Arizona Diamondbacks Season Preview 2020: Position Players
It’s time for the Arizona Diamondbacks Season Preview!
The Diamondbacks are hungry for a return to the postseason, just like any other team in baseball. For them, however, it seems to be more intense. There is nothing worse than being so close that you can taste it only to have it elude your grasp. In 2019, the team finished 85-77 – four games behind the wild-card Milwaukee Brewers – but they lost several winnable games. They dropped five out of seven to the Brewers. Against the fourth-place Colorado Rockies, they went 9-10. They also went 3-4 against the hapless Miami Marlins, 2-5 against the New York Mets, and 2-4 against the Chicago Cubs. Those performances are what kept them out of the Wild Card Game – a game that would have come against a Washington Nationals team that they took the season series from.
In the offseason, general manager Mike Hazen addressed some of the team needs with some wise free agent signings and a big trade. This adds venom to a lineup that had the second-highest wins above average (WAA) rating in the National League for position players in 2019.
Infield
Catchers
Primary: Carson Kelly
111 G, 314 AB, 46 R, 77 H, 19 2B, 18 HR, 47 RBI, 48 BB, 79 SO, .245/.348/.478, .339 wOBA, 6.1 wRAA
Carson Kelly returns for his second season as the first-choice catcher for the Diamondbacks. He saw about 2/3 of the playing time for catchers in 2019, and he will probably do the same in 2020. Do not be fooled by his .245 batting average – 48% of his hits went for extra bases. Defensively, he came in at the league average for runs saved (DRS), but that must be taken with a grain of salt. No defensive metric can possibly measure everything a catcher does. One area that can be measured is caught stealing percentage (CS%). Kelly gunned down 32% of would-be base stealers – six percentage points better than the league average.
Reserve: Stephen Vogt
99 G, 255 AB, 30 R, 67 H, 24 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 20 BB, 66 SO, .263/.314/.490, .331 wOBA, 2.8 wRAA
Stephen Vogt came over via free agency after spending 2019 with the San Francisco Giants, signing with the Diamondbacks three weeks before 2019 teammate Madison Bumgarner did the same. (Author’s Note: The two signings were in no way connected; they both chose to come to Arizona independently.) He has a better batting average than Kelly, but Kelly is more likely to get extra-base hits, making his wOBA and wRAA higher. Vogt’s locker room presence has been praised every place he’s been, and an attitude like the one he has makes a team jell faster than it would otherwise. This more than makes up for his -4 DRS (four runs below the league average) and 17% caught stealing percentage.
Third Base
Primary: Eduardo Escobar
158 G, 636 AB, 94 R, 171 H, 29 2B, 10 3B, 35 HR, 118 RBI, 50 BB, 130 SO, .269/.320/.511, .341 wOBA, 12.8 wRAA
Eduardo Escobar had a breakout season in 2019, his first full season with the Diamondbacks. The switch-hitter led the National League in triples with 10. He also hit 29 doubles and 35 home runs, making him one of only four switch-hitters in major league history to have 20+ doubles, 10+ triples, and 30+ home runs. The others were Ripper Collins (1934), Mickey Mantle (1955), and Jimmy Rollins (2007). Collins and Escobar were the only ones to do so while driving in more than 100 runs, as Escobar drove in 118.
Escobar also brings a strong glove to the field. Said shortstop Nick Ahmed, “He is really consistent on the routine ball. He’s got a great arm going to his backhand down the line. He is athletic, and he can move to second base if we need him to. (Also), he can play there during the shift.” Some say that Escobar would have a good chance at winning Gold Gloves if Nolan Arenado didn’t play for the Rockies. Ahmed agrees. “He does a great job over there. I think he’d have a good chance if one of the best third basemen of all time wasn’t in our division.”
Reserve: Jake Lamb
78 G, 187 AB, 26 R, 36 H, 8 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 32 BB, 55 SO, .193/.323/.353, .297 wOBA, -4.5 wRAA
Left-handed-hitting Jake Lamb was an All-Star in 2017 but has struggled to stay healthy since then, playing in a combined 134 games in 2018 and 2019. These came due to shoulder surgery in 2018 and a quad injury in 2019. In spring training, he told this author “I feel great” before hitting the field for a workout. He proved it on the field in spring training, batting .308 (8 for 26) with two doubles, two home runs, and heads-up baserunning. He provides solid defense at third, where he notched five runs saved in 2018 and one in 2019 in 464 1/3 and 262 innings, respectively.
