D-backs prospects blooming in the desert

For two years, the Diamondbacks have funneled young talent into the big leagues through their farm system, culminating in an NL West Division title in 2007. But the offseason deal for Dan Haren dispatched six top prospects to the A's and probably ended that two-year express train to the bigs for at least a little while, as most of Arizona's remaining blue-chippers reside in the lower levels.

The players on the big-league roster are mostly homegrown, young and not leaving anytime soon. And by the time they are eligible for free agency, there will be plenty of more talent on the horizon. Here's a look at a few of those future prospects:

Hector Ambriz, RHP
Ambriz, a fifth-round pick out of UCLA in 2006, spent his first full season at Class A Advanced Visalia, going 10-8 with a 4.08 ERA in 150 innings, but director of player development A.J. Hinch admits he absolutely could've handled a promotion to Double-A Mobile. This year he should get it.

"He's probably made one of the biggest leaps forward from last year at this time until now," Hinch said of Ambriz, who throws a low-90s fastball, a splitter and a curve and is currently working on his changeup. "He's really performed well, holding his own in big-league camp. He has polish, is durable and is a strike-thrower who isn't afraid of bat contact."
Audio: Ambriz picks up complete-game victory
Audio: Ambriz notches ninth strikeout

Brooks Brown, RHP
The Diamondbacks' supplemental first-round pick out of Georgia in 2006, Brown had an impressive first full season. He posted a 2.81 ERA in 14 starts at Visalia before moving up to compile a 3.66 ERA in 12 more starts at Mobile.

A sinker-slider guy, he's currently on the bubble between heading back to Mobile or breaking camp with Triple-A Tucson. Either way, he is a highly regarded upper-level starter. Hinch calls him a "ground ball machine" and looks for him to concentrate on refining his delivery and regaining some of his college velocity.
Audio: Brown records career-high 11th strikeout

Wilkin Castillo, C/2B/SS
One of the most exciting and unusual players in camp, the 23-year-old Castillo can be a legitimate starter at any of his three positions, making him unique in Minor League baseball.

ON THE VERGE
Here's one player on the brink of breaking into the Major Leagues:

• Emilio Bonifacio, 2B/SS/OF -- The almost-23-year-old Bonifacio has emerged as a premier utilityman by adding outfield to his repertoire. While he may not make the big-league club out of Spring Training, he will await the call in nearby Tucson. Perhaps the top base-stealing threat in the system, he hit .285 with 41 steals at Mobile in 2007 and has stolen 40 or more bases each of his four full pro seasons, including a 2006 campaign where he batted .321 and swiped 61 bases at Class A Advanced Lancaster.

He is the organization's best defensive catcher and was added to the 40-man roster in that slot. He has also started at both middle-infield positions and even moved to the infield from behind the plate during a game.

In addition, Castillo hit a solid .302 with six homers, 46 RBIs and 18 steals at Mobile last year. The switch-hitter will get to show his versatility at Tucson to open the season. A high-energy player, he's fun to watch as well.

"We'll give him enough playing time at the three positions for him to be a legitimate call-up option when something opens up in the big leagues," Hinch said. "With his skill set, any Major League manager would be happy to have him."
Audio: Castillo clubs two-run homer
Audio: Castillo contributes walk-off single

Barry Enright, RHP
The club's second-round pick out of Pepperdine last summer has yet to allow an earned run in 15 pro innings while limiting opposing hitters to a .157 batting average in brief stints at three levels.

• Monday, Feb. 25: Chicago Cubs
• Tuesday, Feb. 26: Milwaukee Brewers
• Wednesday, Feb. 27: Cincinnati Reds
• Thursday, Feb. 28: Astros and Pirates
• Friday, Feb. 29: St. Louis Cardinals
• Saturday, March 1: Baltimore Orioles
• Sunday, March 2: Tampa Bay Rays
• Monday, March 3: Boston Red Sox
• Tuesday, March 4: Toronto Blue Jays
• Wednesday, March 5: New York Yankees
• Thursday, March 6: Los Angeles Angels
• Friday, March 7: Seattle Mariners
• Saturday, March 8: Oakland Athletics
• Sunday, March 9: Texas Rangers
• Monday, March 10: New York Mets
• Tuesday, March 11: Atlanta Braves
• Wednesday, March 12: Philadelphia Phillies
• Thursday, March 13: Nationals and Marlins
• Friday, March 14: Cleveland Indians
• Saturday, March 15: Kansas City Royals
• Sunday, March 16: Minnesota Twins
• Monday, March 17: Detroit Tigers
• Tuesday, March 18: Chicago White Sox
• Wednesday, March 19: Colorado Rockies
• Thursday, March 20: Arizona Diamondbacks
• Friday, March 21: Los Angeles Dodgers
• Saturday, March 22: San Francisco Giants
• Sunday, March 23: San Diego Padres

He was so impressive in instructional league action that when the big-league club had a day to prepare for the National League playoffs, they brought Enright in to throw batting practice. He has command of a low-90s fastball and a solid slider, curveball and changeup.

"He has the makeup of a fast mover," Hinch noted, adding that Enright should start the year in the Visalia rotation but probably won't finish the year there. "He's very polished and didn't look out of place in big-league camp."
Audio: Enright notches second K

Reynaldo Navarro, SS
Taken in the third round of the 2007 draft out of high school in Puerto Rico, the 18-year-old Navarro is still raw but has huge potential both in the field and at the plate.

