The Mt. Diablo Devils have been know for a rollercoaster of finishes throughout their Franchise's eight year history, but a wave of top flight prospects has GM Jason Watson confident the club can open up a long window of contention in the near future. Thanks to several breakout performances, savvy trade additions and one of baseball's top young stars, the Mt. Diablo Devils are the 2021 Roger Dorn Baseball League Farm System of the Year.
The group of prospects undoubtedly starts with uber-prospect Wander Franco who recently signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays after 70 games in the big leagues in 2021. Franco made his major league debut June 22 and hit a three-run homer. He batted .288 with 18 doubles, five triples, seven homers and 39 RBIs in 70 games and finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
Franco's skillset aligns perfectly with the RDBL scoring format while playing a premium position, setting him up for a monster activation season in 2022. Franco put together a 43-game on-base streak to tie Cincinnati’s Frank Robinson (1956) for the longest in major league history among players under 21. He also rose to the occasion when the lights were brightest, going 7 for 19 (.368) with two homers and four RBIs in four postseason games.
The Devils Farm System hardly ends with Franco as Riley Greene, the club's 2021 1st Round pick, has eyes on the title of best hitting prospect remaining in the Minor Leagues. Widely considered a top 10 prospect in baseball, Greene enjoyed a breakout season across three levels and could force his way into the Detroit lineup at some point in 2022.
Cal Quantrill ranks as the best pitching prospect in the Devils organization following his acquisition from the Las Vegas Aristocrats. He transitioned from the bullpen to the rotation and dominated the American League after the All-Star break. Quantrill went 8-1 with a 2.27 ERA after July 1 and is ready to step into an improved Devils starting rotation.
Quantrill was one of five Devils prospects to spend time in the big leagues in 2021, joined by fellow 2022 activation candidates Luis Patiño, James Kaprelian, Jesus Sanchez and Deivi Garcia.
While the immediate future is bright, Watson also looks to have an elite duo behind the plate for 2023 and beyond in Tyler Soderstrom and Diego Cartaya.
With Bo Bichette, Brandon Belt, Jameson Taillon and Alec Bohm all under contract through 2023, the Devils certainly have the core and cap space flexibility to make some noise as soon as this season with a Farm System ready to hit the big show.
Media Voting: 1. Mt. Diablo Devils 2. Idaho Taters 3. Lake Merced Goutfish
Comments