Del Castillo is next third on the catching depth chart Gabriel Moreno And James McCann. Nevertheless, he had a good chance of getting a banking job if he was healthy. Tyler Locklear will start the season on the IL as he rehabs from elbow and shoulder surgeries. The left-handed Del Castillo has considerable experience at first base and design hitter. Arizona doesn’t have many position players on its 40-man roster, leaving a few bench jobs up for grabs.
After an encouraging 25-game debut two years ago, Del Castillo struggled last season. He struck out 47 times in 131 plate appearances (a percentage of almost 36%), while hitting .242/.290/.392 in 44 games. The Miami product has put up strong numbers during his minor league career, but they have always been accompanied by a concerning level of swing-and-miss. He’s a below-average defensive catcher who puts more pressure on the bat when most of his work comes in the first base/DH mix.
Pavin Smith And Carlos Santana are projected for a first basic platoon. They also get a fair amount of DH reps, Lovullo said Kettle Marte will log some time there in addition to his primary second base work. The D-Backs are reportedly looking for a tool after dealing on the trade market Blow Alexander to Baltimore for reliever Kade Strowd and a few little leaguers. Ideally, they find someone with more offensive punch then The Tawa team and non-invited guests Ildemaro Vargas And Jacob Amaya to play that role.
The bottom half of the lineup would be an even bigger concern if Corbin Caroll opens the season on the IL. Arizona’s star right fielder will miss most of Spring Training after hamate surgery last week. The hope is that Carroll will return at the start of the regular season. Fellow outfielder Alex Thomas tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that he will mainly work between left and midfield, with the expectation that Carroll will be in his typical position on opening day.
Thomas has played all three outfield positions in the minor leagues. He has played exclusively in center field as a big league player, with over 3,000 innings in center. Thomas is a quality defender who should have no problem adjusting to a corner position if the D-Backs need him to move. Arizona tries to get Jordan Lawlar used to midfield.
Lawlar has a higher offensive ceiling than Thomas has shown in 420 MLB games, so the latter would be best suited for a fourth outfield role if everyone is healthy. They probably need both players in the starting lineup to start the season, like Lourdes Gurriel Jr. will also open the year on the injured list after last summer’s ACL injury. Thomas could be an emergency left fielder until Gurriel returns and/or prospects Ryan Waldschmidt plays his way to the big leagues.
There are quite a few opportunities in one of the top-heavy lineups in the MLB. Carroll, Marte, Moreno and Geraldo Perdomo making for an excellent top half of a batting order. Nolan Arenado is at the downside of his career, but should still be a solid third baseman. The bottom third of the lineup and most of the bench are a lot less established.
On the pitching side it’s not as extreme, but there are some parallels. Returning free agents Merrill Kelly And Zac Gallen are locked in rotation; Lovullo has already named Kelly his Opening Day starter. Ryne Nelson numbers to secure a spot in the middle of the rotation, but the Diamondbacks are making no firm commitments beyond that.
“I can’t even really comment on projections or what the starting rotation will look like,” Lovullo told reporters (including Steve Gilbert of MLB.com). Right now it seems like Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt And Michael Soroka competing for two spots. Rodriguez and Soroka are on the MLB roster, but Pfaadt has a few minor league options and could open the season in Triple-A. Soroka has the most experience of that group in a swing role and would be most comfortable pitching in long relief if the D-Backs want to have all six pitchers on the active roster with a five-man rotation. One injury could take the decision out of Lovullo’s hands, but it’s another camp battle that Arizona fans will want to watch during exhibition play.
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