Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

The D-backs added Elbis to its bat-heavy international signing class in July 2019 for $275,000. The Venezuela native missed out on 2020 like everyone else and then dominated the Arizona Complex League in 2021, prompting a late-season move to Single-A Visalia. He was limited to only three California League starts in 2023 because of right shoulder inflammation, and a year later, he saw an atypical uptick in walks while at High-A Hillsboro. Elbis looked much more like himself in 2024, posting a 3.39 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 135 1/3 innings between High-A and Double-A, and the D-backs added him to the 40-man when he was Rule 5-eligible for a second time.

Elbis didn’t punch out a ton of batters in his age-21 season, instead relying on his above-average command to draw weak contact. His pair of fastballs sit 91-94 mph, touching 96, and he held that velocity and even built on it well as he worked deeper into the biggest workload of his young career. He plays off the heater with an 83-85 mph slider that wears out the low, gloveside part of the plate, and batters (especially righties) just can’t lay off it. His 79-81 mph curveball has steeper drop and was his most-used secondary against lefties, who slugged just .280 off him. His 84-88 mph changeup can be an armside option but can be too firm.

The right-hander perhaps got caught nibbling too much in the past but typically delivers strikes with regularity. That -- along with his deep arsenal -- was a big reason why Arizona chose to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. He’ll need that pitchability to stick as a starter because without a plus pitch he doesn’t easily project as an impact reliever.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40

The D-backs went bat-heavy in the 2019-20 international signing period, but managed to add Elbis to the mix for $275,000. After missing out on 2020 like everyone else, the Venezuela native jumped straight to the Arizona Complex League in 2021 and dominated with 46 strikeouts and only four walks in 39 2/3 innings. That helped him get a late look at Single-A Visalia, and he returned to the Rawhide to make three starts in 2022, only to suffer right shoulder inflammation. The issue didn’t require surgery, and he was back pitching at instructs in January.

When healthy, Elbis showed a fastball in the low 90s that he commanded well to all areas of the zone. He succeeded most when he landed it high, keeping with modern practices, and that led to some swings-and-misses despite the average velocity. His fading changeup received the best grades and helped fend off splits issues. He showed some feel for spin with an average curveball that could be landed for strikes and a slider that looked fringier but could offer another breaking look.

The right-hander will still only be 20 years for the majority of the 2023 season, and his slim listed measurements of 6-foot-1 and 150 pounds point to a still-developing frame. His profile before the shoulder issue was dependent on his command, but a few more ticks of velocity as he physically matures would go a long way. The D-backs say Elbis has gotten back to his old self post-rehab, and he'll need to show proof of that when he gets back to a Minor League mound this summer.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 60 | Overall: 40

Listed at a slim 6-foot-1, 150 pounds, Elbis was perhaps the top pitcher in the D-backs’ bat-heavy 2019-20 international signing class when he inked a $275,000 deal out of Venezuela. (That was the same group that included fellow ranked prospect Deyvison De Los Santos.) The pandemic kept Elbis from pitching in the Dominican Summer League in 2020, but he jumped straight to the Arizona Complex League as an 18-year-old last year with promising results. He owned a 3.40 ERA with 36 strikeouts and only four walks in 39 2/3 innings in the ACL, placing third in the circuit with an 11.5 K/BB ratio (min. 30 IP). Arizona sent the lanky right-hander to Single-A Visalia for three late starts in 2021 and returned him there to begin this campaign, only for him to suffer shoulder inflammation that won’t require surgery but has limited him to three starts.

Elbis sits in the low-90s with his fastball and can spot the heater well in all areas. He especially succeeds throwing it high in the zone, and that helps him overcome limited velo to get swings and misses. The changeup typically earns his best grades because of its promising fade, and it helped him post backward splits in the ACL. Left-handed batters hit just .175 with a .539 OPS off Elbis, while his fellow righties batted .291 with an .810 OPS. He’ll spin an average curveball in for strikes, and a slider gives him another breaking ball option, though it’s fringy for now.

With a late September birthday, Elbis will be 19 for the vast majority of his 2022 season, and there is some projection remaining, giving hope he could add a tick or two of velo. His profile is driven by special command right now, so it would be important not to lose that if and when he brings more heat. The building blocks of a solid starting pitcher are here regardless, once he gets back on a mound regularly in 2023.

Awards

NWL Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
05/2024

NWL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
08/13/2023

ACL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
08/08/2021

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	04/15/2025	Arizona Diamondbacks placed RHP Joe Elbis on the restricted list.
	04/04/2025	Amarillo Sod Poodles placed RHP Joe Elbis on the 7-day injured list.
	03/07/2025	Arizona Diamondbacks optioned RHP Joe Elbis to Amarillo Sod Poodles.
	03/07/2025	Amarillo Sod Poodles activated RHP Joe Elbis.
	11/19/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks selected the contract of RHP Joe Elbis from Amarillo Sod Poodles.
	07/30/2024	RHP Joe Elbis assigned to Amarillo Sod Poodles from Hillsboro Hops.
	09/05/2023	RHP Joe Elbis assigned to Hillsboro Hops from Visalia Rawhide.
	08/29/2023	RHP Joe Elbis assigned to Visalia Rawhide from Hillsboro Hops.
	06/20/2023	RHP Joe Elbis assigned to Hillsboro Hops from Visalia Rawhide.
	06/12/2023	RHP Joe Elbis assigned to Visalia Rawhide from Hillsboro Hops.
	05/26/2023	RHP Joe Elbis assigned to Hillsboro Hops from Visalia Rawhide.
	05/26/2023	Hillsboro Hops activated RHP Joe Elbis.
	10/06/2022	Visalia Rawhide activated RHP Joe Elbis from the 60-day injured list.
	06/06/2022	Visalia Rawhide transferred RHP Joe Elbis from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	06/06/2022	Visalia Rawhide transferred RHP Joe Elbis from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	04/26/2022	Visalia Rawhide placed RHP Joe Elbis on the 7-day injured list.
	09/01/2021	Visalia Rawhide activated RHP Joe Elbis.
	09/01/2021	RHP Joe Elbis assigned to Visalia Rawhide from ACL D-backs.
	06/27/2021	RHP Joe Elbis assigned to ACL D-backs.
	07/12/2019	Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent RHP Joe Elbis to a minor league contract.