Stryker

Trahan

Terms of the deal were not disclosed at this time, though the slot recommendation for the 26th selection is $1.7 million. The D’Backs have now signed each of their first six selections, and eight of their top 10. Trahan has very impressive power, but may eventually move from behind the dish to a corner outfield position.

The D’Backs selected Trahan with the 26th overall pick in this week’s Amateur Draft. The 18-year-old projects as a power hitter, though he might struggle to remain behind the plate as his body fills out. Trahan is scheduled to take batting practice at Chase Field on Friday.

Trahan has a big bat and a better name for a masher. The biggest question is whether or not Trahan can stick behind the plate. In that way, it’s surprising he was taken by an NL team, though some believe he could eventually stick in right field. Trahan has been compared to Royals prospect Wil Myers, but he doesn’t have the ceiling of Kansas City’s future cornerstone.

A 2012 first-round pick, Trahan was always seen as unlikely to stick at catcher. The 19-year-old has batted .266/.370/.467 with 15 homers over 108 games in rookie ball so far. “I was on board with it from the beginning of the conversation, once I realized it was real — and that I had a great opportunity,” Trahan said. “I’ve heard nothing but good things that can come out of this.”

Trahan blasted a three-run homer in the second and added a two-run single in the eighth. Injuries have limited Trahan to only 10 games this year. The former first-round pick began his career behind the plate but has since moved to right field. Trahan showed some intriguing power last season (17 HR in 104 games) but often struggled to make contact (.193 with 138 strikeouts). He’s a work in progress.

Trahan was viewed as an offense-first catching prospect when he was taken 26th overall in the 2012 Draft, but he was eventually moved off catcher and hasn’t hit nearly enough (.220/.296/.404) to be useful in the outfield. He’ll turn just 23 next month, so he’ll get another shot somewhere.

That makes four home run in the last three games for Trahan, who was finally promoted to Visalia after batting .254/.296/.531 with 26 extra-base hits (11 home runs) and 38 RBI in 50 games for Low-A Kane County. The 21-year-old’s overall performance isn’t particularly impressive, but he had been swinging a hot bat of late, with a .383/.412/.957 batting line, seven home runs, four doubles and 18 RBI in his previous 14 games. Meanwhile, Trahan’s promotion carries extra significance considering he moved from the outfield back to catcher, his original position, prior to the 2015 season.

The home run was the eighth of the season for Trahan, who’s batting .241/.289/.481 through 46 games for Kane County. The 21-year-old got off to a slow start in his second tour of the Midwest League but has fared considerably better of late, with a .350/.395/.775 batting line and eight extra-base hits (four home runs) in his last 12 games. Trahan, now in his fourth professional season, is yet to advance beyond the Low-A level, and it might stay that way for some time after moving back behind the plate from the outfield.

Trahan has hit .389/.421/.722 with three doubles and a home run over his past four games, and seems to be settling in to his new role as a corner outfielder. When he first was told of the position change, Trahan “thought it was a joke,” but seems to be getting used to his new routine as an outfielder.

Trahan has struggled in 2014, hitting just .201/.260/.359 with 95 strikeouts in 285 plate appearances (33.3 percent), including 28 strikeouts in 70 plate appearances (40.0%) in June. Moving him to the outfield was supposed to expedite the development of his bat, but Trahan seems to have taken a step back. The power is still there (isolated power .158), but he will need to make more consistent contact before he has a chance at a promotion.