TOMAS BIDING HIS TIME
D’backs say they’ll pick rookie’s spots
SAN FRANCISCO After a short detour, Yasmany Tomas is officially a major leaguer. Technically speaking, he has fulfilled the ambition he harbored while in his native Cuba of reaching the highest level in his profession.
This is only a first step, and it might be a brief one. If he doesn’t go much further — considerably further — the journey will prove a major disappointment to Tomas and his team.
Tomas, the outfielder and possibly third baseman the Arizona Diamondbacks signed to a six-year, $68.5 million contract in November, made his debut with the club when he grounded out as a pinchhitter Wednesday, after starting the season at Class AAA Reno. He was not in the starting lineup for Thursday’s game vs. the San Francisco Giants and figures to mostly serve as a pinch-hitter for now.
“I’m in the big leagues, but getting here is not the objective,” Tomas said in Spanish. “The objective is to have good results. It’s not like, ‘I got to the majors; I signed a contract.’ That’s the least of it. My goal is to establish myself as a big-league player like my countrymen have.”
Tomas is referring to the likes of Yasiel Puig, Jose Abreu and Yoenis Cespedes, teammates of his at different stages in Cuba who have earned All- Star status in the majors.
That’s what the Diamondbacks envisioned when they outbid several teams, including the 2014 World Series champion Giants, for Tomas’ services. But the Diamondbacks have yet to find a position for him. They gave the 6-2, 255-pounder a look at third base in the spring — he played there at times in Cuba — but Tomas was outplayed by Jake Lamb.
With A.J. Pollock and Mark Trumbo set at center and right field, respectively, and left fielder Ender Inciarte batting .406, there’s no logical spot for Tomas to play. The team wants him to get regular at-bats but thought he was more valuable as a potent bat off the bench now that an injury to catcher Gerald Laird has forced Jordan Pacheco to become the backup catcher.
Long term, Tomas’ power potential — and the amount of money invested in him — likely will force the Diamondbacks to open up a spot for him.
“We probably don’t see him future-wise as an everyday third baseman, but we do think he can go there and play every now and again,” manager Chip Hale said. “His position will be in left and right field. And when the time comes and he shows us he’s ready to be an everyday hitter in the major leagues, we’ll have to make a move or make a spot for him, because that’s the kind of impact guy we think he’s going to be.”
When that might happen is anyone’s guess. Tomas, who hit .190 with a homer and five strikeouts in five games with Reno, is in the process of making the adjustment to his new country, the English language and the caliber of baseball.
Former major league pitcher Ariel Prieto, who shepherded Cespedes through that process with the Oakland Athletics, is providing similar guidance to Tomas, who is eager to prove his worth.
“I’m ready now,” said Tomas, 24. “The everyday play will determine what happens, but you have to earn your spot. I’m on the bench now. Every time I have an opportunity, I’ll try to make the most of it so I can become a starter.”
That will come only if Tomas proves he can hit. In Cuba, he was known for his prodigious power but was not on par with Abreu or Cespedes. In spring training, Tomas tied for the team lead in at-bats with 70 and hit .257 with a .721 onbase plus slugging percentage, two home runs, three walks and 16 strikeouts.
Nonetheless, chief baseball officer Tony La Russa said he was convinced Tomas would be a productive hitter. “He’s got a high-average, power stroke,” La Russa said. “He’s tough to defend because he hits the ball to right field, center, left. He’s shown he can hit a good fastball, and he’s stayed on a good breaking ball. With more at-bats to improve timing and pitch recognition, he’s going to hit.”