Vacations are supposed to be relaxing, right? It’s hard to put your feet up when you’re watching both your fantasy team and your real life sink before your eyes. Luckily, my co-worker talked me off the ledge today as chants of “Go Brewers” rang out at Wrigley. Without conducting any actual research, it seems that teams that get hot at the end of the season tend to perform well in the postseason. Winning your division is nice, but maybe just playing well going into the playoffs is better. I think that is where I'm at right now...Well, all I know is I'm not ready for the Caleb Williams show in Chicago, yet.

3 Up, 3 Down - Prospects Live
Prospects LiveTom Gates

🔥 3 Up

Daniel Eagen, RHP AZ (High-A)
97 IP, 132 K, 41 BB, 2.49 ERA

History
Coming into the season as our eighth-ranked Diamondbacks prospect, Eagen received a 45 OFP from scouts. He was also the highest-rated pitching prospect in the system—at least until the deadline addition of Kohl Drake.

His arsenal:

  • Fastball: 92–95 mph, graded 50
  • Slider: mid-80s, graded 50
  • Curveball: standout pitch, graded 60
  • Changeup: 40
  • Command: 55

Eagen was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2024 Amateur Draft after three years at Presbyterian. His breakout came in his final season, when he struck out 122 in 77 innings with a 2.67 ERA.

Today
What makes Eagen intriguing is the curveball. With his higher release point, he gets on top of it to generate more of a true 12–6 break. The vertical movement allows him to land it for strikes up in the zone, bury it in the dirt, or keep it in the zone and induce weak contact. Hitters often end up with lower launch angles, and the pitch pairs perfectly with his fastball when elevated at the letters.

The concern is that his fastball, when not at the top of the zone, is pretty straight and sits in average velocity territory—making it hittable. Fortunately, his command has been sharp this season. He’s allowed only seven home runs, a 0.65 HR/FB ratio that ranks top-three among qualified Northwest League pitchers.

The changeup and slider remain underdeveloped, leaving him heavily reliant on the fastball/curveball combo. The changeup, in particular, would complement his arsenal best and help the fastball play up to its potential. I'm not the pitching expert, but I wonder if it would need to be somewhere in the mid-80s to be in a different velocity band than the curveball and fastball.

Projection and Rankings Update
I’ve bumped Eagen twice in the last month. He’s in the 300s now and probably stays there until he develops a reliable third pitch. His fastball is excellent when located, but without added velocity or deception, he’ll need near-perfect command. The curveball, though, is a legitimate weapon—both for whiffs and ground balls.

For now, Eagen remains firmly on my watch list, not on my roster.

Logan Wagner, 3B LAD (High-A)
.227/.350/.398, 14 HR, 17 SB, 14% BB, 26% K