Shortstop
Primary: Nick Ahmed
158 G, 556 AB, 79 R, 141 H, 33 2B, 6 3B, 19 HR, 82 RBI, 52 BB, 113 SO, .254/.316/.437, .315 wOBA, -2.8 wRAA
We present the best defensive shortstop in the National League, back-to-back Gold Glove winner Nick Ahmed. From the time he arrived in Arizona in 2014, he saw how much the organization values defense. “Our team prides itself on playing good defense, from catcher all the way out to center field and all across the field,” Ahmed said in March. “It’s not an accident that we have good defenders. We work at it, and our front office values it. It’s a big part of the game.”
Do not be duped into thinking that he’s all glove and no bat, though. His hitting is improving, as he tied career highs in doubles and triples while setting new career highs in runs scored, hits, homers, RBI, walks, and wOBA. The coaching staff has mentioned that his approach at the plate continues to improve and that he has a hunger to constantly improve his hitting skills.
Reserve: Ildemaro Vargas
92 G, 201 AB, 25 R, 54 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 9 BB, 24 SO, .269/.299/.413, .300 wOBA, -3.6 wRAA
The switch-hitting Vargas would normally be a valuable option for pinch-hitting and double switches, but with the National League using the DH in 2020, that will rarely happen if at all. Reports say that Vargas has been hitting the cover off the ball in summer camp, however. This gives manager Torey Lovullo a valuable option to keep his team’s legs fresh for games. He is a tremendous step back defensively at shortstop, however, with 0 runs saved, meaning that his play at shortstop is right at the league average. Ahmed, by comparison, had 17 runs saved in 2019.
Second Base
Primary: Ketel Marte
144 G, 569 AB, 97 R, 187 H, 36 2B, 9 3B, 32 HR, 92 RBI, 53 BB, 86 SO, .329/.389/.592, .405 wOBA, 46.1 wRAA
Switch-hitting Ketel Marte had a monster year in 2019, setting a career high in batting average by 46 points, starting the All-Star Game at second base, and missing the batting title by one hit. Only one triple kept him from making the same accomplishment as Escobar. He has built on that going into the 2020 season, and if his showing at summer camp is any sign of things to come, the rest of the National League should watch out. Marte has abused the Diamondbacks pitchers, socking multiple homers. This does not mean that the Diamondbacks pitchers are performing badly. On July 10, after a two-homer performance in an intrasquad game, he told reporters through the team interpreter that “the pitchers look really, really good. I just feel very strong and feel very comfortable going into this year.”
Defensively, he and Ahmed should make one of the more formidable double play combos in the National League. In 2019, he only made two errors at second base in 203 chances. This netted him three DRS in only 462 1/3 innings. He was also superb in center field, notching six runs saved in 687 2/3 innings while making one error in 167 chances.
Reserve: Escobar
First Base
Primary: Christian Walker
152 G, 529 AB, 86 R, 137 H, 26 2B, 1 3B, 29 HR, 73 RBI, 67 BB, 155 SO, .259/.348/.476, .346 wOBA, 13.3 wRAA
Going into 2019, Christian Walker was to platoon with Lamb at first base. With Lamb hitting left-handed, it looked like Walker would typically face lefties while Lamb would typically face righties. That all changed when Lamb injured his quad in San Diego on April 3. Walker became the everyday first baseman at that point, making the most of his opportunity. Defensively, he saved 11 runs above the league average – tops in the National League. One defensive highlight came on August 31 against the Dodgers in the top of the ninth with nobody out, the bases loaded, and the D-Backs holding a 6-4 lead. He made a diving stop to his right that not only prevented the game-tying run from scoring but also kicked off a crucial 3-6-1 double play. It turned out to save the game, as the next hitter grounded to short to end the game.
One interesting aspect of Walker’s game is his dominance of Dodgers ace and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. He is batting .455 (5 for 11) with four home runs and seven RBI. This ties him with Adam Dunn, Nolan Arenado, and Charlie Blackmon for the most home runs against Kershaw.
