Ivan Melendez

After a lackluster pro debut in 2022, Melendez reached Double-A Amarillo last season and showcased the power bat he was noted for at the University of Texas (32 homers in 2021). The 23-year-old returned to an aggressive approach and sent 30 balls over fences in stops at High-A Hillsboro and Amarillo. It's easy to see where his fantasy value lays. In a positive twist, the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder maintained a competent bat as a hitter, posting a .272 average. The first baseman also continued an experiment that began in 2022, when the organization introduced him to third base. He started 57 of 97 games at the hot corner. It wasn't all good news, however, as Melendez's struck out at a 34.3 percent clip and a high BABIP (.361) propped up the average. The Diamondbacks have a pair of 32-year-olds set to begin the season at first and third base, so a path to consistent at-bats could open for Melendez by the time he reaches the majors in 2025 or 2026, although his defense profiles better at first. Being a right-handed batter works in his favor as a potential DH on a lefty-heavy roster. Read Past Outlooks