D-backs prospect Tommy Troy on Arizona Fall League experience
The Diamondbacks top prospect elaborated on overcoming adversity, his approach at the plate, and his bond with Gino Groover.
Diamondbacks infield prospect Tommy Troy is one of two Diamondbacks prospects at the Fall Stars game, along with fellow infielder Gino Groover. It was a tough first year for the organization's top draft choice in the 2023 draft, missing a lot of time with a hamstring injury, followed by a horrific slump in his first 41 games with High-A Hillsboro. He finished the season strong, giving him 100% confidence that those struggles will make him better moving forward.
“I’ve had times in the past, maybe not as bad as this year, but I feel like the past year has prepared me for any situation in the future,” said Troy. “If I get into a rut again, I just know how the game is. It’s a game of failure, and you will find a way out of it. You just have to put your head down and work.”
Troy underwent a similar experience in the fall league, starting 1-for-25 with 11 strikeouts. He has since recovered to hit .291 with a .846 OPS, serving as more validation for sticking with that mindset.
In the first interview with Troy back on October 23, he mentioned focusing more on staying toward right center. He went more in-depth about how that approach works for him.
“I feel like when I’m lined up more center to right-center with some conviction, wanting to do damage, everything else kind of plays. I just have more margin of error that way. When I start getting pull-happy and I want to turn on the ball, that’s where I don’t do as well.”
Much of his professional career has been spent with fellow 2023 draftee Gino Groover, selected one round behind him. Troy joked that Groover “just rolls out of bed and hits every day”. That coincides with my blurb from my Groover scouting report as the “best pure hitter in the organization”. The two live in the same apartment complex in North Scottsdale during their stay in the Arizona Fall League.
During the regular season, he spent a lot of time at shortstop. He had never played it in college before, spending time at second and third base. He anticipates getting more starts at his natural position of second base more in 2025.
The goal for Troy in 2025 is to continue to develop and knock on the door for a big league opportunity.
“That’s everyone’s goal and that’s what you work for. Obviously everyone needs development but going into every year that should be the goal, that should be your intention. Whatever happens, happens, but you’ve got to work toward that. The end goal is to help the big league club win.”
You can check out Troy’s scouting report in the story shared below. Additionally, you can listen to the full audio for the D-backs top prospect.
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Michael McDermott has been writing about the Arizona Diamondbacks, and their minor league system, for 9 seasons for AZ Snake Pit, Diamondbacks on SI, and Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X at x.com/michaelmcdmlb