Blaze Alexander Faces Challenge To Carve Out Role In Arizona

This article is part of a series counting down the Diamondbacks Top 30 prospects entering the 2024 season. These rankings are determined by Michael McDermott, in conjunction with the Inside the Diamondbacks staff.

Summary: The D-backs drafted Blaze Alexander in the 11th round of the 2018 Draft and signed him for $500K. A toolsy infielder with arm strength that grades near the top of the scale, Alexander  has seen most of his playing time at shortstop, with a sprinkling of games at second and third base.  His ascent up the minor league system has been steady despite inconsistent results on the field. After nearly stalling out in Hillsboro in 2021, he got an aggressive promotion to Double-A Amarillo to open 2022 and took advantage of the opportunity. His bat finally came alive, hitting .306 with 17 home runs in 88 games. The D-backs added him to their 40-man roster last winter to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. After a disappointing 2023 season that included a thumb injury, 

Rank: 24

Age: 24

Height/Weight: 5'11" 160 lbs.

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Tools: Hit 45, Power 50, Defense 50, Run 55, Arm 70, Overall 40

ETA: 2024

2023 Recap: Alexander was in position for a potential major league debut if he got off to a hot start with Triple-A Reno. He did just that, going 11 for 24, .458 with eight walks in is first nine games. Unfortunately he fractured his right thumb on April 13th when a pitch ricocheted off his helmet. The injury kept him out of the lineup for two months and greatly affected him the rest of the season. After coming off the injured list, Alexander slashed .274/.381/.422 with seven home runs and a 28% strikeout the rest of the way. As a result, he was passed up for a promotion in favor of Jordan Lawlar when the D-backs elected to part ways with long-time shortstop Nick Ahmed in September.

2024 Expectation: 2024 will be a make or break season for Alexander to establish himself as a big leaguer. If he remains in the organization after the offseason, he'll open the year with Reno again. With the pathway to consistent playing time at the shortstop position blocked by both Lawlar and Geraldo Perdomo, it's likely that Alexander either moves to a different position or a right-handed hitting utility infielder role. If the bat continues to develop in Reno as he's further removed from his thumb injury, he will get his first cup of coffee in the big leagues.

Projection: Alexander's bat lacks the consistency of a potential everyday starter, but could still carve out an utility role. Depending on how the D-backs address the third base position, he could also serve more value as a secondary or tertiary piece in a trade that upgrades the roster. His ability to potentially play second, short, and third makes him a potential bench piece and optionable depth for the next two seasons.