D-Backs’ Rojas sees 3B job as his to lose
The Diamondbacks may or may not add a third baseman before Opening Day, but to hear Josh Rojas talk, he will have no problem with whatever the club decides.
If the Diamondbacks add someone, then great, that player will help them win. If not, that’s fine, too, and Rojas is ready to take the reins at third.
“I mean, I don’t want to say it’s my job, but that’s how I’m playing it right now,” Rojas said Sunday after a Cactus League debut that included a home run, a double and a clean performance defensively.
“Right now, I’m going to go at it like it’s my job. If we sign somebody or if we give that job to somebody else and I move somewhere else, so be it. But as of right now, I am, to be honest -- I’m looking at it as my job.”
However things shake out, the Diamondbacks seem to view Rojas as a key part of their plans for the upcoming season. Aside from potentially getting the bulk of the time at third, he could also settle into the role he had last season, when he bounced around the diamond while amassing a team-high 550 plate appearances.
The Diamondbacks are known to have pursued a handful of third-base options on the free-agent market, including Josh Harrison, Donovan Solano and Matt Duffy. All three signed elsewhere.
Dollars were certainly one reason, but another factor was the Diamondbacks’ unwillingness to guarantee playing time, a reluctance that stems from their desire to make sure their young players aren’t shut off from opportunities.
Young players like Rojas -- or, say, Drew Ellis and Josh VanMeter, two other players who remain unproven at the major league level and are in the mix along with Rojas at third.
Of course, the team could shift gears if the right player comes along, something Rojas says would be fine with him.
“I want to win,” Rojas said. “That’s the number one goal. You look at our division, the goal is to win. If we need a third baseman and I need to move around the field and take over in right or be a utility guy, then that’s what I need to do. I want to win and whatever it takes for us to win, I’m down for it.”
He added: “I feel confident in myself. If it’s my number that gets called to play third, I’m perfectly happy to do it.”
Rather than moving around, Rojas has worked strictly at third thus far in camp because, he said, it is the position at which he needs the most work. He thinks he would be able to slide to second or short -- or even transition to the outfield -- with relative ease.
At third, he said the biggest adjustment comes in the footwork required for a position that has more sharply hit balls.
“The things we’ve been working on lately are staying lower to the ground,” Rojas said. “Middle infield and even outfield is more of an upright, cover a lot of distance, whereas third is get low to the ground, be ready for hotshots to the left or the right.”
Short hops
The Diamondbacks signed infielder Wilmer Difo to a minor league deal with
an invitation to major league camp. Difo, 29, spent last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, putting together a .269/ .329/.384 line in 240 plate appearances. He has played primarily shortstop, second base and third base in his big league career. He is expected to be delayed in his arrival to camp as he secures a visa.
*Left-hander Madison Bumgarner is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut on Tuesday vs. the Texas Rangers, lining him up to make three spring starts before taking the ball on Opening Day on five days rest. The Diamondbacks have not yet announced him as their Opening Day starter.
*Right-hander Zac Gallen will throw a live batting practice session on Monday, manager Torey Lovullo said. He continues to progress despite having experienced shoulder issues during the offseason. He appears likely to be delayed somewhat at the start of the year.
*Second baseman Ketel Marte had an “aggressive” morning of drills on Sunday and is tentatively scheduled to play in his first Cactus League game on Tuesday, Lovullo said. Marte has been limited by left eye irritation and has been working out with glasses. Lovullo said Marte should be cleared to go back to using his contact lenses early this week.
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Royals 11, Diamondbacks 10
At Surprise Stadium
At the plate: In addition to 3B Josh Rojas’ big day, LF Cooper Hummel had another productive afternoon, his second in as many days. Hummel, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers as part of the 3B Eduardo Escobar trade, went 1 for 2 with a three-run homer and a walk. His only out was on a hard-hit liner to short. On Saturday, he went 2 for 2 with a pair of singles. Hummel, a switch-hitter, has hit balls sharply off both lefties and righties; his homer on Sunday came off a lefty. “Real nice approach from both sides of the plate,” manager Torey Lovullo said. 1B Pavin Smith and C Daulton Varsho also reached base twice.
On the mound: RHP Brandon Pfaadt was sharp in three innings, allowing one run on two hits. He walked none and struck out three. LHP Caleb Smith served up a pair of homers in two innings, a solo shot to C Salvador Perez in the fourth and a three-run homer to 3B Emmanuel Rivera in the fifth, an inning that started with Smith issuing a walk. “I felt like he created some situations where he put some extra runners on base before the big three-run home run,” Lovullo said. “Those are things we’ve got to tighten up a little bit.”
Extra bases: Lovullo was frustrated with several shoddy plays by his defense in the late innings, mistakes that allowed the Royals to rally to win despite trailing 10-5 after six innings. “I want to play crisp, clean baseball; it doesn’t matter who is out there,” Lovullo said. “My expectations are that we go out and execute at a very high level. Every player should be expected to do that.” The Diamondbacks did make a couple of nice defensive plays. SS Geraldo Perdomo made a barehanded play on a slow chopper by 1B Hunter Dozier in the second, grabbing and throwing in one motion to get the out at first. RF Jorge Barrosa made a good catch coming in on a hard liner in the eighth.
Monday’s game: Diamondbacks RHP Humberto Castellanos vs. Mariners RHP George Kirby, 1:10 p.m., Salt River Fields.