Joe Elbis

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #18 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
  
  Track Record: Elbis is an athletic, projectable righthander who recently converted from the outfield to pitching when the Diamondbacks signed him for $275,000 in 2019. A promising 2021 debut put him on the radar, but he fell off the prospect map the next two years which included missing almost all of the 2022 season due to a shoulder injury. He re-emerged in 2024, seeing his velocity tick up across the board. Elbis pitched to a 3.39 ERA and 112 strikeouts over 135.1 innings between High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo.
  
  Scouting Report: Elbis probably won’t ever have overpowering stuff, but his average fastball ticked up to 92.3 mph, and all of his secondary pitches also clocked in at least 1-2 mph harder. In addition, he incorporated an improved sinker and new cutter, offerings that helped make his four-seam more effective. He also throws a slider and curveball, which are weapons against righties, as well as a changeup, which he uses against lefties. Even more encouraging? Elbis finished the year with another velocity spike, touching 95-96 mph in his final few outings. He is intelligent with good aptitude and a strong work ethic. Elbis has a starter’s delivery but is slightly built, raising concerns about his durability.
  
  The Future: Elbis’ late-season velocity jump hints at more potential upside. Until he can maintain it or show he has a true swing-and-miss weapon, he profiles more as a back-of-the-rotation starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #22 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Elbis was an athletic, projectable righthander who recently converted from the outfield to pitching when the D-backs signed him for $275,000 in 2019. He opened eyes in his debut in 2021, showing good command, a solid repertoire, pitching acumen and an impressive work ethic.
  
  Scouting Report: Elbis does not overpower hitters with pure stuff, but he locates his 91-94 mph fastball well, commanding it to both sides of the plate and showing the ability to elevate. His changeup is his best secondary pitch, eliciting swings and misses and weak contact, and he showed an improved curveball after switching to a spike grip. He also has a slider that shows promise. He has a clean, sound delivery and a quick arm. During the Arizona Complex League season, Elbis took it upon himself to go to Chase Field to try to learn by watching big league pitching, which coaches saw as evidence of his drive to improve.
  
  The Future: Just how much projection he has left is up for debate, but even without big gains in velocity or secondary stuff, he has the makings of a back-end big league starter.
  

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Elbis was an athletic, projectable righthander who recently converted from the outfield to pitching when the D-backs signed him for $275,000 in 2019. He opened eyes in his debut in 2021, showing good command, a solid repertoire, pitching acumen and an impressive work ethic.
  
  Scouting Report: Elbis does not overpower hitters with pure stuff, but he locates his 91-94 mph fastball well, commanding it to both sides of the plate and showing the ability to elevate. His changeup is his best secondary pitch, eliciting swings and misses and weak contact, and he showed an improved curveball after switching to a spike grip. He also has a slider that shows promise. He has a clean, sound delivery and a quick arm. During the Arizona Complex League season, Elbis took it upon himself to go to Chase Field to try to learn by watching big league pitching, which coaches saw as evidence of his drive to improve.
  
  The Future: Just how much projection he has left is up for debate, but even without big gains in velocity or secondary stuff, he has the makings of a back-end big league starter.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Elbis was an athletic, projectable righthander who recently converted from the outfield to pitching when the D-backs signed him for $275,000 in 2019. He opened eyes in his debut in 2021, showing good command, a solid repertoire, pitching acumen and an impressive work ethic.
  
  Scouting Report: Elbis does not overpower hitters with pure stuff, but he locates his 91-94 mph fastball well, commanding it to both sides of the plate and showing the ability to elevate. His changeup is his best secondary pitch, eliciting swings and misses and weak contact, and he showed an improved curveball after switching to a spike grip. He also has a slider that shows promise. He has a clean, sound delivery and a quick arm. During the Arizona Complex League season, Elbis took it upon himself to go to Chase Field to try to learn by watching big league pitching, which coaches saw as evidence of his drive to improve.
  
  The Future: Just how much projection he has left is up for debate, but even without big gains in velocity or secondary stuff, he has the makings of a back-end big league starter.