Navarro hit .250 in his pro debut at short-season Missoula last summer. He's likely to start 2008 in extended spring training before joining the higher-level short-season club at Yakima, but an assignment to Class A South Bend isn't out of the question.

"He's a very, very exciting player, and what's interesting about him is that we got him switch-hitting in instructional league and watching him now you can't tell which is his more natural side," Hinch said. "He was the youngest player in the Pioneer League last year and is still growing into his body, but he's a great kid who looks to be a top prospect."
Audio: Navarro hits first pro homer

Jarrod Parker, RHP
The organization's top pick last year out of high school in Indiana, Parker will make his pro debut this year at the age of 19. He'll likely do it close to home as the projected ace of the South Bend (Ind.) rotation. Though he possesses a great fastball, curveball and slider, the club has been especially impressed with his capacity for learning.

"He's come as advertised, a polished kid with an incredible arm," Hinch said. "We're just getting him acclimated to pro ball and all the responsibilities that come with it. But he's a good kid and a sponge for information."

Gerardo Parra, OF
Parra won the Midwest League batting title at South Bend last year, hitting .320 with six homers and 57 RBIs. His 24 steals marked the third time in as many pro seasons he's topped the 20-steal plateau.

The 20-year-old Venezuelan hits to all fields and is an outstanding defensive outfielder as well. He'll move up to Visalia to start 2007.

"He's kind of been the unheralded guy who was overshadowed by guys like Carlos Gonzalez, Justin Upton and Chris Young," Hinch said, referring to players who have either been traded or are in the big leagues now. "But when you look at him in big-league camp, he fits right in. I've always thought highly of his hitting ability, and he's mature for his age."
Audio: Parra goes deep twice for South Bend
Audio: Parra slugs first roundtripper for Visalia

Wes Roemer, RHP
Taken out of Cal State-Fullerton with a supplemental first-round pick last spring, Roemer was limited to just 12 innings at Yakima after a heavy workload in college. He'll be free to show what he can do at Visalia to start 2008.

With a potentially plus slider and a fastball in the low 90s, he has good makeup and a big-league demeanor. The club has high hopes for him. "We're getting him the foundation to kick start his career, command and the ability to use his fastball and mix his pitches," Hinch explained. "He loves to compete and pitch inside and that makes it a lot easier to work with him."
Audio: Roemer fans two with the bases loaded

Max Scherzer, RHP
The Diamondbacks' top pick in 2006 out of Missouri signed late and didn't make his debut until last season. He made short work of the hitters in the California League before moving up to Double-A Mobile, where he blew batters away with his mid-90s fastball to post a 3.91 ERA in 14 starts.

Esmerling Vasquez, RHP
The club got great news about its 2007 Minor League Pitcher of the Year when it was determined that a shoulder injury Vasquez suffered in his last Arizona Fall League game would not require surgery. He should only be a few weeks behind schedule to join the Tucson rotation.

Javier Brito, 1B
Brito, 25, was added to the 40-man roster this past winter after having proved himself, season after season, as a pure hitter. He batted .356 with 16 homers and 60 RBIs in just 85 games at Lancaster in 2006 and went on to hit .327 with 11 homers and 72 RBIs at Mobile in '07.

Clayton Connor, 3B
Drafted in the 45th round of 2006 and signed this past spring out of junior college in Alabama, Connor hit .466 in his college career and continued pounding the ball in his pro debut, batting .351 with nine homers and 45 RBIs at Yakima. While his defense is still a work in progress, his bat has impressed.

Cyle Hankerd, 3B
A third-round pick out of USC in 2006, Hankerd was named the Northwest League MVP that season after hitting .384 at Yakima. In 2007, however, he was hampered by a sore wrist that required offseason surgery and hit just .285 with eight homers and 54 RBIs in his jump to Visalia. This year, he'll try to regain his form in Mobile.

Leyson Septimo, LHP
After hitting .271 with five homers, 42 RBIs and 12 steals as an outfielder at Visalia last year, Septimo came to camp this spring as a pitcher. He'll return to Visalia to make his pro debut on the mound. Throwing a fastball in the mid-90s, Septimo has made the Diamondbacks very excited about his future.

"He's my pick to click," Hinch said. "He's an athlete on the mound -- just arms and legs coming at you. And he's really grasped a hold of pitching. I'm as excited about him as anyone in the league."
Audio: Septimo strokes RBI double

Organizational Player of the Year -- Gerardo Parra
The combination of his talent and hitter-friendly California League parks could be a match made in heaven as the defending Midwest League batting champion heads to Visalia.

Organizational Pitcher of the Year -- Jarrod Parker
Making his pro debut at Class A South Bend, Parker won't be rushed by the club; they'll let him settle in and spend the summer there. The cold weather shouldn't faze the Indiana native, and you can be sure he'll have a huge homegrown fan base.

Comeback Player of the Year -- Cyle Hankerd
With Hankerd now recovered from the sore wrist that hampered him throughout 2007, look for the 2006 Northwest League MVP to return to top form.

Top Candidate for NL Rookie of the Year -- Emilio Bonifacio
There are few players in the Minors more exciting than this second baseman/shortstop/outfielder/whatever- you-need-him-to-be. Between his super-utility abilities and his super-speed, once Bonifacio comes up, it will be hard to keep him down.

"He's as intriguing a player as we have because of his sheer athleticism. He's in a good spot because he could literally cover any type of injury in the big leagues. That's not to say another outfielder or infielder wouldn't be considered, but he's your perfect call-up." --Director of player development A.J. Hinch on infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.