Demetrio Crisantes is making waves in Double-A, and his June performance has now etched his name in the history books. The Arizona Diamondbacks' No. 5 prospect delivered a standout performance during Amarillo's commanding 18-4 victory over the Frisco RoughRiders at HODGETOWN, hitting for the cycle - a first for the Sod Poodles since their rebranding in 2019.
The game didn't start off perfectly for the 21-year-old shortstop, as he struck out in a seven-pitch duel against left-hander Dylan MacLean of the Rangers to close the first inning. However, Crisantes quickly turned things around.
In the third inning, with two outs, Crisantes launched his fourth Double-A homer to left-center, getting the better of MacLean in their second encounter. The fifth inning saw him face right-hander Anthony Susac, where he hammered a double off the center-field wall, bringing in his second and final RBI of the game.
Crisantes wasn't done yet. In the next inning, he took on lefty Bryan Magdaleno and sent a ball to the center-field wall that Dylan Dreiling, the Rangers' No. 10 prospect, couldn't handle, securing a triple.
By the eighth inning, all Crisantes needed was a single to complete the cycle. He wasted no time, sending a Texas Leaguer to right field off righty Janser Lara, sealing his achievement and celebrating with first base coach Jaime Del Valle.
Last year, Crisantes was on the cusp of breaking into the Top 100 Prospects list before a posterior labral tear in his left shoulder sidelined him for the season. Now, across three levels, the Arizona native is showcasing his resilience and talent with a slash line of .340/.448/.650, including six homers and, of course, his memorable cycle.
In Other News...
Ketel Marte Is Suddenly The Dbacks Bat Everyone Is Watching
Ketel Marte has become the Arizona hitter to keep an eye on again as the Diamondbacks get ready for a rivalry game with the Giants on Monday. His recent stretch has been loud enough to change the conversation around Arizonas lineup, and the batting approach has matched the production, with Marte hitting .304 over the last two weeks while also driving the ball out of the park at a steady clip.
The matchup only adds to the intrigue, because San Francisco right-hander Tyler Mahle is the kind of opponent that can make one swing feel bigger than the rest. Marte has homered in three of his last four games, so even by the standards of a hot streak, this is one of those spots where Arizonas focus naturally lands on whether he can keep forcing pitchers to pay for mistakes. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Suddenly Have A Zac Gallen Problem They Can't Ignore
Zac Gallen has gone from one of the most reliable arms in the rotation to a pitcher the Diamondbacks can no longer treat as a routine answer every fifth day. The numbers are ugly, with a league-worst 6.15 ERA underscoring just how far the right-hander has fallen, and the concern in Arizona is no longer about a brief rough stretch but about a deeper erosion in effectiveness.
Opposing hitters appear to have adjusted to the way Gallen sequences his pitches, and the stuff itself is not missing bats the way it once did. Reduced spin rate and movement, especially on his knuckle curve, have made his offerings easier to pick up, leaving the Diamondbacks facing a much bigger question than simple command or confidence: whether Gallen needs a real reinvention of his arsenal, with coaching help, to get back on track. [Read more 🡒]