Outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt is the consensus top prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks‘ farm system. All publications list Waldschmidt as a Top 100 prospect, ranking as high as No. 34 on Keith Law’s list for The Athletic.
Related: Ryan Waldschmidt’s Rise Creates a New Twist in Diamondbacks’ 2026 Outfield Plan
Law followed up his Top 100 list with a list of 10 prospects who fell just short. Another Diamondbacks outfield prospect made the list: Slade Caldwell.
Caldwell, 19, was Arizona’s top selection in the 2024 MLB Draft, going No. 29 overall. He was selected two picks ahead of Waldschmidt and six picks ahead of sleeper infield prospect JD Dix.
Caldwell fits the Diamondbacks’ preferred archetype for a hitter. Short, athletic outfielders with an advanced approach at the plate and underlying power metrics. Under general manager Mike Hazen, Arizona has drafted a hitter that’s 5’10” or shorter with their top draft choice five times.
- 2018: INF Matt McLain (didn’t sign)
- 2019: OF Corbin Carroll
- 2023: INF Tommy Troy
- 2024: OF Slade Caldwell
- 2025: INF Kayson Cunningham
It’s an approach that’s worked for them. While McLain got away, he had a strong rookie season with the Cincinnati Reds before injuries slowed his career. Carroll has emerged as the face of the franchise. Tommy Troy is banging on the door for a big league promotion after two full seasons.
The jury is still out for Caldwell and Cunningham, but time is on their side.
Slade Caldwell’s 2025 Season
Caldwell started the 2025 season in Visalia. He got off to a hot start, slashing .297/.460/.454. He rode a 20.4% walk rate, exploiting control issues in Low-A to post a crazy on-base percentage. As a result, the organization promoted him to High-A Hillsboro just days before his 19th birthday.
That proved to be the right amount of challenge for Caldwell. His passive approach at the plate was better exploited, as he hit just .184 in his first 36 games. While still maintaining a 17% walk rate, he struck out 24% of the time.
However, he turned it around in the final five weeks of the season. Caldwell slashed .294/.391/.370. While it was buoyed by a .422 BABIP, he was also hitting the ball in the air more. His ground ball rate went from 63% in July to just 53% for the season in Hillsboro.
The strong finish to the season brings hope that he’ll take those improvements into 2026. It’s a big year for the young prospect, who’s very much in the organization’s long-term plans.
Slade Caldwell’s Long-Term Outlook in Arizona
Ryan Waldschmidt and Tommy Troy are almost certain to graduate from the Diamondbacks’ prospect list in 2026. That leaves no clear contender for the top spot for 2027, although Caldwell should be the leading candidate in Arizona’s system.
He is almost certain to repeat Hillsboro in 2026, but he should be in Amarillo by midseason if healthy. Facing tougher competition, Caldwell will have to refine his approach to be more aggressive in the zone. Because taking a close pitch for Strike 3 is a less competitive outcome than putting it in play, considering his plus speed tool.
Law praises the young outfielder’s lack of chase, swinging at only 15% of pitches out of the zone. But it comes with the tradeoff of a 56% in-zone swing rate. It’s an approach that’s conducive to getting on base, but doesn’t get the most out of his bat.
Caldwell projects as a future leadoff or nine-hole hitter in the lineup. Considering that Geraldo Perdomo has the leadoff spot on lockdown for the rest of the decade, it’s more likely to be the latter early in his career.
He’s unlikely to develop into a significant power threat, but his on-base ability and speed should be a weapon. Especially when considering that Chase Field has deep gaps, which play perfectly into Caldwell’s game. If he reaches his ceiling as a hitter, Carroll may have competition for the National League’s triples crown.
He’s a strong center field defender, albeit not at the level of Druw Jones, who won Minor League Defensive Player of the Year. Law labels him as a “plus” defender, so Jones has competition for the future solution at the position.
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