Reno Aces 2025 Roster Preview

The Reno Aces rode a resurgent bullpen, a stellar starting rotation, and a dynamic lineup to 44 second half wins and a league championship appearance in 2024. Reno has won 252 games since 2022, trailing only Oklahoma City (253) in the PCL. Keith Law at The Athletic recently ranked Arizona’s system as the fourth best in the sport. Let’s predict and preview the 2025 club with some help from FanGraphs.

*This is not a final roster, just a prediction

Italics - on 40-man roster

Catchers: Adrian Del Castillo, René Pinto, Aramis Garcia

Adrian Del Castillo is coming off a breathtaking season. He joined Adam Eaton (2012), Chris Owings (2013), and Christian Walker (2017) as the fourth Aces player to win PCL MVP. He smacked 36 doubles, slugged 26 home runs, and worked tirelessly to improve his defense behind the plate. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut last August and is fighting to make the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster.

René Pinto joined the organization as a waiver addition from the Orioles in January. He’s flashed pop from the right side throughout his career, highlighted by the 10 home runs he hit in 82 games for the Rays over the last three seasons. He’s mashed an additional 46 homers in 215 career Triple-A games.

The D’Backs added veteran backstop Aramis Garcia on a minor league deal in November. Garcia started his career with the Giants as the 52nd overall pick out of Florida International in 2014. He’s caught nearly 700 innings in the majors and has over 100 games on his PCL ledger with Las Vegas and Sacramento.

This catching group has power, defense, and experience. Del Castillo was the unquestioned best player in the league last year and Garcia and Pinto bring veteran pedigrees. Keep an eye on Double-A standouts Caleb Roberts and Christian Cerda as potential mid-season reinforcements.

🗣️ M.V.P.

Adrian Del Castillo has been named the Pacific Coast League MVP by @MiLB!

Del played nearly every day he was in Reno, and tallied a .3️⃣1️⃣2️⃣ AVG and 2️⃣4️⃣9️⃣ total bases across the year 🤯 pic.twitter.com/eWKOKa66Eb

— Reno Aces (@Aces) October 2, 2024

Infield: Jordan Lawlar, Grae Kessinger, Tim Tawa, Blaze Alexander, Tristin English, Trey Mancini, Ildemaro Vargas, Connor Kaiser

Jordan Lawlar is the headliner of an intriguing, talented, and seasoned infield. He remains a consensus global top 15 prospect. He’s completely dominated at Triple-A, hitting .362 with seven home runs in 28 games for Reno. New manager Jeff Gardner gushed this spring about the 22-year-old and his leadership qualities. He stands out on both sides of the ball. With Arizona’s recent extension of stalwart shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, expect Lawlar to get reps all over the infield.

Ketel Marte was the only player in the organization who hit more home runs than Tim Tawa (31) last season. Tawa slugged a remarkable .717 in the second half, prompting Arizona to add him to the 40-man roster last fall. He’s primed for a debut and is working on his defense at first, second, and third this spring. He’ll hit in the heart of Reno’s lineup.

The “energizer bunny” Ildemaro Vargas made his triumphant return to the Diamondbacks on a minor league deal in December. He’s Reno’s all-time leader in just about everything, including games (371), hits (517), doubles (109), and runs (270). Albert Almora, Bryson Brigman, and Kyle Garlick proved vital as veteran leaders for last year’s team. Vargas and slugger Trey Mancini have similar clubhouse reputations. Mancini, soon to be 33, didn’t play in 2024 but has monstrous potential with his prodigious power in the hitter-friendly PCL.

Tristin English owns a team-leading 33 home runs since 2023, was voted Reno’s fan favorite last season, and is readying to play wherever he’s needed this summer. Minor league signing Connor Kaiser and waiver addition Grae Kessinger also bring defensive versatility. Blaze Alexander is questionable for Opening Day with an oblique strain, but figures to begin his season in Reno.

