Arizona Diamondbacks fans waited 22 long years between their first two World Series appearances, in 2001 and 2023.

Their next wait could be much shorter, according to one prediction.

MLB.com's Will Leitch recently predicted the next 10 World Series and he has the Diamondbacks returning to the Fall Classic in five years.

He predicts that Arizona will lose to the Seattle Mariners in the 2028 World Series.

Leitch wrote: "You didn’t think I was going to have the Mariners in their first World Series and not have them win it, right? However unsettled the Mariners might seem right now, in 2028, well, they’ll have Julio Rodríguez at the center of everything they’re doing, at 27 years old, the best possible version of Julio Rodríguez. How can that team not be good? While we’re at it: How do you feel about a just-four-months-older Corbin Carroll taking his team to its second World Series in six years?"

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The Diamondbacks are currently 1-1 in their World Series appearances.

They beat the New York Yankees in a memorable 7-game series in 2001.

The lost to the Texas Rangers in five games this season in a surprise appearance for Arizona, as the team was the worst team to get into the postseason, but went on a memorable run to the National League pennant.

Five years between World Series appearances wouldn't be that long, considering Arizona fans waited 22 years for the Diamondbacks' second appearance.

But many DBacks fans are likely hoping for a much quicker return to the Fall Classic, and a different result in their next appearance.

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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: World Series prediction: Diamondbacks predicted to return in 2028