Reserve: Lamb
Outfield
There are Gold Glovers at every position here. David Peralta won one in 2019 despite missing so many games due to injury. Starling Marte won back-to-back Gold Gloves in 2015 and 2016, and Kole Calhoun won one in 2015. Ketel Marte has a great feeling about this group. “I’m very excited about the outfield group. In that group, we have several veterans who can help out the young guys – myself included. I feel like I can help the young guys, and I have been helping out the young guys. Overall, the outfield group is going to be very productive this year.”
Left Field
David Peralta
99 G, 382 AB, 48 R, 105 H, 29 2B, 3 3B, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 35 BB, 87 SO, .275/.343/.461, .338 wOBA, 6.5 wRAA
David Peralta is the first-choice left fielder entering the season, having fully recovered from season-ending shoulder surgery in 2019. The 2018 Silver Slugger Award winner had a disappointing 2019, with injuries forcing him to miss 63 games. His hitting was still decent, all things considered. The injuries did not affect his defense, however. In 806 innings, he had 10 DRS. This earned him the vote of his peers for the Gold Glove, the first of his career. In his last full season – 2018 – he hit 30 home runs. He is capable of greatness both at the plate and in the field. If he plays the full season, look out.
Center Field
Starling Marte
132 G, 539 AB, 97 R, 159 H, 31 2B, 6 3B, 23 HR, 82 RBI, 25/6 SB/CS, 25 BB, 94 SO, .295/.342/.503, .353 wOBA, 16.7 wRAA
On January 27, the Diamondbacks filled their biggest lineup need by trading two prospects and international bonus slot money for 2016 All-Star and two-time Gold Glover Starling Marte. He brings a potent bat and speed on the basepaths, ranking in the top 10 in stolen bases seven of his eight years in the league.
Marte – of no relation to Ketel – is dealing with the devastating, untimely death of his wife on May 18. At first, he was ready to retire, but after talking through his grief, he decided to play. He feels ready to go emotionally, telling reporters through an interpreter, “I’m very happy to be back, especially with my kids. Obviously, it’s a very tough time for us, but through God and being able to speak with a couple of pastors and priests at our church, they’ve been able to help me out through this process. I’m happy to be back with my kids and ready to go.”
Do not be surprised if he has a career year. It is not uncommon for players who are going through grief to raise their play. Quite often, they work through their grief and – even subconsciously – dedicate their performance to the memory of their loved one.
Right Field
Kole Calhoun
152 G, 552 AB, 92 R, 128 H, 29 2B, 1 3B, 33 HR, 74 RBI, 70 BB, 162 SO, .232/.325/.467, .330 wOBA, 5.5 wRAA
Free agent acquisition Kole Calhoun comes to his hometown team after spending eight years with the Los Angeles Angels. He brings good defense to the table along with nice power numbers. His batting average has been a concern, but when he does connect, watch out – 49% of his hits in 2019 went for extra bases. If he can raise his batting average, he is likely to do damage with an extra base hit percentage like that.
His health was also a concern, as he was one of the players who missed time from camp due to a positive COVID test. However, he has been fully cleared and has returned. Furthermore, he never showed symptoms, saying he was “very lucky.” He felt so good, in fact, that the test results were unexpected. “When I was notified by the Diamondbacks that I tested positive, I was actually kind of shocked,” he said. He does feel “a little bit behind,” but he was able to use the cage at his house to keep hitting while waiting to be cleared for return.
Reserves
Josh Rojas
41 G, 138 AB, 17 R, 30 H, 7 2B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 18 BB, 41 SO, .217/.312/.312, .279 wOBA, -5.6 wRAA
Second-year utility man Josh Rojas was one of the key hauls for the Diamondbacks from the Zack Greinke trade. The local product can play in the infield or outfield.
Tim Locastro
91 G, 212 AB, 38 R, 53 H, 12 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 17/0 SB/CS, 14 BB, 22 HBP, 44 SO, .250/.357/.340, .314 wOBA, -1.3 wRAA
Tim Locastro was a tremendous late-inning weapon in 2019, driving opponents crazy with his speed and propensity to get hit by a pitch. Speed is an understatement – he has been verified as the fastest player in the league. He also had 1 DRS in 460 2/3 innings, so when he gives an outfielder a day off, the team will not lose much defensively. With the new extra innings rules, he will be an even more formidable late-inning weapon.
Designated Hitter
This position will probably rotate in an effort to keep players fresh. Escobar, Lamb, Walker, and any of the outfielders could see time here.
Jim Marshall covers the starting pitchers here and the relievers here.
