Escobar shoulders D-Backs’ offense
Infielder Eduardo Escobar’s timing hardly could have been better. Just as the Diamondbacks were reeling from the loss of center fielder Ketel Marte, who had carried the offense to start the season, Escobar has emerged as Marte’s middle-of-the-order replacement.
Escobar entered Monday night’s game against the Oakland Athletics having homered in four consecutive games, blasts that conjured memories of the slugger who helped power the Diamondbacks’ offense for much of 2019.
“I think that’s what good teams do,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “They don’t rely on one person at one time. They kind of hand it off to one another and say, ‘I’ve got it for a little while,’ and maybe one or two guys get hot. It’s hard to accept that responsibly for the entire season and put it on one guy.”
Escobar became the first Diamondbacks hitter since Mark Trumbo in April 2014 to homer in four consecutive games. Three others have also accomplished the feat: Mark Reynolds (in August 2009), Troy Glaus (twice, April 2005 and September 2005) and Reggie Sanders (April 2001).
Escobar’s hot streak comes on the heels of a brutal first week of the season. Through the first five-plus games, Escobar was just 1 for 22 with no walks and eight strikeouts. His numbers were indicative of the quality of his atbats, which tended to end with weak
ground balls and pop outs.
Escobar credits hitting coaches Eric Hinske and Drew Hedman for helping him get back on track. During the club’s series in Colorado, the coaches showed Escobar video of his stance in 2019 compared to this year.
Escobar said he noticed right away that he was crouched lower this year. He tried standing more upright and felt a difference right away.
“I’m more tall at the home plate,” Escobar said. “I can see the pitcher better. I think that’s the key right now. I’m seeing the ball really well right now because I
changed my position.”
He thinks the stance he had been using led to him swinging at too many pitches. In the four games since making the adjustments, Escobar is 7 for 16 with two doubles, four homers and two walks.
His home runs have resembled many of the 35 he hit during the 2019 season: shots to his pull side that he appeared to catch out in front of the plate and yank into the seats.
The Diamondbacks would be ecstatic if they could get that level of production again. They would probably settle for something in between what he was in 2019 and his disappointing 2020.
“I think Eduardo has always had it in him,” Lovullo said. “He was an easy bet to figure this out and he’s in a good spot
right now.”
With Marte on the injured list with a hamstring strain, the Diamondbacks need Escobar more than ever.
“For me, I’m so happy because we lost one of our best players,” Escobar said. “I got hot right now and it’s very important to help the team win. Hopefully, when Ketel comes back, I’m still hot. Hopefully, everybody’s still hot. We need Ketel anyway.”
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