How the NL-winning D-Backs were built
AL champion Rangers | NL champion D-Backs
For the first time since 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks are heading to the World Series following a stunning upset of the heavily favored Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series.
It's been a long road back to the Fall Classic for the Diamondbacks, who only appeared in four postseason series over the past 22 seasons. They were also losers of 110 games in 2021.
Let's take a look at how general manager Mike Hazen and his front office have constructed the club that became NL champion under veteran manager Torey Lovullo.
| METHOD | PLAYERS |
|---|---|
| Homegrown | 12 |
| Trade | 9 |
| Free agent | 5 |
The team below is based on the active roster for the National League Championship Series. The date in parenthesis denotes the time of acquisition.
Homegrown
Corbin Carroll (June 3, 2019): Carroll established himself as one of Arizona's best players in just one full major-league season after he was selected 16th overall in the 2019 draft. The NL Rookie of the Year front-runner delivered a .868 OPS, 25 home runs, and 54 steals after entering the campaign with big expectations following the signing of an eight-year, $111-million contract in the offseason despite only playing 32 games in 2022.
Brandon Pfaadt (June 11, 2020): The Diamondbacks are reaping the rewards of a solid late-round find by their scouting department. Pfaadt, a fifth-round selection in 2020, has been incredible over his last three postseason starts, shutting down the high-caliber offenses of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. Arizona has the right-hander under team control for five seasons after this one.
Geraldo Perdomo (July 2, 2016): Perdomo has turned into an All-Star since signing with the D-Backs as an international free agent in 2016. The 24-year-old shortstop is a solid contributor from the No. 9 and won't hurt his club defensively. He's also come up with some clutch postseason hits, including a homer off Phillies ace Zack Wheeler.
Alek Thomas (June 4, 2018): It's been an up-and-down career for Thomas since the D-Backs selected him in the second round of the 2018 draft, but it looks like he's here to stay as the team's starting center fielder. The 23-year-old had homers in back-to-back NLCS games, and he provides outstanding defense and baserunning.
Kevin Ginkel (June 11, 2016): Ginkel, 29, has transformed into a shutdown late-inning reliever over the past two seasons. The 22nd-round selection in 2016 was especially good this season, owning the 10th-best FIP among relief pitchers with at least 60 innings pitched. He also hasn't allowed a single run to score in nine postseason frames.
Andrew Saalfrank (June 4, 2019): Saalfrank was a sixth-round pick in the 2019 draft. Although he appeared in just 10 regular-season games, he's been used in a number of high-leverage postseason spots. The deceptive lefty posted ridiculous strikeout numbers in the minors and should be a big part of Arizona's future bullpen.
Pavin Smith (June 12, 2017): Smith was the seventh overall selection in the 2017 draft. He's fallen into a fourth outfielder's role after three consecutive seasons with an OPS+ below 100. The 27-year-old put up strong Triple-A numbers and had some big hits in the playoffs, so he could fold back into the club's plans down the road.
Jordan Lawlar (July 11, 2021): Arizona picked Lawlar sixth overall in 2021. He had little impact during a 14-game cup of coffee in the regular season, and he has one postseason at-bat to his credit thus far. However, the future is bright for the 21-year-old, who posted a .874 OPS with 20 homers and 36 steals in the minors this season.
Ryne Nelson (June 3, 2019): Nelson was a second-round draft choice by the D-Backs in 2019. The right-hander made 27 starts and logged 144 innings for Arizona in his rookie campaign, authoring a 5.31 ERA and 5.07 FIP after faring well in three appearances in 2022. He should be an option for the future starting rotation.
Luis Frías (Nov. 24, 2015): Frías finally found some footing this year after two lackluster campaigns in 2021 and 2022, posting a 4.06 ERA in 31 appearances during the regular season. He's looked sharp during limited postseason duty, allowing one earned run and striking out three in 3 2/3 innings.
Slade Cecconi (June 10, 2020): Cecconi was one of two first-round picks for Arizona in the 2020 draft. The 24-year-old righty logged 27 big-league innings after struggling to a 6.11 ERA in 23 Triple-A starts but still made the NLCS roster. He's allowed two hits and struck out one in two postseason innings.
