Perdomo makes second straight start at shortstop
Twice last season, Geraldo Perdomo got the call up to the big leagues when Diamondbacks regular shortstop Nick Ahmed was placed on the injured list.
With Ahmed down to start this season along with part-time shortstop Josh Rojas — both currently on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder problem and a strained oblique, respectively — Perdomo found himself on the Opening Day roster, and he made his second start in as many days at shortstop Friday night against the San Diego Padres.
Perdomo came up three games into last season with Ahmed dealing with a knee injury, and got 10 at-bats in four games but struck out just twice. He was brought up again in late September with Ahmed shut down, and went 7 for 21 with only four strikeouts after revamping his swing while on the development list last summer.
Just 22, Perdomo said he’s grown as a player and person and that he learned by struggling in the minor leagues after being sent back down last April.
“I’m focused on being here in this moment and helping the team, like (Thursday night),” he said.
Perdomo is in the majors in large part for his defense, and he started two double plays in the season-opening win over the Padres.
“I’ve learned a lot from the experience of last year,” he said. “I had a tough time
at Double-A, so that helped make me more mature and understand the game more, knowing what to do in each moment and each situation.”
The ability to make contact and get on base is considered one of Perdomo’s strengths, and having Daulton Varsho and Ketel Marte after him in the lineup, he feels, will give him more opportunities to score.
Perdomo batted ninth on Opening Day, a move Lovullo said he hoped would help set up opportunities for Varsho and Marte, Nos. 1 and 2 in Thursday’s order.
In the offseason, Perdomo did a lot
work on his defense, agility and hitting. He’s hoping for a full season of good health after admitting that an injury he didn’t go into in detail about affected him to some degree last season.
“Direct response to coaching, direct response to challenges that have been placed upon him from a defensive standpoint,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said of Perdomo. “There were some midseason improvements last year, and there were some overall game improvements over the past 12 months. It’s taking care of the baseball on defense, making crisp accurate throws and not getting sloppy or lazy, and controlling the zone and impacting the baseball. He’s going to get better.”
Short hops
Lovullo, after saying players would “bounce around” in the batting order prior to the Opening Day game, changed up the batting order from one game to the next on Friday.
Cooper Hummel made his first major league start and was the designated hitter. Carson Kelly moved from the sixth spot to third, David Peralta third to fifth, Pavin Smith from fifth to eighth, Varsho from the leadoff spot Thursday to sixth Friday and Perdomo from ninth to seventh.
Seth Beer, the hero of Thursday’s come-from-behind win, didn’t start.
“I know there’s some unconventional looks to it with certain guys hitting in certain spots, but I believe in those guys,” Lovullo said.
Lovullo said it will take RHP Luke Weaver some time to get accustomed to coming out of the bullpen, after Weaver allowed a run on three hits in of an inning Thursday in relief.
Lovullo said Ahmed had a good defensive workday and Rojas got on the field for work Friday. OF Jordan Luplow (strained oblique) was soon to get on the field for baseball activity. Rojas, Lovullo said, is making good progress despite his strain being at Grade 3 2 level.
The Diamondbacks could turn to their long relievers on Saturday, with Humberto Castellanos and Corbin Martin ready to go, Lovullo said. Zach Davies is that day’s scheduled starting pitcher.