With spot at third base filled, Healy will take on new roles
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ryon Healy was one of the few real bright spots for the A’s last year, and he’s already being moved to a new role.
Healy played third last year and fared well there, pushing Danny Valencia off the position and batting .305 with 13 homers in 72 games, to boot. But with the addition of third baseman Trevor Plouffe this winter, Healy is going to get time at first base and the bulk of his at-bats are likely to be at designated hitter.
On Monday, Healy made his first start at first base in the A’s game against the Giants and he whacked a two-run double in the second inning of Oakland’s 5-4 victory.
Manager Bob Melvin said Healy’s work at first during drills has been good.
“Third was the one he hadn’t played much,” Melvin said, “and I thought he did a very capable job for a guy who hadn’t played the position, first year in the big leagues, sort of thrown into the fire.”
Healy is only 25, and gener-
ally speaking, teams don’t like sticking young players into the DH role because it costs them valuable experience in the field. But the A’s aren’t looking at Healy as a long-term DH.
“Versatility will be important for him,” Melvin said. “We expect Matt Chapman to be here, too, sometime, and if we think Matt is going to be our everyday third baseman, (Healy) is probably going to have to move, anyway. His bat always plays; he swings a terrific bat. So at this point in time, he’ll move between those three positions.
“It won’t be an exclusive DH thing. That, I would probably think, would be very difficult for a younger guy to deal with.”
Healy, like most players, would rather be in the field every day. But, he said, “As long as I’m on the big-league roster and in the lineup contributing to winning ballgames, I’ll be a happy camper, that’s for sure.”
Were it not for Yonder Alonso’s deft glovework at first base, Healy probably would just move there full time, and that likely will be his full-time position in the future. But with a young pitching staff, Alonso makes sense as the primary first baseman; he also has helped shortstop Marcus Semien cut down his error total.
That leaves the DH role, along with starts at first base against left-handers, unless or until Alonso is traded.
Melvin said that he has spoken to Healy about his shift in roles. “We’ve had conversations,” he said. “Shoot, everybody wants to get into a routine, and have one spot to play and hit one place in the lineup. That’s just not the way we do things here, so you have him prepare for the role he will have. And he’ll prepare very well for it.”
Healy is taking grounders at first and third and talking a lot about playing first with Alonso and infield coach Chip Hale. Healy knows he can take a little more time with grounders at the position, so he can wait for a good hop.
“If I get quality reps at both (positions), I’ll be OK,” he said.