’t expect him to be a top-of-the-rotation starter.
5. Barry Enright, RHP (3/30/86)
The Diamondbacks’ 2nd round pick from the 2007 Draft, Enright is another polished college pitcher, like Roemer – some might even say he’s almost a poor man’s version of Roemer. Enright’s fastball is just a tick slower than Roemer’s. He works at 88-89 and tops out around 91 and his off-speed stuff comes up just short of Roemer’s – neither of his off-speed offerings are seen as out-pitches. His command, while a plus, is not at Roemer’s level either. Enright was good but far from dominant with Pepperdine. He struck out only 91 batters in 131.1 innings and gave up 117 hits. Enright, like Roemer, spent his first professional summer as a reliever, but he too should be expected to be in the rotation this year. Enright will likely pick up where he left off in High-A Visalia, though there’s a chance that he will start the year in the Low-A South Bend rotation. He is probably no better than a back of the rotation arm or even a middle reliever.
Honorable Mentions:
Keeping up with the 2007 draft being essential to the Diamondbacks’ future: first round supplemental pick Ed Easley (C, 12/21/85) and 3rd rounder Reynaldo Navarro (SS, 12/22/89) both have shown some promise. Easley flashed plus power potential for the catcher position but needs to make more consistent contact. Navarro may be a toolsy shortstop but he is more than a few years away from making an impact. Emilio Bonifacio (2B, 4/23/85) is a fast middle infielder with very little power. He still has a lot to prove before he’ll be considered starter material in the big leagues.
BJ Pivonka can be reached at bj.pivonka@gmail.com.