Kristian Robinson

Robinson, the Diamondbacks top prospect, was a late arrival to summer camp as he was unable to travel back from his home country (The Bahamas) during the pandemic. He got to Arizona in late August and quickly settled in, reportedly hitting back-to-back-to-back opposite-field home runs one day in Chase Field. Robinson's physical development has been tracked since he signed in 2017, as there have been concerns he might outgrow the outfield. He slimmed down via a diet and cardio program over the winter and then added 25 pounds of muscle between spring training and when he reported to the alternate site. Now roughly 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Robinson is a physical specimen with plus speed and plus-plus raw power. We didn't learn much about the development of his hit tool in 2020, and that should determine where he is assigned to start the year. With a strong 2021, he could reach the majors in 2022.

Of the top-15 prospects, Robinson probably has the biggest gap between his floor and upside. There is no ceiling on the 6-foot-3 outfielder's eventual power output, and he is currently a plus runner, successfully stealing 17 of 22 attempts across stops in the Northwest and Midwest leagues. It is unrealistic to expect an 18-year-old who is as big and toolsy as Robinson to not strike out at a high clip (24.9 K% in NWL, 29.4 K% in MWL). The key for him will be to get the ball in the air and to take his fair share of walks. His GB% spiked from 44.3 to 54.1 and his BB% fell from 12.2 to 7.8 following a late-season promotion to Low-A. If he makes the necessary adjustments, he should post eye-popping power/speed totals in his first full season. There are concerns about him eventually slowing down and moving to first base, but he is built like an NFL wide receiver, so for now that seems like an overblown critique.

Robinson (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) looks like he should be running wide receiver drills at the NFL combine, but his birth certificate suggests he should be getting ready for his senior prom. After Wander Franco, Robinson is the clear top fantasy asset from the 2017 July 2 international signing class. The Bahamian outfielder has monster raw power, an arm for right and the speed for center. Given his size and physicality, it is fair to wonder how his speed will grade out when he reaches the majors, but some scouts actually think it will tick up as he gets more pro training. The more pressing question is whether he will make enough contact against upper-level pitching to hit for a high average. He was the second-youngest hitter in the Pioneer League (minimum 50 PA) and the fourth-youngest hitter in the AZL (minimum 150 PA), so his 26.2 K% and 10.5 BB% are reasonable marks, given his offensive profile. If he hits at Low-A, the acquisition cost will become prohibitive.