Jose Herrera (July 2, 2013): Herrera has appeared in 88 games since signing with the D-Backs in 2013 as an international free agent, posting a .503 OPS as a backup while playing below-average defense. He did rank in the 78th percentile in pop time among big-league catchers this season, though.
Trades
Ketel Marte (Nov. 23, 2016): Marte has been a D-Backs staple since they acquired him from the Seattle Mariners in a five-player trade. The NLCS MVP has accrued 18.7 fWAR over his seven seasons with Arizona, including a fourth-place MVP finish in 2019. He finished second on the team in homers and RBIs this season and extended his playoff hit streak to a record 16 contests in Game 7.
Zac Gallen (July 31, 2019): Gallen has become the D-Backs' ace and one of the game's best arms since they acquired him in 2019 from the Miami Marlins for Jazz Chisholm Jr. His 13.7 fWAR since 2019 is the 12th highest in the NL, and his 3.21 ERA during that same time period ranks 10th. Gallen has finished in the top 10 for the Cy Young twice and will likely get consideration once again this season after winning 17 games and striking out 220 in 210 innings.
Christian Walker (March 28, 2017): Walker has been quite the find since Arizona claimed him off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds in 2017. The 32-year-old has 120 homers, 359 RBIs, and a Gold Glove since arriving in the desert. He's also been worth the fifth-most fWAR among first basemen the past two seasons, beating out Pete Alonso and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Gabriel Moreno (Dec. 23, 2022): Moreno has quickly entrenched himself as the club's starting catcher since coming over from the Blue Jays in a multiplayer trade involving Daulton Varsho. The 23-year-old posted a .747 OPS with 50 RBIs in his debut season with the D-Backs, but his real value comes behind the dish where his pop time, blocking, and stolen base prevention are elite.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (Dec. 23, 2022): Gurriel may have looked like a throw-in in the Moreno trade, but the outfielder had a solid first season with the D-Backs. The 30-year-old appeared in his first All-Star Game after posting career highs in homers (24), doubles (35), hits (144), and games played (145).
Paul Sewald (July 31, 2023): Sewald had mixed results down the stretch (10.2 K/9, 5.07 FIP) after being picked up at the trade deadline from the Seattle Mariners for three players. However, his playoff outings have been a different story, with the right-hander notching six saves and 11 strikeouts without a run allowed in eight appearances.
Tommy Pham (Aug. 1, 2023): Pham was another trade deadline acquisition, coming to Arizona from the New York Mets. He hasn't put up the same kind of numbers with the D-Backs that he did with the Mets, but he's given Arizona a veteran presence with playoff experience to help mentor and guide the team's young players through the postseason.
Kyle Nelson (Nov. 24, 2021): Nelson was claimed off waivers from the Guardians two years ago. He can start or serve as a swingman out of the bullpen, providing the D-Backs with solid strikeout potential (10.8 K/9 in 2023).
Emmanuel Rivera (Aug. 1, 2022): Rivera was acquired in a trade from the Kansas City Royals for Luke Weaver. He's a good defender at third base, accruing nine defensive runs saved over the past three seasons.
Free agents
Merrill Kelly (Dec. 4, 2018): Kelly has been a solid No. 2 starter after joining the D-Backs in 2019 following four seasons in Korea. He's authored a 3.80 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 127 starts. The 35-year-old has been especially good the past two seasons, logging the 10th-most innings and posting the 13th-best ERA among qualified starters.
Evan Longoria (Jan. 5, 2023): The 38-year-old Longoria isn't the same player he was in his heyday, but he still hit 11 homers and played above-average defense at third during the regular season. He's also been a tremendous mentor to the youthful D-Backs.
Ryan Thompson (Aug. 19, 2023): The D-Backs picked up Thompson in mid-August after he was released by the Tampa Bay Rays. The side-armer was nearly unhittable during 13 regular-season innings and has been solid in the postseason, striking out eight in 10 2/3 frames.
Joe Mantiply (Jan. 3, 2020): Mantiply was a well-traveled reliever with little success before landing in Arizona. He's found his stride in the desert, becoming a first-time All-Star in 2022 while posting a 3.70 ERA in 165 career outings for the D-Backs.
Miguel Castro (Dec. 2, 2022): The D-Backs signed Castro in the offseason to help fortify their bullpen. The hard-throwing righty-hander tied for the major-league lead in appearances while striking out nearly a hitter per inning.