Demetrio Crisantes’ rise points to a rare “true homegrown” path in Arizona Diamondbacks history

Demetrio Crisantes is drawing attention for a simple reason that is hard to replicate in MLB. If he continues his climb as expected, he may become the first “true homegrown” player in Arizona Diamondbacks franchise history, a distinction the organization has only reached once before, and that required an unusual timeline.

The Diamondbacks have existed for nearly three decades, and the historical backdrop matters. According to Yahoo Sports, only eleven players in the franchise’s history were born in Arizona. Even more striking, the article notes that just one of those players was both drafted and developed by the Diamondbacks organization and then made his major league debut in an Arizona uniform.

That player, in the franchise’s earlier era, was right-handed pitcher Charles Brewer. Brewer was born in Paradise Valley, then went to Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, and chose to attend UCLA after being drafted by the Angels in 2006. After his college career at UCLA, the Diamondbacks selected him in the 12th round of the 2009 draft, and he worked through the minor leagues before making his major league debut with Arizona in 2013.

Brewer’s time on the mound in the majors was brief, the same Yahoo Sports report says: he pitched six innings across four games in 2013. For Arizona, that short tenure underscored how uncommon it is for a local-born prospect to complete the full loop from Arizona roots, to Diamondbacks drafting, to an MLB debut with the parent club.

Crisantes, the subject of the newer discussion, is positioned at a different spot in baseball’s development pipeline, but the theme is the same. The report describes Crisantes as a young second baseman from Nogales, Arizona. The “true homegrown” label is about more than birthplace, it is about whether the same organization that invested in the player also develops him and then brings him up to the majors.

If Crisantes does become the first player to match that full set of criteria for Arizona, it would highlight a shift in the club’s player development approach and how it identifies talent close to home. Second base, in particular, is often a premium spot for clubs balancing offensive needs with defensive demands, so a local prospect arriving there can carry more roster significance than the same story at a less central position.

For fans, the watch now is whether Crisantes can turn a promising path into sustained major league production, because “homegrown” success only becomes meaningful when it lasts. Even in Arizona, where the historical record is limited, the franchise has shown how quickly opportunities can narrow once a player reaches the majors. Crisantes’ next stretch should clarify whether this is another brief appearance, or a longer arc that finally makes the “homegrown” label feel permanent for the Diamondbacks.