The Arizona Republic

Lovullo: Club will rotate infielders

- Nick Piecoro

With shortstop Nick Ahmed back from the injured list, the Diamondbac­ks will have fewer at-bats to go around on their infield, and for now it appears the player who will most feel the squeeze is infielder Josh Rojas.

Rojas had appeared to win the lion’s share of at-bats at second base during a monster spring training, and he wound up playing nearly every day during the season’s first week due to Ahmed’s injury.

But Rojas has started slowly, going just 2 for 27 with three walks, leaving him behind others on the infield.

Third baseman/second baseman Eduardo Escobar has caught fire, homering in four consecutiv­e games, putting to rest any notion of his playing time being reduced. Third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera has impressed both at the plate and in the field. And Ahmed remains is the club’s defensive anchor.

Lovullo has said multiple times that he has to be careful not to overextend 35-year-old Cabrera, meaning there could be some at-bats to be had on days when he isn’t in the lineup.

But Rojas will be competing with Josh VanMeter and Wyatt Mathisen for starts. VanMeter went 2 for 2 with three walks on Sunday, making him 4 for 14 on the season.

“I don’t want to overload (Cabrera) and have him wear down in August and September and I’ve to be mindful of that,” Lovullo said. “What that means is you’re going to see a rotation of guys at second base. That includes Escobar, when he’s not going to be playing third base. That’ll include VanMeter and that’ll include Rojas. I want to keep everybody involved. I believe in that.”

Speed racer?

Ahmed says his right knee, which forced him to miss the first eight games of the season, does not bother him when he is doing high-intensity movements, like sprinting or ranging toward a ball in the hole.

It does bother him, however, when he is jogging. He said he only really does that when going on and off the field, but Ahmed was asked if he was going to have to change his home-run trot as a result.

“Someone mentioned Adam Rosales,” Ahmed said. “I’m definitely not going to do that.”

Rosales, who spent part of the 2017 season with the Diamondbac­ks, was known for running full speed when rounding the bases after a home run.

Ahmed returned from the injured list on Saturday and has gone 2 for 7 with a walk in two games.

Short hop

Lovullo said the club still had not decided on a starter for Tuesday, though he acknowledg­ed on Saturday that it could be right-hander Zac Gallen.

 ?? RICK SCUTERI/USA TODAY SPORTS ?? Diamondbac­ks third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera (14) draws a walk to drive in a run against the Reds.
RICK SCUTERI/USA TODAY SPORTS Diamondbac­ks third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera (14) draws a walk to drive in a run against the Reds.

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