The Arizona Diamondbacks are shaking things up by calling up their top minor-league prospect, outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt, ahead of Friday's game against the New York Mets. The 23-year-old, drafted 31st overall out of Kentucky in 2024, enters the big leagues ranked as Arizona's No. 1 prospect by MLB.com, Baseball America, and The Athletic, and is also listed among the top 50 prospects in all of baseball.
Waldschmidt has been turning heads at Triple-A Reno this season, posting a .289/.400/.477 slash line with three home runs, nine doubles, 22 RBI, and six stolen bases over 156 plate appearances. Last year, he split time between high Single-A and Double-A, putting up a combined .289/.419/.483 line with 18 homers, 27 doubles, 78 RBI, and 29 steals—numbers that scream "ready for the show."
His call-up has even changed weekend plans for his family. As reported by USA Today's Bob Nightengale, his parents had originally planned to watch his younger brother Logan pitch for the University of New Orleans. Instead, they're now in Arizona, waiting to see Ryan take the field in a Diamondbacks uniform. However, fans will have to wait a bit longer: Waldschmidt is not in Friday's starting lineup, with Jorge Barrosa getting the nod in center field and batting ninth.
To make room for Waldschmidt on the 40-man roster, the Diamondbacks designated center fielder Alek Thomas for assignment. Thomas, 26, was Arizona's Opening Day starter in center but struggled mightily at the plate, slashing just .181/.222/.340 with two homers and 10 RBI in 100 plate appearances. After going 1-for-7 in the team's last three games, the move was inevitable.
It's a tough break for Thomas, who was a postseason hero during Arizona's magical 2023 run to the World Series. He slugged four homers and drove in six runs, including a memorable two-run shot off Craig Kimbrel in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies—a blast that helped propel the D-Backs to a thrilling seven-game series win. For now, the Diamondbacks are betting on a new young star to keep that momentum going.