Third baseman Gino Groover is one of the buzziest players at spring training. He can flat-out hit, and the 2023 second round pick is getting action with D’Backs starters Marte, Perdomo, and Eugenio Suárez in camp after finishing last season with Double-A Amarillo. Demetrio Crisantes is a fast-rising prospect after an amazing 2024 campaign where he hit .333/.429/.478 for Low-A Visalia, but the 20-year-old is likely at least another year from a promotion to Reno.

Outfield: Jorge Barrosa, Cristian Pache, A.J. Vukovich

Almora and Jorge Barrosa formed one of the very best defensive duos in professional baseball last season. Fans can expect similar proficiency in 2025 with the minor league signing of Cristian Pache, a tremendous defender and former top five prospect. Barrosa, 24, has built a terrific bond with fans in Reno. He and Pache will be a must-watch pairing on the grass.

The outfield picture beyond those two is less certain. Mancini and English may both get innings in right field and Alexander is tracking balls from center in spring training. A.J. Vukovich made his Triple-A debut last season after 247 games in Amarillo. Three top outfield prospects Druw Jones, Ryan Waldschmidt, and Slade Caldwell all project to start at High-A or lower.

Here’s Cristian Pache’s inning-ending catch from the first. (Via @PhilsTailgate) pic.twitter.com/AOS1UpkvuJ

— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) April 7, 2024

Starters: Ryne Nelson, Yilber Díaz, Cristian Mena, Tommy Henry, Blake Walston, Brandon Bielak

An offshoot of Arizona’s stunning signing of Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes, Reno’s rotation has a chance to be outstanding. Ryne Nelson led Diamondbacks starters in ERA in the second half and all six of these starters pitched in the majors last season. The youthful duo of Cristian Mena and Yilber Díaz each throw mid-to-upper 90s fastballs with filthy secondaries. Southpaws Tommy Henry and Blake Walston posted sub-5 Triple-A ERAs last season with Henry ranking top 10 in the league in ERA (4.25) and ninth in strikeouts (114), minimum 80 innings.

The recent addition of Brandon Bielak amplifies the already stellar depth. Bielak, 28, owns a solid 4.42 ERA in over 300 innings in the PCL. Things can change in a hurry, but this is hands-down the best unit in the league and unequivocally one of the best at the Triple-A level. The crafty lefty Yu-Min Lin is another candidate to man a rotation spot, as is former fourth round pick Dylan Ray and hybrid righty Jamison Hill.

Yilber Diaz: Simply Spectacular pic.twitter.com/xKNHbs47cw

— Reno Aces (@Aces) August 28, 2024

Bullpen: Kyle Nelson, Scott McGough, John Curtiss, Jeff Brigham, Kyle Backhus, José Castillo, Christian Montes De Oca, Kyle Amendt

Reno’s bullpen posted a harrowing 6.27 ERA and issued 425 walks in the first half last season, the most in professional baseball. It was a complete flip from late June on, with the ‘pen ranking 2nd in the PCL in ERA (4.33) and issuing the third fewest walks (295). The emergence of Christian Montes De Oca, José Castillo, and Austin Pope were key reasons for the turnaround.

Montes De Oca, Castillo, Scott McGough, and Kyle Backhus return as steady options. Minor league signings Jeff Brigham and John Curtiss have both spent time in the big leagues. The bullpen took a hit with injuries to the hard-throwing righties Thyago Vierira and Josh Winder, who both required pre-season Tommy John surgery. Kyle Nelson is returning from thoracic outlet surgery while Pope is rehabbing from knee surgery and is tracking to rejoin the arm barn in May. All signs point to this being a high floor, reliable group.

The Reno Aces will open the 2025 season on the road in Las Vegas on Friday, March 28. They will make their home debut at Greater Nevada Field on Tuesday, April 1, hosting the Tacoma Rainiers, the Seattle Mariners' Triple-A affiliate, at 2:05 p.m. PDT.

Season memberships for the 2025 season are available via RenoAces.com by texting "MEMBER" to 21003 or calling (775) 334-7000.