Patrick Corbin, Tyler Skaggs, Trevor Bauer, Charles Brewer and Jarrod Parker (l-r). Courtesy of Chip English/Mobile BayBears

By Josh Greene

By the looks of it, the MLB hitters of tomorrow won’t have any easier a time of it down the road, either.

Meet D-backs pitching prospects Patrick Corbin, Tyler Skaggs, Trevor Bauer, Charles Brewer and Jarrod Parker. Chances are the names are pretty familiar already. This quintet has combined for 379 strikeouts in 391.1 innings pitched and a 29-17 record at Double-A in the Southern League this season.

Of the five, Skaggs is the only one who’s actually pitched at Chase Field already. Of course, it was only one inning of work as the starting pitcher for the U.S. team at the XM All-Star Futures Game in July. After surrendering a double and a walk, the right-hander settled down to retire the side and chalk up a K.

Skaggs was at it again on Sunday, striking out a career-high 12 batters in six innings of perfect ball in Mobile’s 2-1 win, as the team closes in on their most wins in a season since 1998.

Next up for the BayBears and their big five:  the Southern League playoffs – and maybe an eventual trip to the big show by way of Arizona.

Click here to get $5 tickets to this week’s D-backs-Rockies series at Chase Field.