D-backs Prospect David Hagaman Eyes Strong 2025 Finish in Arizona Fall League

SCOTTSDALE – It's been a crazy 2025 for Diamondbacks pitching prospect David Hagaman. His first professional season featured his return from elbow surgery, followed by a trade to another club just over a month later.

"I think it went well," said Hagaman. "Main focus was trying to stay healthy, continue pitching well.

Hagaman was one of three pitchers the D-backs acquired for Merrill Kelly, joining left-handers Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt.

"Once I got traded, it was more just being a good teammate. Learning the guys, learning the program, learning how things are different, how things are similar."

Following the trade, Hagaman was one of the best pitchers in the lower minors. With High-A Hillsboro, he pitched to a 3.15 ERA with a 35.5% strikeout rate and a 5.3% walk rate. Only six pitchers in the Northwest League posted a K-BB% above 30.0% (min. 20 IP). One other D-backs prospect accomplished that feat, right-hander Hayden Durke.

He credited the defense behind him, naming outfielder Druw Jones, for helping him. Jones was named the Minor Leagues' Defensive Player of the Year for 2025.

"It takes a lot of pressure off the pitcher when you know you have a good defense behind you and you can just attack hitters."

Other notable players on that Hillsboro squad at the end of the year included Slade Caldwell and Cristofer Torin. Two more of his Hillsboro teammates, Kenny Castillo and Jansel Luis, will be joining him in the fall league this year.

With only 42.1 innings under his belt in 2025, the D-backs are hoping to get more reps for one of their top pitching prospects. Hagaman said he's comfortable with where his stuff is, and he's hoping to work on his changeup.

"I threw a live [batting practice] the other day, felt great, so just kind of keeping working on that. Trying to get some more swings and misses with it. Just add something to the repertoire and be able to help me in the long run."

Marquee Sports Network analyst Lance Brozdowski profiled Hagaman at the time of the trade. The comp that Brozdowski gave is former D-backs pitching prospect Slade Cecconi, possibly a Kevin Gausman upside case.

The fall league should give us more confidence in projecting Hagaman as a big league starter. He's likely to throw somewhere around 20 innings, so the results need to be taken with a grain of salt. However, it will also give us an idea of how his stuff looks with the major league ball and how it plays in Arizona.

The D-backs will need to monitor his workload over the next couple of years, as he climbs up the system. He currently projects as a future mid-rotation starter and is on track to debut around the end of the 2027 season.

How fast his timeline to the majors will be could depend on his 2026 assignment. The D-backs could have him start the year repeating Hillsboro or challenge him off the bat by sending him to Double-A Amarillo. His fall league results will likely play a role in that decision.