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consideration for a regular-season callup until at least next year.
Hyde and his coaching staff, which now includes former major-league manager Fredi González, new first-base coach Anthony Sanders and new bullpen coach Darren Holmes, will have to sort through the huge camp roster that features 35 pitchers and 31 position players. And that’s assuming there will not be several more signings after camp opens.
“It’s a big number,” Hyde said, “but I’m looking forward to the competition we’re bringing into camp and I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for a lot of guys.
“Especially where we are right now, I think the more guys we have competing for jobs, the better. So I’m happy with the number we have, and the challenge of the next six or seven weeks is to get guys enough innings and at-bats.”
Nothing that Hyde will face this spring will be more of a challenge than showing up at training camp last year with exactly one day of major-league managerial experience, but he seemed comfortable enough — at least on the outside. He said Friday that there was a lot more going on behind his omnipresent sunglasses.
“It’s a lot easier for me because I know everybody now, at least the guys we had here last year, and some of the invite guys I’ve run into in the past also,’’ Hyde said. “Familiarity is a big thing for me. Not walking in blind, not knowing many players. This year, I know most of the guys, so that’s a lot easier.”
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