Socrates Brito

Brito will look to win the Diamondbacks' fourth outfielder job this spring. A pair of finger injuries limited him in 2017, as he needed surgery during spring training to repair a dislocated left ring finger (his throwing hand), which kept him out until late May. He then fractured his right pinkie finger in the Dominican Winter League. In between the two injuries, he was exactly a league average hitter (100 wRC+) in the Pacific Coast League and stole six bases on seven attempts. He can play all three outfield spots and still has the tools to be an above-average defender, particularly in right field. However, he doesn't bring much to the table from a fantasy perspective. Offensively, he could produce like the current version of Jacoby Ellsbury, but that player wouldn't see everyday at-bats on a competitive team unless he had an albatross of a contract. The best-case scenario is that Brito's glove gets him into the lineup and he chips in double-digit steals, providing value in NL-only leagues.

Brito will be 24 years old when the 2017 season begins, and the Diamondbacks are still looking for the young Dominican to really break through. Part of the problem so far has been opportunity -- David Peralta and A.J. Pollock have outfield spots locked down, and Yasmany Tomas seems to have joined that group. But when injuries struck Peralta and Pollock last season and Brito got some playing time, he did nothing to impress. He posted an ugly .179/.196/.358 slash line in 95 at-bats, and he struck out 23.7 percent of the time. Brito was much better at Triple-A Reno, so it wasn't all bad in 2016. But Brito is going to have to show he can handle high-level pitching better to secure more playing time going forward. He might start 2017 at Triple-A in order to get more at-bats under his belt.

At 22 years old, Brito showed off his potential in 2015. The Dominican Republic product started the year at Double-A Mobile, where he hit .300 and led all minor leaguers with 15 triples. Brito also blasted nine home runs and stole 20 bases in 26 attempts. His performance led to a September callup with the big club, and Brito hit .303 (.385 BABIP) in 18 games (34 plate appearances). As he enters his age-23 season in 2016, the Diamondbacks' organization has to figure out what to do with its 2015 Minor League Player of the Year. David Peralta and A.J. Pollock have outfield spots locked down, but Yasmany Tomas is a question mark in right field, and Brito could force his way into the mix if he picks up where he left off in 2015. Brito could contribute across the board if given an opportunity, but it remains to be seen if the strides he made with his hit tool last season are legitimate.