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Nick Ahmed
Ahmed's 134 games played were 7th-most by a rookie in the majors, and ranks him sixth in team history - since 2007, only A.J. Pollock (137, 2013) has appeared in more. Both the metrics and the eye test agree that it was Ahmed's defense which was his standout area. His 2.8 defensive WAR set a new record for an Arizona rookie, and led all major-league rookies this year, and you could put together a fun highlight reel from his webgems. However, Ahmed also set a career high with nine home-runs, and was particularly hot in the two months before the All-Star break, hitting close to .300 over that time.
Archie Bradley
Few pitching baptisms could have been more fiery than Bradley, who faced reigning Cy Young champion, Clayton Kershaw, in his major-league debut - and won, delivering one of the greatest entrances in Diamondbacks history. He then took on World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner next time out, and the D-backs won that game too. Bradley took a line-drive off the face, in likely the season's most shocking moment, during his fourth start, but the D-backs won all four, Bradley having an ERA of 1.80. Miraculously, he was back at the ballpark by the end of the game, and pitching in the majors just 18 days later.
Socrates Brito
If there was a category for Best Name, Brito would win it, pulling away. But even his performance was worthy of note. Despite not being called up until September, and making his debut just two days after his 23rd birthday. Brito hit over .300 in his 18 games, and also showed good defensive skills, resulting in a positive bWAR of 0.6 bWAR in very limited playing time. I suspect the departure of Ender Inciarte was in part because of the team's confidence that they had a credible alternative in Brito, and I would not be at all surprised to see him also on the short-list in this category, at the end of 2016.
Andrew Chafin
Chafin made three starts for the D-backs last year but was moved to the bullpen this season. And, wouldn't you know it, he was excellent, posting a 2.66 ERA over 66 appearances and 75 innings of work. Only one rookie since 2003 has posted a lower ERA for Arizona with a min of 50 IP (Daniel Hudson's 1.69 in 2010). It was also one of the lowest ERAs ever by any left-handed Diamondback reliever, trailing only Greg Swindell's 2.51 in 1999 (again, with a 50-inning minimum). While hardly a slouch against righties, holding them to a .225 average, Chafin buizz-sawed lefties to a line of 182/.260/.264.
Jake Lamb
Lamb led our position player rookies in fWAR, notching a 2.0 there, even though he appeared in less than two-thirds of Arizona's games (107). He got off to an insanely good start, going 12-for-29 with a 1.204 OPS, before he was sidelined with a stress reaction in his foot, which caused him to miss six weeks. He could never quite capture the same level of production on his return, but had some impressive hot streaks, when it seemed he hit everything. His 94 OPS+ was impressive, considering he was 24 the entire season. No rookie that age has put up a higher number for us (350+ PA) since Mark Reynolds in 2007 - and I think Jake is slightly better at the hot corner!
Robbie Ray
Left outside the rotation on Opening Day, Ray made his D-backs debut in a double-header at Coors Field on May 6, getting the win with six innings of one-run ball. He came back for good at the start of the following month, and staked his claim with a 2.70 ERA through eleven starts to the end of July. That included seven shutout innings of two-hit ball, against a tough Angels line-up in Anaheim. Ray's strikeout numbers were particularly impressive toward the end of the season. Over his final seven starts, he struck out 40 over 36.2 innings, and posted a 2.70 ERA in those contests as well, hopefully auguring well for a full season in the rotation next season.